YMCA Kids, a Magic Castle, and an Odd Fortress in Boston
So, I just joined a gym that a bunch of my students go to: the YMCA. I thought it would be weird, but it's actually really inspiring!
While I swirly-swirl on the elliptical stairmaster, I can look out at youth playing their hearts out on the basketball and volleyball courts below... and it really inspires me to work out as hard as them!
As adults, we can get kind of surly about hitting the gym. "Oh man," we sometimes whine, "I really SHOULD work out today, but I just wanna sit on the couch and eat snacks and watch Hulu!"
But youth frequently aren't lumps like that. What passion they have! They race to the YMCA nearly every day after school, plus weekends, for the joy of getting sweaty and winning the game... whatever game they create!
They dart hither and thither on the court, practicing their basketball shots until they get them right, and pause from time to time to watch the tall older students, soaking up the technique. It's a perfect illustration of what we teachers try to instill in our students each day: "We're not born stupid or smart! We're not born good at something or bad at something. It's all about EFFORT and PRACTICE, and then you can get as smart and good as you desire!"
Anyhoo, my students may or may not have noticed, but there are some seriously kooky buildings surrounding the YMCA. Let's check them out.
In the first photo, you'll see the castle. Isn't it cute how the owners tied it up with a red ribbon for Christmas? This "castle" is one manifestation of the fancy restaurant chain, Smith & Wollensky. Research reveals that the building was erected in 1897 as the Armory of the First Corps of Cadets. Armory means: place for destructive weapons. Fun! And now it serves steak.
The second photo displays a totally weirdo building. It is the church that looks like a mug of hot cocoa! I am aching to know what it's like inside. Is it dark and dank (given that its only windows are 1-inch-wide slits along the base, as if it were a fortress that needed defense against flaming arrows of invading barbarians)?
I must not be the only curious person; last month, the glass front doors had violent shatter marks from head to toe from an almost-invader! Good thing the Holy Cocoa Mug warded the burglar off.
So now the question emerges: after publishing this article, will I actually make it the six blocks to a YMCA workout today? I'm not so sure about me, but I bet you my awesome students will!
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
I go to the YMCA every once in a while with my dad and brother. But wasn't it a little bit weird having some of your students working out next to you?
It's a little odd, but it's also nice to feel like a big community.
I live right down the street from the church! But the church is about a 5 minute walk from Tufts Medical Station. There is a bus station right in front of church.
I go to that YMCA every friday. I live around there,too. I don't have the same imagination as you do and I always thought that it was a church because they have a cross on it.
I live like down the street from the Y and I think it would be pretty awkward seeing you lifting weights while im shooting hoops.
I always pass by the cocoa mug place, but never knew what it is so I thought it was a place for Jesus and his followers because of the cross it have.
I used to go to the YMCA every day, as part of the summer camp program. Now that I'm older, I can no longer go. :( And that "Castle" building is one that I am too familiar with. I used to pass by it all the time!
I've only been at the YMCA once , but I loved it there . There's always a lot of people .
If the YMCA is this fun I might actually want to join! I also like the church shaped like a mug, a really interesting design.
The YMCA used to be my number one place to hang out. Until i discover Planet Fitness, which is not as fun but it sure is closer.
"They race to the YMCA nearly every day after school, plus weekends, for the joy of getting sweaty and winning the game… whatever game they create! They dart hither and thither on the court, practicing their basketball shots until they get them right, and pause from time to time to watch the tall older students, soaking up the technique." I find that kind of funny because that's exactly what I do everyday after school. After a while of what most basketball players call "putting up" shots, we sit down and watch the older kids play for a little before we continue playing basketball. I'm kind of suprised that you noticed that! Great article!
Hi Ms. Marshall, i really like the first paragraph of this article. My favorite line of it was, " We’re not born stupid or smart! We’re not born good at something or bad at something. It’s all about effort and practice, and then you can get as smart and good as you desire!â€. I think that it is really true, because you can't do anything without practice.
I forgot why did you leave your old gym?
I keep hoping to run into you at the gym Ms.Marshall! I'm one of those students who race there everyday after school & knowing you you're probably still at school working away. I've actually had the opportunity to dine at Smith & Wollensky's with my family not too long ago. I used to attend school right across the street for 6 years and was always intrigued as to what actually was inside, which is why I was so excited to finally find out! It was soo intimidating because my mother made me go inside by myself to catch a table on the last day of restaurant week. Everything was dark and old, a guy even accompanied me on the elevator to my table! I didn't want to use the silver utensils haha.
The round building kind of looks like a library to me.
I also find this article very interesting because I am another one of your students who goes to the Ymca. I do look forward to seeing somewhere other than in a classroom.
I love the YMCA! i go there all the time! Maybe I'll see you around sometimes. Some may think thats it is awkward to see their teacher out and about but I think it would be really cool to see my ELA teacher at the Ymca! Great Article!
I recognize that brown mug! I think I have seen it before near the Prudential. On thursday I went to the Ymca, and up until now my arms are so sore!
I go to the YMCA sometimes on the occasion maybe I'll see you one day!
This article is very interesting knowing that I also go to the Ymca. It is a bit strange seeing you there but it is a very good experience and a great story. I will also look forward to seeing you at the Ymca.
I don't know why adults don't like to work out. It's a good way to stay healthy and build up muscles to impress people you like.
My friends and I go to the YMCA in West Roxbury a lot to go swimming, which is really fun! Most
teens think it's "akward" when you run into your teacher outside of school because they think they
have no lives outside of school, hahahhaa! It's not true though!!
The picture of the church you posted is amazing! I'd love to go inside and see what it looks like
i feel abnormal now. :( I actually do curl up on the couch with snacks and watch Hulu. But C'mon, it's Lindt milk chocolate truffles!
I feel the same way ! I've been going to the gym everyday for like 5 weeks now. Except for me its the older people who inspire me. They give me tips and help me out, kind of like a trainer would.
I actually passed all of those buildings going to a lacrosse game. I actually remember thinking how they were able to build the round building with rectangle bricks. There are tons of crazy looking buildings in Boston. For example the Bank of America Headquarters downtown looks really weird.
I've been going to the YMCA in West Roxbury since December, and I love it. My entire family and a bunch of my friends work out down there, so it's a cool place to go. A lot of BLA kids show up too, everyone is really happy.
I saw you at the YMCA :D. Seeing you there was so surprising! This is a great article. It's such a vivid view of what you see at the Y. I would've never thought how inspiring it was to see others work out. I pass by that church that looks like a mug all the time! I've always wondered what was inside there too.
Ms. Marshall, did you sign up in for the YMCA in chinatown? If so, I go there SOMETIMES, so we might run in to each other maybe SOMETIME, ha-ha.
I think that sometimes its not just adults that feel lazy and don't want to work out, that happens to kids too. Also, there is a major difference between kids working out and adults working out because kids do it for fun and adults do it just to workout.
I live like 10 minutes from the "Castle". Plus I love all of the different language you used in this article. It makes everything seem more fun. This is maybe one of my favorite articles!