Learning Openness Anna Aldaba

The air was humid and the room was wild with the excitement of children on summer vacation. There were board games, drawings, Lego creations, and a radio with the local station on. I was seated at the table with my head resting on my arm and a game of solitaire dealt out before me. I had never played it before, so I just moved the cards around and glanced up every once in a while to see the work of my artistically inclined peers.

Abruptly, my chair was yanked away from the table and I was spinning. Cards fell onto the floor and I gasped before coming to a complete stop in front of one of the daycare counselors, Betty. I was only eight years old at the time, so she towered above me. My blood ran cold as I waited for her to say something. She looked at me inquisitively.

“There are twenty-five other kids here, why don’t you find some to play with?” she asked.

I shrugged and stared blankly at her, hoping she would release me to my card game. As with every figure of authority I encountered, I wanted as little contact as possible. I had the same preference with other people as well, although I was much less averse to talking to them if necessary. Betty, I believe, sensed that I was apprehensive around others.

“Openness is important in...