I shadowed Jonathan Rogers, the day following winter break. Usually, the day after the vacation is a tough one to just jump out of bed so we usually set the alarm clock. This day was especially difficult since I was to drive to Mattapan to make the bus ride with Jon to Lexington. My wife set the alarm. Once the alarm was set, I woke up every hour on the hour to make sure it would go off. The morning came. The alarm buzzes, I jump into the shower, dress in my student shadowing clothes and put on my watch. I startle at the time on my watch - 4:10! I rush downstairs only to find that the other two clocks also read the same time. Tenderly, I awaken my wife, just to let her know of the time and to share in my misery over lost sleep. I'm ready for my day. I leave my home in the dark at 5:30 and I arrive at Jon's house. The "Beware of Guard Dog Sign" on the gate stops me from approaching the front door. Jon yells out the window, I begin filming and we walk to the bus stop. Our stop is in a quiet residential neighborhood, but as we continue picking students up on Blue Hill

Ave. the quiet turns into the morning chaos of the city. We started our trip at 6:24 hoping to end in Lexington at 7:20. The bus ride is "home room" for students who have no time during the day, outside of a 20 minute lunch break, to "chill". The camera records the ride and conversations and the bumps can't be avoided. Anyone, who has driven on Boston streets during the winter know that dodging pot holes is impossible. The music from Hot 97.7 provides the background and masks the siren that passes. It's great being an observer but not feeling like I'm a hindrance. We video tape the ride arriving almost on time at the high school. As the bus unloads the cafeteria fills with the continued "chillin". Lexington students begin to trickle into the school, many who can wake at 7:00 and still be in the first class. If a Boston student misses the bus, then they must rely on the "T", not LEXPRESS in order to get here which can take quite some time. The day was a real eye opener for me and I encourage you to watch the movie of our experience.

• Jim Keefe •