Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Boys and Girls Club
So I am going to try to makes posts short and sweet because the long ones get way too overwhelming for readers I feel like.
So, I started at this place called Boys&Girls Club this past Monday. Love it... Exact replica of Kingsley House in NOLA. It's basically a place for kids to go to after school before their parents are home for the evening. Being a white girl, I am the total minority. The first day was just as they told me it would be, filled with rejection. From what I got out of it, the kids aren't exactly open to new volunteers. I think that they think we are just there to get our hours in and never come back. Granted some IWU students are like that, but that is not my mission for going. My goal is to go to B&G Mon, Wed, Fri straight after practice till close, so about an hr and half. My hope is that the kids will see consistency. I wish to gain trust and respect from these kids. I want to know what's going on it their lives and learn how to help them with what life throws at them.
I go in, sign in, and get no direction what so ever. So walk straight to the gym and sit next to a group of middle school kids. Grade 8 I believe. No one talks to me. They all shrug the shoulders and just call me a "volunteer" with sass. One girl wouldn't tell me her name. She says, "I don't know you. You gunna report me to the police or something like that." We finally concluded to me calling her Annie. Her name is like Shankwa or something, so not even close. But works for me. I finally started some small talk about school and boring stuff like that, but its a start. By the end of my time there was some sort of "relationship drama" with the group. So I was totally lost and just sitting watching everyone talk and trying to get engaged. Cuss words flying all over the place, but then something took me off guard. "Annie" goes, "Eh man don't be using dirty words. I respect this girl." so... that was awesome. IDK, I'm just excited to go back tomorrow night and say hey to them again!
so ya... I'm super excited.
So, I started at this place called Boys&Girls Club this past Monday. Love it... Exact replica of Kingsley House in NOLA. It's basically a place for kids to go to after school before their parents are home for the evening. Being a white girl, I am the total minority. The first day was just as they told me it would be, filled with rejection. From what I got out of it, the kids aren't exactly open to new volunteers. I think that they think we are just there to get our hours in and never come back. Granted some IWU students are like that, but that is not my mission for going. My goal is to go to B&G Mon, Wed, Fri straight after practice till close, so about an hr and half. My hope is that the kids will see consistency. I wish to gain trust and respect from these kids. I want to know what's going on it their lives and learn how to help them with what life throws at them.
I go in, sign in, and get no direction what so ever. So walk straight to the gym and sit next to a group of middle school kids. Grade 8 I believe. No one talks to me. They all shrug the shoulders and just call me a "volunteer" with sass. One girl wouldn't tell me her name. She says, "I don't know you. You gunna report me to the police or something like that." We finally concluded to me calling her Annie. Her name is like Shankwa or something, so not even close. But works for me. I finally started some small talk about school and boring stuff like that, but its a start. By the end of my time there was some sort of "relationship drama" with the group. So I was totally lost and just sitting watching everyone talk and trying to get engaged. Cuss words flying all over the place, but then something took me off guard. "Annie" goes, "Eh man don't be using dirty words. I respect this girl." so... that was awesome. IDK, I'm just excited to go back tomorrow night and say hey to them again!
so ya... I'm super excited.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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