Injustice

Coincidentally I just made a Facebook "rant" about feeling in-just about the major I chose to pursue.  YDEV was not my first choice but now I believe that it's because I didn't even know about it.  I started as an education major and I always had people telling me how great of money I would make and the benefits, etc.  Once I decided I was in-love with YDEV, every time I would try to explain to someone what it was all about and who it supported no one understood me.  To this day, in my senior year there are adults and kids my age who make me feel like I can't make a lot of money ever in my life. WHY?

Not only do I get grief about making money but also the second I mention that my passion is working and being a voice for youth in the system, almost every ones response is, what are you crazy?  Then they proceed to explain to me that it is a very depressing field and I will most likely get burnt out.  ALL of this makes me want to scream and is an example of injustice for me.

To the right is my face book post so everyone can see how this has been a struggle for me recently.  As you can see there are a lot of comments that you cannot see of people who do support and that felt good.

Leading With

 

Youth in action demonstrates leading with by offering the confidence and tools needed in order for youth to facilitate and make a change in the world.  Confidence to me is a huge part of leading with because if you lack confidence (which we all do at times) it can be hard to believe that you can accomplish anything.  The leading that they do through youth allows them to build relationships with each other and the community.  Youth in action provides a safe comfortable space for youth to lead and brainstorm ways to make the change that THEY want to see in the world. The mission of youth in action is truly amazing because there is no better feeling than accomplishment, which is what leading with feels like because the youth are directly making THEIR change. 

My Youth Development Autobiography <3

  My Journey to the Youth development program started as a frustrating one and turned into what I can honestly say as beautiful.  Ever since I was a little girl I had always dreamed of have my own classroom as a public school teacher.  I had my mine completely set and there was nothing changing it.  I was always more of a home body growing up therefore I knew RIC was the school for me because it was 45 minutes away from my home in Westerly and I knew I could come home whenever I pleased.  Also RIC had one of the best education programs so it was a clear choice.  Soon into my educational career at RIC I had trouble passing my Praxis test's and it was putting so much stress on me because I had no more classes left to take.  I felt like I had no idea where I was going with my life and was starting to loose who I was as a person.  I then heard through some students about the YDEV program and made an appointment to meet with Lesley.  From then on out I have felt at home.  My hopes are to get my MSW one day, so this program is a great way to further my education with being a youth worker and be familiar with multiple non-profit studies. 

Blog #3

LETS PLAY!

                                               

The type of youth work that I have been involved in my whole life has been with babysitting.  I take care of a family and their children.  It is a brother and sister and their children all under one house hold in the summer time.  I always have to keep thinking about activities to keep them busy, and also pertaining to each age present so that they all stay engaged.  

Play is a great way to incorporate learning and also help kids to stay on track.  Play can be used for negative reinforcement for example if a child acts up, they could get play time taken away.  This ensures that the child will at least think before making a decision next time.  Just like in Jenkins "Shall We Play?" article, the six P's factor into play no matter the space.  Of course there are sometimes where play is not appropriate however it should not be that way forever.  Time is important and eventually play should be brought back to engage all age groups and create creativity.