Event 2: Smash your insecurities

                                           

One day when Nat, Sam and I were walking out of allied to see what events were on campus we came across an amazing one being held by a sorority at RIC.  The purpose of this event is to feel yourself smashing something until you are satisfied with the way you feel.  This is a good way to release anger, or anxious feelings about something you don't like about yourself.  We all have insecurities so it was nice to see how many people share those feelings.  Events like these really make me realize that I am not alone and there are other people out there struggling with the same thing.  The laughter made the serious thoughts feel better and weight lifting to know it was "smashed."  Thanks for experiencing this moment with me Nat and Sam <3

Event 1... YDEV ADVISING

I attended the youth development advising meeting this semester.  On this day in particular, I was having such a horrible day.  The last thing I wanted to do was go help people with their schedules or get advice from people about mine.  I didn't even walk in when Sam did and we came together.  So much had happened that week and I was at my breaking point with the semester.  I was not feeling confident and while filled with anxiety, I sat in the hallway while my best friend went in.  After a while of sitting out there feeling bad for myself Sam came out and gave me a pep talk and I walked in.  Still with an attitude and in a complete funk everyone around me sounded muffled as I sat there with tears in my eyes.  Corrine came over to me and took one look at me and asked me to take a walk.  It was then when the tears couldn't be held back anymore.  We talked and sorted everything I was worried about out and I came back to the advising room.  It was then when I realized how much people actually care about me in this community.  Not to mention Sam and how she constantly looks out for me and knows without me even saying it when something is wrong.  Instead of forcing me to walk in or making me feel bad for not wanting to, she gave me time and then reassured me that everything was going to be okay no matter what.  Corinne being able to take one look at me and know that I needed a walk also meant the world to me because at that point I couldn't even speak about what was wrong, I just needed to talk to a professor.  I ended up making a great schedule for next semester and feeling better about the battles I was facing.  This event saved me that day and for that I am thankful.  However I am really thankful for my YDEV family... each and every one of you and I cannot wait to cross the stage with CHORT 5 WOOT WOOOOOOOT!!!! 

         

Ideologies

The ideology that I identify the most with is critical youth development.  After taking the quiz and reading about critical youth development, I believe that I vibe with it so well because it takes more of a stand with social justice.  Youth have more of a voice than we as a community give them credit for.  In class on Friday my group made a skit that explained critical youth development and it even helped me to better understand it.  We used learning your times tables or multiplication as a lesson being taught on an "average" school day.  While playing the role of the teacher I did not just lecture the information, but instead I asked my students how they would like to learn it.  I then would take their feedback and create a lesson that everyone could understand and relate it.  We would also make it critical youth development by then applying the knowledge to everyday life.  Often times we loose students interest because they cannot connect to where this will matter in their lives.  If we make that connection, the information becomes meaningful in a matter of seconds and there becomes a purpose.
As a youth worker this is what I live by because I believe all youth have a voice and not just a voice, but a voice that matters and is capable to take on the world!

 I also really like this image because it represents to me that you can say one thing and really be thinking and aligned with another. Ideologies can be tricky and over lapping, however it is important to respect that everyone's is different and that, that is the beauty of it all.  Being able to collaborate with someone who is positive youth development while you, yourself are critical, creates diverse ways of being a youth worker.

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.

Youth Stereotypes

“No one likes teenagers. Only someone with something wrong inside wants to be around them that much.” (Steinberg, 3)

This quote is a perfect example of stereotyping youth because to say no one wants to be around a young person is just CRAZY!!! Being a young person no matter which stage you are at can be difficult, however that goes for adulthood as well. We all have good and bad days which can result in mistreating someone, but just like any stereotype, they aren't good because it never goes for everything or anyone... EVER. This statement is referring to teens as always having "something wrong."  It would be impossible to be a youth worker and have that mind set because we would then be judging people and not as open minded as we should be at all.

"Youth are a distinct age based entity" (Bogad, 5)

This quote makes me upset in many different ways and I wanted to express that in my blog because I am comfortable with all of you and you knowing where I stand.  As Lesley explains, after a horrible event such as the columbine shooting, there were many articles explaining and asking the question of how well you knew your kid.  The headlines of these articles were making it seem like our generation of kids had a problem, one of the headlines being something like "what is wrong with Americas youth." Not all youth is headed for downfall or set up for failure and I think part of that thought stems from change and how differently we do thinks than adults did when they were youth. 

"Youth are known as mysterious and puzzling to adults" (Bogad, 4)

Conversations we have with our friends and even some family are completely different than conversations adults now used to have.  Ours involve sex and drugs verses what Lesley states as more sophisticated thoughts like work, health, and money. It is confusing because at this time people believe that we have a different state of judgment which forms the stereotype that "people shouldn't listen to young adults because they are mysterious and puzzling

MY MEMORY

"You are too young to worry about that"

This quote connects to stereotyping youth, to me because I feel like I get told this a lot.  My argument is, if I am too young now to worry about it, then when is the right time? I am a planner, therefore if I am worrying about something that is not coming up for a while, chances are I am going to worry about it until there is a plan set in place.  



                                                                           



youth work characteristics





Blog # 1

Youth work characteristics

There are so many different qualities and characteristics to a great youth worker.  According to Youth Work: Preparation for practice, an book introduction written by Jason Wood, Sue Westwood, and Gill Thompson, there are key characteristics that define a youth worker. The characteristics are, seeing youth work as an educational, social, and welfare practice, actively challenging inequalities and working towards social justice, choosing to involve the young people, seeking to strengthen young peoples voices and influences, and working holistically with young people.

Youth work is educational practice because it opens and has trusting relationships to promote an environment of learning.  It also uses different methods and activities for informal education and learning to create a learning relationship among peers and advocates. Lastly, it creates opportunities, activites, and conversations that enable young people to think, feel and act differently in their social world.

Youth work is a social practice because it promotes working in groups in order for young people to engage and associate with their peers. Youth work engages in pro social modeling which is a group environment that enables young people to test their values, attitudes, and behaviors.

Youth work actively challenges inequality and work towards social justice because it is geared toward the social injustice of the margins of people that are excluded by personal, cultural, and structural barriers.  Youth workers are people who actually stand up for someone and are a voice no matter the environment you are in. 

Youth work strengthens the voice and influence of young people.  They have a huge impact in the area / community that they live in.  Empowerment is recognized and admired when a youth worker is making change. 
 
Youth work is welfare practice because it promotes the welfare and safety of young people.  Youth workers are exposed to youth who are deprived of the resources that we use everyday to survive.  There is always problem solving and positive next steps in the mind of a youth worker.  
 
Youth workers work with young people holistically because they have a well rounded understanding of where a lot of them are coming from and that is so important when working with youth. 

All of these characteristics make an exceptional youth worker for kids to look up to and follow as a guide through life.