Week 14 Post of Choice

I found this poem….I just thought I would share it.

Still life

I watch the children line up like ducks
 all in a row, except one.
Noisily they ramble past concrete walls
 follow-the-leader style
 behind a blond-haired woman
 in a light yellow dress
 who quietly talks to them through her motions.
Today is picture day in the school
 with a jolly old man who says: "Cheese"
 tossing tidbit compliments before boys and girls
 as they fix their smiles at him.
In just a flash roles are caught,
 a moment recorded, and lines form again.
Straight and precise the children walk
 all except one, who in dimly-lit halls,
 rapidly steps in a zigzag manner
 defying a rule and defining himself.
Gladding, S. T. (1975). Still life. North Carolina Personnel & Guidance Journal, 4, 28. Copyright Prentice Hall.
 

Post of my Choice for Week 12

Right now I’m not sure if I’m going to be using my counseling degree anytime soon – in its official sense anyway.  I really love my job.  I love the kids I work with.  I love feeling like I am making a real difference in their lives. I definitely feel like I do a lot of counseling here even though my official job title is teacher. 

I love the experiences I get to have with students here.  Yesterday we held a “Reality Store” for them so they could experience budgeting, paying for bills/necessities, supporting children, etc.  Some of their reactions to seeing how much was left in their bank accounts, or how many jobs they had to hold in order to pay all of the bills was priceless.  Today I had one of my girls graduate.  She left about an hour ago with a hug, a promise to stay in touch, and telling me she would remember what I always tell her – to “Make good choices.” I have high hopes that she will be successful while I struggle with my fears for the life she might be going back to.

But right now another student needs my attention…

Metaphors, Stories, Humor, and Linguistic Changes

Teaching at Job Corps, I work with students who have life experiences that I can’t even imagine.  Sometimes it is really hard to find common ground with these kids.  They are from large cities.  I’m from a small, rural community.  I’ve never gone hungry in my life.  They might not know if/when they would get their next meal.  At 35, I can still rely on my parents if I need help.  Some of them may have never met one or either of their parents.  The common bond for us is that we are human.  We have feelings and emotions.  Humor helps us speak a common language and helps me reach students and let them know that even though our struggles and life experiences have been very different, there are always common bonds. 

When I get a new student (and we have a new intake every two weeks here) I spend some time trying to figure out what makes them tick, how they view the world, their teachers, their new surroundings…A lot of times I share with them some personal information – I have a daughter about their age, how excited I was when I first got to (insert any major life event here), a friend they remind me of, a favorite movie…these are all ways to let them know that I’m just a person and that I care about what goes on in their lives as well.

I have a degree in English, so using metaphors is certainly no stretch for me.  I’m also not above creating a story to fit any given situation.  Only I know whether or not that story is 100% true or not, but if it makes the student see a situation differently or feel better, then I don’t feel bad about telling a “story” and presenting it as fact.  One of my favorite movies is “Big Fish” for this very reason.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is something I didn’t have to worry about as a high school student.  Very few of my peers even had a home computer.  Today, however, it is a different world.  I know from the experience of my own children and friends that many people use the anonymity of the internet in order to harass and slander and the negative psychological and social effects that can have on the life of the victims.  I don’t think it is possible to prevent cyberbullying from taking place, though I do think students should be educated on the consequences it can have.  I think counselors should make students aware of the problems associated with the problem and educate them as to exactly what cyberbullying is, but I think more focus should be on helping students cope when cyberbullying takes place.  As a counselor, it will be my job to help students learn mechanisms that will help them overcome and live through tough situations without allowing themselves to fall into the mindset of the victim.

Continued Learning as a Professional

Even though I am now finished with the Counseling program and have earned my degree, I will always be a student of the profession.  As I have learned throughout the past two and a half years, theories and ideas surrounding the counseling field are constantly changing and evolving.  As I see more clients I’m sure I will encounter new situations and issues and I will have to continue to read professional journals in order to stay up to date on theories and treatment methods. 

A Magic Wand

If I had a magic wand and could change one thing, I would change the number of kids who need counseling services.  I wish so many students weren’t going through issues that needed attention.  I wish none of them were hungry, or neglected, or scared, or angry, or confused.  I wish they all had parents and family they could go to for advice and help.  I know….big magic wand wish, right?