Journal Entry #1 - March 30th

Yesterday was the first time that I had met with my Mentee since before Spring Break. She had plans for going to Washington for the majority of the break, so I was very interested in knowing how that trip went for her. She was very excited about it, but she was nervous as well, since she hadn't seen that part of her family in a little over a year or so.

We met in the counseling room in the office because the room we normally meet in at the Library was full. The very first thing I noticed was how at ease she is with me now, which is a great change from when we started meeting! We dropped the blinds on the windows and then joked about how we felt like we were secretly plotting like mad scientists with the room all closed off.

I asked her how her trip went, and she enthusiastically talked about Washington and everything she did up there for nearly the entire time we met. She was very excited because her Uncle gave her use of a dirt bike for the whole trip, and she said that she rarely stopped riding it. She was also excited because it snowed while she was up there, and she had been kind of disappointed that there wasn't any real snow down here this year.

We talked about how her first few days back at classes have been ("Spring break wasn't long enough" was her answer) and what her goals for the rest of the school year are.

We also talked about a problem that I've had in meeting her. When I show up (on time to early) sometimes it takes the kids working in the office fifteen minutes to send her a note to come meet me, and if it's a PE day, it takes another five to ten minutes for her to get dressed. One time I waited nearly 30 minutes for her, and it really cuts into our meeting time. We talked about possible ways to fix this (changing meeting times, having her go directly from her class before to where we meet, seeing if her PE teacher will let her not dress down because she has a meeting, ect) and talked about which option might work for us the best.

It was good meeting with her, especially now that she feels more comfortable with me and can joke and goof, instead of feeling unsure or uncomfortable.

Journal Entry - March 15th

Today I met with my mentee again. She was very excited because over Spring Break she will be heading up to Washington to visit with her aunt and uncle who live up there. She says she hasn't seen them in over a year and she's very much looking forwarding to getting a chance to spend some time with them and her cousins. She said she's planning on going to school with her cousin since their Spring Break is later then hers is.

She said her mom is also planning on perhaps moving them up there this Summer so she wants to start looking at colleges in Washington since she says there is a possibility that she might attend up there once she is finished with High School.

She wapped her hand on an overhead projector just before I came and it was looking pretty swollen and black and blue so I had to fill out her ITSAP for her, with her dictating to me what to write.

We talked some more about her issues with her classes, she said they're getting a little better. Her cousin moved back to Portland so she said that the elimination of that stress really helped a bit with her focusing. I let her out a few minutes early from our meeting so she could get to her Art Class to pick up her stuff she left and then get to her locker (which is on the second floor) and to her next class (which was PE, and outside) before the bell so it would eliminate any problems with her being late.

I told her to have a good Spring Break and that I'd see her in two weeks. I gave her the part of the snapshot (was that what it was called? Portrait?) assignment thing that was hers, she said she'd fill it out over Spring Break, I wasn't going to make her do it with her hand all throbbing and red, I'm not that mean.

(Matt, was there a responsive reading for the last week of term? I've been such a nut case I can't remember. If there is, and you read this before Wed, would it be possible to get it from you and post it Wed? Thanks...and sorry!)

Journal Entry - March 8th

I met with my Mentee today. We talked more about her problems with her school work, and how she has low grades in all her classes. We talked a bit about ways that she may be able to fix these problems, such as leaving lunch a few minutes earlier in order to reach her locker on time so she isn't late, or maybe spending an extra 20 minutes a night studying her math.

Her cousin who is living with her will be moving back to Portland soon so that should help, since she won't have to share a room any longer. She said that it was very difficult to study with her cousin around because she (her cousin) wanted to watch TV while studying, or wanted to interrupt her or fight over who gets to study where. She said she really felt like part of the reason she was doing so bad is because there were so many distractions.

She wants me to look and see if there is any program that will let her tour the State Hospital. I'm not sure why she wants to tour it, but it really interests her. She has kind of hinted a few times that the idea of going into the mental health profession also interests her, but she doesn't know where to start.

Responsive Reading - March 3rd

What goals have I set thus far in life? I've set goals for my carrier, for my schooling, for things that I want to do after I get my degree, and just personal goals. I've set goals to work in forensic pediatrics, I would very much like to go to OHSU. I'd like to do a term with the Peace Corps, and I'd like to have a novel published by the end of this year.

The goals that I've accomplished are really aren't ones that I had set years ago, but they are still good goals for me to have finished. I'm in school (something that I've been striving to do for a long while) I've finished novels, I've opened my own business. These aren't really goals I had for myself when I was a kid, but they're ones that I added later in life that I'm glad I've finished.

I think a reasonable goal I can set with my mentee that we can obtain would maybe be one like helping her pull her math grade up a letter before the end of the school year, or even helping her look at some colleges she might be interested in. Ones that wouldn't be to hard to try and accomplish before summer.

Responsive Reading - Feb. 23

In this responsive reading i'm supposed to rewrite the incoming message in my own words and in a positive way. So, here is the incoming message, as seen on religioustolerance.org:

"your religion is the dumbest thing ive ever heard..... how can you be ignorant enough to follow it.... it was made up by someone w/ a 7th grade education, and also the next president was a criminal.... the ppl that follow this religion are loosers who have no life and follow this religion to make an excuse for y they dont go to parties on the weekends. thank you for your time and cooperation."

My rewrite of the comment, but not as icky and with fewer (but not completely without!) typos:

"I've recently read an essay on your site that deals with a religion that I do not believe in. Although my religious beliefs are different then some of the religions expressed on your site, I do appreciate the fact that you are offering information on all religious in a fair and unbiased way. Thank you for your time and cooperation."

See, that wasn't hard. Kinda sad I couldn't fit any foul words in there though, those seem to be very popular in some of those comments. It's not a big deal if you don't agree with someone on some topics, but it is important that you respect their beliefs like you want them to respect yours. It's amazing to me that so many people demand respect for their religion, beliefs, morals, ect., but forget that other people want respect for theirs as well.

For the second part, what are the advantages of negative comments? Aside from getting someone's attention right away, there really aren't any. Even though you might have gained someone's immediate attention, it doesn't mean that attention will be positive, or that they'll even take you seriously or listen to what you have to say. A positive, or even just plain respectful manner of expressing yourself is much better.

Even if you don't agree with someone about religion, or really anything, doesn't mean that you can't approach your conversation with them in a way that lets them know that even though you have a difference of opinion or views you can still discuss the issues in a mature manner.

Journal Entry - March 2nd

I met with my Mentege today, so I thought I should post before I forget. I decided since the Library proper was really distracting that we'd get a little study room and talk there.

This time was so much easier! We actually talked the entire hourish (she had PE and had to change, so she took a bit longer). We talked so much that I forgot to have her fill out the ITSAP. So I'll have to make sure she does it next week.

We talked about how she had to give away all her puppies (so sad!) and how she's doing in school. We also talked about her fears of going to McKay (her brother was stabbed in the hand in a class there, she's afraid it will be too violent and scary) and how she wants to go to North instead. We talked about what makes good teachers good, and bad ones not so good. It was nice because we went into our meeting with established things to talk about, which made it so much easier then last time.

I'm going to call the school and make sure it's ok if I bring in paint and a T-shirt. She wants to paint one, and I think that would be a good project for us to do together.

(Matt - I can't find the reading for last weeks responsive writing. Can I pick up another one from you? I'm sorry.)