Blah-g

Friday was my last day at VOA. Greg was very gracious to Brenna and I for helping out this semester--even though it didn't necessarily feel like I did very much to deserve such praise. I enjoyed being in a high school environment and the squirreliness of high schoolers on Friday afternoons. Although just one hour a week didn't allow me to get very close to the students, I will remember this lesson that I learned: treat everybody with kindness because you never know what kind of burden they are bearing. It was apparent that most of the students at VOA don't have the same family and home environment that I grew up with. Nonetheless, I found them to be very polite and respectful of me--something I wasn't certain I would receive when I started. When some got frustrated with the repetitiveness of the My Life Plan surveys, Greg respected how they felt and suggested they take a break from that survey and try something else. He works well with the students, and they seem to respect him for it. If I do service-learning again, I wouldn't mind going back to VOA. Greg said that next year VOA High School is going to be converted into a school that specializes for students where English is their second language.

Posted by logem006 at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It has been three weeks since I have been to VOA because of our spring break, then their spring break, then their parent's pancake breakfast day. But I liked what I saw when I came back. VOA upgraded their back room and converted it into a "Career and College Center". There are four computers, tables, bookshelves, post-high school resources, and most importantly, a tangible space where the students can think about their futures. (and there is a comfy green chair). This week it was imperative that we get as many students through the My Life Plan process as possible because the Minneapolis School District just informed Greg this week that they would be checking the progress at the end of April, instead of May like they told him before. Most of the kids I had seen before, and didn't have much trouble getting done. However, the new faces I saw hadn't even started and were skeptical about the My Life Plan. One gentleman in particular was getting a little frustrated when taking one of the surveys...however, after he finished, he was excited to see results that matched his personality: Realistic. He said, "Yes, this is EXACTLY like me! I love doing this kind of stuff, with my hands, and with cars." That was fun to see.

Posted by logem006 at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There were under ten students in class today because the others were on a field trip. However, even though there were less of them, the noise level was what would be expected from a group of energy-packed high schoolers on a Friday afternoon! A girl was wearing a bookcover on her head; I thought it was a durag. Today I also pondered the topic of perceptions: I was walking down the hallway to get a drink of water, when two guys approached me. One asked, "Hey, do you have a lighter?" I replied that I did not. Then the other said, "Man, does she LOOK like she has a lighter?" What does that supposed to mean? I wonder what I did with my body language/physical perceptions to tip him off that I don't smoke.
Within the group of students today, one of them wanted to be a video game designer, another a history teacher, yet another a cosmotologist, and a nurse.

Posted by logem006 at 3:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This week was spent on My Life Plan again. While the students were working on their surveys, I walked around in case they had any questions. Most of them didn't have any technical questions that I could answer, nor did any of them initiate any "college life" questions that Greg suggested they ask Brenna and me. So, I weaved in and out of little conversations with them. Two stuck out in my mind that gave me insight to the hardships that these kids are dealing with. One girl was wearing a volleyball letter jacket, so I was talking to her about going to some volleyball camps this summer. She said, "I can't afford it." I asked another young man what his plans were after high school. He talked for a while how he already had plans about going into the Air Force. I asked him a general question if his dad or any relatives in the armed forces that influenced his decision. He said, "I never met my dad." These kids don't have a lot, but they have dreams. I feel lucky to have always been able to afford going to a summer volleyball camp or talking to my dad whenever I want to; talking to these kids put it in perspective and made me realize what I take for granted. However, I my hope for them is that they don't rule out going to college just because they don't have the funds.

Posted by logem006 at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I stepped in a puddle on my walk to VOA today. I feel that that is worth mentioning? This was the first day we got to interact with the students. They were given the task to set up and log in to their my life plan webpage, however, most of them would rather be on youtube. (These kids aren't too different than I was in high school!) Another girl, while practicing her shooting form in her chair, asked if she could go play basketball. Taking a cue from Greg, I chatted with her about looking into different colleges/schools that she could potentially play for.

Posted by logem006 at 9:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Our coordinator trained/introduced Brenna and I to the online "My Life Plan" program that our students will have to accomplish. After learning more about the program, it seems like a very good idea. It forces the students to plan ahead for after high school, and also gives them one place to keep all of their information for scholarships, potential colleges, interest inventories, etc. (Our group project for 1281 dealt with "my life plan", but it was good to get refreshed.)

While going through the website training, I couldn't help but notice my surroundings. There was a gym class lifting weights in the same room as our coordinator's office. It is a safe bet to say the VOA High School was not designed by an architect. It would be interesting to study the effect the surrounding atmosphere of an industrial, enclosed, non-windowed classroom has on the level of focus of the students.

Posted by logem006 at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For a kid that dreamed of being a bus driver in kindergarten, I am terrible at taking the bus. On my journey, I asked a kind woman named Wai for directions. I mentioned that I was a student at the University going to volunteer for a class. She didn't know where VOA was, but suggested that I babysit/tutor her children. I must look trustworthy. To make a long story short, I ended up walking past the building twice but eventually got there.

After taking some grief for having walked past the building twice (Brenna and the Achieve! coordinator saw me pass the window both times), we had a short informational meeting. I worked with Achieve! last semester, although at the Lehmann Center rather than VOA. When asked what age group of students we would be working with, the coordinator got up off his chair, closed the door, and answered in a hushed voice, "Most people would refer to this as a 'gang school'".

Physically going off campus and into the city, adds another dimension rather than just "helping kids fill out college applications." I think that I am going to learn more from these students than they will learn from me.

Posted by logem006 at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)