Cityview Volunteering- Week three
This week I went to Cityview without my trusty bus partner Julia FIllingame. I was a little worried about riding the bus alone, but it turns out I recognized somebody from architecture on the bus so it was no big deal. It was Andrew's first time volunteering this week, so I tried to show him what to do, but I wanted him to be able to figure most of it out on his own, without me influencing his perceptions of the program.
This week I decided to go with the same group again, and as it turns out the same team leader as last week. Apparently our first week started at the end of a cycle, so a new one began in our second week. I hope I can develop a relationship with the kids in my group by the end of this cycle. They can sometimes be a difficult group of kids to work with, but what group doesn't have its quirks? I have really enjoyed getting to know these kids. I find it the most beneficial to just sit and let the kids talk if they wan to. One boy, Travis, always has something he wants to tell me. If I am spending time with another student, Travis will come over and show me what he has been working on, just to be sure I approve. It really makes me feel good. It is amazing, to me, how willing kids are to develop relationships with new people. They have such trust and innocence, which is totally cliché and lame, but it is true!
Again this week I noticed problem with delegation of regulations for the kids. One of the students was playing a game with me and other students and one of the traveling team leaders came over and took him away to do his homework, when two minutes before someone told him he could go play. He was crushed and started to cry. Later then, I had all the students I was working with stop playing and work on their "fish stories." The same student came over to get the game so he could play and I told him that he had to work on his fish story like everybody else. It seems like the right answer right? It seems weird that one boy would be allowed to play if nobody else can, but the same team leader as before came up to me and said that she was going to play with him as a reward for doing his homework. She said it perfectly nicely, but then I felt terrible for messing with the poor boys emotions! My point is, it could have been dealt with better. There needs to be a common goal for all the volunteers and team leaders and it needs to be communicated.
Though I know some of my blogs have been rather harsh on the program, considering what they are working with and the fact that they have volunteers coming and going, they really do a great job. Hats off to them. Really.