I feel like Blogging. . .

I have a few things to say or talk about right now. . .

Today I had my social work classes all day and it was a long day but it challenged me in some ways and I learned some things. My first class today is practice, so we talk about our practicums/internships in it and a lot of people had some issues they wanted to bring up today including me. I talked about how I am feeling frustrated at the school a lot because I feel like I am getting more done when my field instructor isn't there. Its like I could almost say, "You aren't really guiding me enough, so just leave me alone or get stuff done."

Oh before I get into this I have to tell you about the safe school meeting last night, which was very interesting. I found out some more about how dangerous the area is, which I really don't know the extent of it because I don't live there. Well, the gangs are a big issue, especially the Hispanic ones. Vandalism and graffiti are huge problems and violence, drugs everything is there. Well, during the meeting we set up goals for the next 30, 60, and 90 days or the people involved did about what needs to happen and what is going to start happening.

Back to class today so my teacher was listening and doing a good job of empathizing with whats going on and understands I think. I am experiencing the classic social worker's internal colladrum(spelling) with all of these issues that are going on; not knowing really what to do at times, wanting to do more, but lack of funding, and everyone seems overworked and overwhelmed at the school. Anyway, you might see if you can do more by connecting with parents more whose kids will be doing group counseling and then I would be getting the child and adult stuff. Okay, I want to do more and see some stuff getting done, but its another thing to take this up with my field instructor. I can, but you know thats a bit scary especially being a student.

There were about three things I heard today in my classes that stuck; (1) Its okay to make waves, but don't make them so big that you fall out of the boat!, (2) Don't be a jelly fish, meaning passive, passive, and then suddenly you sting someone BANG, and then back to passive. You are unpredictable like that and its not good ever!, and (3) Fear is the beginning of understanding.

So, I am going to maybe start thinking about how to make this experience better for me before it gets too late in the game. I am going to do a needs assessment tomorrow for me and the school and then maybe get into contact with my field liason for some more advice on how to handle things.

Other than that I only slept like five hours last night because I got hooked to watching the movie Jerry McGuire on TBS last night. I have seen that movie before, but you know it sucked me in and I like that movie. Then tonight I didn't go to help out with youth group at the church because I am so tired and everything. I am going to try to get better though and go more consistently, I've been going like every other week so far this semester. They understand, but you know I want to go if I can. But I do need to take care of myself too. . . . so anyway tonight I watched Inocente de Ti, my favorite telenovela right now. Its in its last chapters and its still sad to me. It probably won't be happy untill like the final two episodes, I get hooked on those things so easy. But hey its Spanish and I can understand more and more as time goes by especially after I was in Guatemala this summer!

This is my life for the most part right now. . . stay tuned!

*Side Note please let me know if anyone is reading this!