So, I haven't really gone into any explanation into, well, anything.

I am now working at the Wesley Center in the northside of Fort Worth, which is part of the United Community Centers, under the Act III program.

"ACT III YOUTH PROGRAM

ACT III is an acronym for Awareness Changes Tomorrow. The program targets adolescents, grades 6-12, at risk for school drop-out. ACT III focuses on empowering youth through awareness of I) Self, II) Family, and III) Community and how the 3 areas interact. It offers programs that involve the families to strengthen the family unit. The ACT III youth volunteer in regular community service activities that enrich their community.


The ACT III program encourages personal and academic success, preparing today�s youth for tomorrow�s workforce.

TOPICS ADDRESSED:

-Social skills development
-Life skills development
-Personal Goals Setting �High School Graduation and beyond
-College/ Career Readiness
-Substance abuse prevention
-Pregnancy prevention
-Gang avoidance
-Conflict resolution
-Healthy Parenting / Relationships
-Healthy Lifestyles
-Community Volunteerism / Service "


...or so it says in the website.

I've come at quite possibly the worst time for the program. Within the last year, they have had 7 different teachers. 7. That means that within a year they have had 7 different people to grow close to, to grow to hate, to grow to love, to grow to trust in, to grow to not trust in, to develop a relationship, an understanding, a bond with, just to see them go. The last two teachers they had SUCKED. ASS. One stayed for seven months and started out by slowly kicking out half of the kids in the program, complained about not having anything to do, and did nothing more for these kids other than babysit them. He was nothing more than a rich stuck up white guy who didn't care for these kids so much so that he didn't even say goodbye. The last one only stayed a week and a half and kicked out the other half of the students in the program and forced everyone else to fill out worksheets about life and school. Screaming at them was her form of communication. She also didn't say goodbye, but the kids hated her anyway.

Then I came in.
Me.
Me, who "looks and talk" white. Me, who love literature and art. Me, who has never been in a fist fight my whole life. Me, who doesn't have any gang affiliations. Me, who, unlike everyone else here, has no fear of walking out in the streets at night. Me, who has never lived the life they have. Me, who came in a week before Thanksgiving break, 4 weeks before winter break. Me, who had to fight against all the odds.

It's been an uphill battle. The type of uphill you only find in San Francisco.

And I'm out of shape.

I'm slowly getting on these kids good graces.
I think...
But I know it's worth it. These kids are worth it. I want them to know they're not doomed. Because they're NOT. I refuse to be another knot on their noose.



I, of course, have much more going on.
But unlike many other people, I don't want to put my selfish needs and desires over these kids.

Even so... I've been making sure to show my mom I care. She's not getting better.
She's not.
She's stopping her chemo. It's not helping. And that was her last viable medical option. So... yeah.

On that glorious note, I must go.
Work still awaits me.

response to your comment.
i would love to take my name off my profile, but for some reason it won't let me remove my last name? : i have seen on other people's profiles that they were able to leave the last name part blank, though.

let me know if you have any tips?!?!

thanks for your comment. :)
» ridiculosaur on 2008-12-20 10:23:27

It's time for a new entry.
» Helena on 2008-12-31 04:21:47

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