Monday, November 16, 2009
Why I love my job.....
A smile changes everything!
Last week while I was working at ROCK, I had another great experience with the kids. Each one of them had noticed that I was having a bad day so they came to me and said "Miss Christina what is wrong?" I simply explained to them that I was not having the best day and I wanted it to get better. So what did they do? They made funny faces and playing games. Its a good feeling knowing that you can go to work and there are fifty kids who want to make everything better in a place where they aren't surrounded by the best environment but they make the most out of it. How is it possible that they are so happy when there are so many bad things that are happening around them? It is simple... It's a smile that changes everything for them. The littlest smile makes them happy. It is just that simple. This is exactly our goal at ROCK is to make sure that every child gets the opportunity to do something that they have not been able to do before. Give them the opportunity to smile one day at a time and even hours at a time. As the program goes on, we get to know each child as their own person and we focus on their personalities. It is amazing how you can change the way a child is by paying a little bit of attention to them and making them smile.
This is so important to every child these days... we need to make them feel important and realize that they are an important part of our lives. We need to give them attention and show them that it is possible for them to be successful and that they do make us happy on a daily basis. We need to provide for them and show them that there is more to life than the bad things that they see in the communities that they live in. ROCK is an outreach program we show them the way but as individuals we should be showing children that there is more to life than just what others who are doing bad things. This is important. Make sure to stress that they have many opportunities in life to go to school and be successful in their future
This is so important to every child these days... we need to make them feel important and realize that they are an important part of our lives. We need to give them attention and show them that it is possible for them to be successful and that they do make us happy on a daily basis. We need to provide for them and show them that there is more to life than the bad things that they see in the communities that they live in. ROCK is an outreach program we show them the way but as individuals we should be showing children that there is more to life than just what others who are doing bad things. This is important. Make sure to stress that they have many opportunities in life to go to school and be successful in their future
Monday, October 26, 2009
ROCK and the lives of little kids
As many of you know, I work for a program that is called ROCK. In the past few weeks I have not been able to write or blog due to the fact that we have been so busy with the kids in the program. So today while I had some extra time, I decided that I should let everyone know what we have been doing and how it has changed how I look at the world lately.
ROCK is designed to reach out to the kids in the community and show them a better way of life and living. We take them out of the unstable environment that they are in to try and lead them down the right path. Within the program, we have a budget, based on this budget, we take the kids wherever we can go to make them excited about the day ahead and the trips that we have planned for them. The community has been very helpful in letting us go to many places, show the kids a new way of life, and let them have fun in the process.
Within the last few weeks, we have been able to carve pumpkins, play dodgeball, watch movies, eat awesome snacks, and have a great time! Each time one of the kids in the program come around, they are filled with joy and a heart felt thank you for everything that they have done for the day. That is an amazing feeling! Especially when the community gives back to us as well. It shows that there is a positive example within the community and those who are willing to go to great lengths to help with the community as well.
Seeing the look on a child's face knowing that the one little thing that you have planned for the day will make them extremely happy is the best feeling that you can have in the world! It is the greatest thing that you can give back. Remember like I said earlier, the children are our future. We should be showing them how to lead the way and how bright their future is for them. Never sell them short of anything.
So as a part of my blog this week, I am using the pictures to show the true joy that these children have through the program and in life in general as a reminder of how we can all provide a little bit of joy to a child by doing the simplest littlest thing for them. Also showing them that we are positive and strong individuals who are smart and loving as well will help them to become wonderful men and women in society who can be strong leaders in society. They are who they see because we are role models and this is what ROCK is all about. Providing a positive example for those children within the community.
In saying that, the next time that you pass or hear about an outreach program do not shy away from it. You will be doing your part to help another child who needs that type of role model in their life because they are missing out on something in theirs. In fact I am proud to say that because of the environment that we have created at ROCK, the number of kids who are in the program are increasing day by day with each application and that is such a great thing! Here's to the children of our future!
ROCK is designed to reach out to the kids in the community and show them a better way of life and living. We take them out of the unstable environment that they are in to try and lead them down the right path. Within the program, we have a budget, based on this budget, we take the kids wherever we can go to make them excited about the day ahead and the trips that we have planned for them. The community has been very helpful in letting us go to many places, show the kids a new way of life, and let them have fun in the process.
Within the last few weeks, we have been able to carve pumpkins, play dodgeball, watch movies, eat awesome snacks, and have a great time! Each time one of the kids in the program come around, they are filled with joy and a heart felt thank you for everything that they have done for the day. That is an amazing feeling! Especially when the community gives back to us as well. It shows that there is a positive example within the community and those who are willing to go to great lengths to help with the community as well.
Seeing the look on a child's face knowing that the one little thing that you have planned for the day will make them extremely happy is the best feeling that you can have in the world! It is the greatest thing that you can give back. Remember like I said earlier, the children are our future. We should be showing them how to lead the way and how bright their future is for them. Never sell them short of anything.
So as a part of my blog this week, I am using the pictures to show the true joy that these children have through the program and in life in general as a reminder of how we can all provide a little bit of joy to a child by doing the simplest littlest thing for them. Also showing them that we are positive and strong individuals who are smart and loving as well will help them to become wonderful men and women in society who can be strong leaders in society. They are who they see because we are role models and this is what ROCK is all about. Providing a positive example for those children within the community.
In saying that, the next time that you pass or hear about an outreach program do not shy away from it. You will be doing your part to help another child who needs that type of role model in their life because they are missing out on something in theirs. In fact I am proud to say that because of the environment that we have created at ROCK, the number of kids who are in the program are increasing day by day with each application and that is such a great thing! Here's to the children of our future!
Monday, October 12, 2009
We live for the weekend but more so we live for the week.........
Some of you might be wondering what my title means this time around. I think that it is pretty self explanatory. It states that we live for the weekend but more so we live for the week. The reason that I say this is because this weekend I had an experience with one of my sisters that I will never forget. But before that, let me go into a little bit of a back story. There are seven of us in the family total. There's my dad, my Michigan, and then there are my four sisters and me. In order there's my older sister who is number one, then me who is number two, then the third oldest three, and the fourth who is four, and then the youngest who is number five. All of these numbers were blessed and given to us by our parents.
For a normal Penn State weekend, the fabulous seven of us get together and have a gigantic tailgate to embrace the greatness of Penn State and the tradition of the nittany lion. We take the time to catch up and bond with one another never skipping a beat. We bust out guitars and start rapping. We even sing Jonas Brothers songs to our dad and mom. All a part of the good fun. But there are times when not all of us can make it to the games and you can tell that there is a shift in how we normally role into things. It is not the same. For me I feel as if a whole half and whole of me is missing. I always want everyone to be there to experience everything with me. I don't want to say that I miss one person or this person would really like this if they were here. I want us all to have that experience together.
This weekend, that was not probable but it is ok. Number three and I went. We missed everyone but we shared a moment together that I would love to have had everyone there for. It was towards the end of the game when I noticed that the nittany lion was being passed onto the freshman student section. It just so happens that our seats were not that far from there. So what did we do.... we snuck over of course! So as I noticed that the lion was being passed casually, I asked her if she wanted to go and test it out. Give it a whirl or even a test drive. She agreed because afterall the score was in the 50's by this point. So we went for it. We collected ourselves and headed over to the student section where we commanded the lion passing.
Number two made it into the midst of all the kids who were passing and I made it to the back of the passers. I can't tell you the last time that I did that. For the two of us it was thrilling and exhilarating to be able to be able to have that experience together and at the end we got our picture with the nittany lion. However, in the back of our minds we kept thinking about how much we wanted the others to be there with us and more importantly how our mom and dad were missing out on one of the many most exciting parts of our football season. We just wanted everyone to be there with us! Especially our little sister number five who adores the lion. We kept thinking about the fun time that we had but how it was not the same.
That was the weekend part, now here comes the week part. This week was my first week where I had. I realized that I really missed being around the kids and being involved in the community. My Monday was alright but I was looking forward to seeing the shining faces of the little kids like I normally do everyday. You never really realize how much of an impact they have until you spend the day not being around them. My first thought was what are they doing today since ROCK is not around and it is a big part of their life. How are they handling not having it on a Monday? are they feeling safe and content where they are? or are they lacking something?
As soon as I had that thought, I immediately thought there was something that I could do about it. I had been thinking about getting a speaker to come in to motivate the kids to set high goals for themselves and achieve whatever they want in life. I began working harder then ever to get a speaker and making contact with the speaker for our program. Then a blessing came into my inbox of my phone. My Michigan had mentioned that there was going to be a particular speaker at my Alma matter that would be very insightful to the kids in my program. So i took the notes down and I wrote all her advice down as to what I should do. Needless to say that thanks to her I am looking forward to pitching the idea to my boss and hoping that homecoming weekend I can do everything I can to get that particular speaker to come and talk to the kids in the program. Because of Michigan and all her great ideas, I look forward to pitching new ideas to my boss everyday about what we can do to make these kids lives a little bit better everyday.
I don't know if she knows this... but maybe she just might, Michigan is one heck of a woman who is really smart and has a wonderful creative mind and background. I look forward to chatting with her during the week to tell her about what is going on with the kids in the program but I also look to her for creative insight. She helps me become a better person and really grow creatively at my job and that is more than I can ask for. I look forward to our skype chats and our frequent texts because that lets me know that I am doing something to help these kids and help shape them for the future which is the most important part.
So when I say that we live for the weekend but we more so live for the week, I am referring to how on the weekends we can get together all seven of us focus on one another and how we are each doing but during the week we find the time to help one another excel in our lives whether it be a hand to hold, a ear to listen, or even a mouth to give advice we are always there. I am proud to say that they are my family and they have now helped another child who they have never met and have never seen but because of their advice they are helping them with their future.
Moral of the story... the next time that you are doing something and part of your family isn't there, think about them and how they would feel if they could be there and invite them to come along that time or the next time. When someone gives you advice, remember that it is not to fault you but to benefit you and the others around you. Who knows it could change the way that you see your life or the life of another.... This is a planet of peace and harmony, let's try to keep it that way.
For a normal Penn State weekend, the fabulous seven of us get together and have a gigantic tailgate to embrace the greatness of Penn State and the tradition of the nittany lion. We take the time to catch up and bond with one another never skipping a beat. We bust out guitars and start rapping. We even sing Jonas Brothers songs to our dad and mom. All a part of the good fun. But there are times when not all of us can make it to the games and you can tell that there is a shift in how we normally role into things. It is not the same. For me I feel as if a whole half and whole of me is missing. I always want everyone to be there to experience everything with me. I don't want to say that I miss one person or this person would really like this if they were here. I want us all to have that experience together.
This weekend, that was not probable but it is ok. Number three and I went. We missed everyone but we shared a moment together that I would love to have had everyone there for. It was towards the end of the game when I noticed that the nittany lion was being passed onto the freshman student section. It just so happens that our seats were not that far from there. So what did we do.... we snuck over of course! So as I noticed that the lion was being passed casually, I asked her if she wanted to go and test it out. Give it a whirl or even a test drive. She agreed because afterall the score was in the 50's by this point. So we went for it. We collected ourselves and headed over to the student section where we commanded the lion passing.
Number two made it into the midst of all the kids who were passing and I made it to the back of the passers. I can't tell you the last time that I did that. For the two of us it was thrilling and exhilarating to be able to be able to have that experience together and at the end we got our picture with the nittany lion. However, in the back of our minds we kept thinking about how much we wanted the others to be there with us and more importantly how our mom and dad were missing out on one of the many most exciting parts of our football season. We just wanted everyone to be there with us! Especially our little sister number five who adores the lion. We kept thinking about the fun time that we had but how it was not the same.
That was the weekend part, now here comes the week part. This week was my first week where I had. I realized that I really missed being around the kids and being involved in the community. My Monday was alright but I was looking forward to seeing the shining faces of the little kids like I normally do everyday. You never really realize how much of an impact they have until you spend the day not being around them. My first thought was what are they doing today since ROCK is not around and it is a big part of their life. How are they handling not having it on a Monday? are they feeling safe and content where they are? or are they lacking something?
As soon as I had that thought, I immediately thought there was something that I could do about it. I had been thinking about getting a speaker to come in to motivate the kids to set high goals for themselves and achieve whatever they want in life. I began working harder then ever to get a speaker and making contact with the speaker for our program. Then a blessing came into my inbox of my phone. My Michigan had mentioned that there was going to be a particular speaker at my Alma matter that would be very insightful to the kids in my program. So i took the notes down and I wrote all her advice down as to what I should do. Needless to say that thanks to her I am looking forward to pitching the idea to my boss and hoping that homecoming weekend I can do everything I can to get that particular speaker to come and talk to the kids in the program. Because of Michigan and all her great ideas, I look forward to pitching new ideas to my boss everyday about what we can do to make these kids lives a little bit better everyday.
I don't know if she knows this... but maybe she just might, Michigan is one heck of a woman who is really smart and has a wonderful creative mind and background. I look forward to chatting with her during the week to tell her about what is going on with the kids in the program but I also look to her for creative insight. She helps me become a better person and really grow creatively at my job and that is more than I can ask for. I look forward to our skype chats and our frequent texts because that lets me know that I am doing something to help these kids and help shape them for the future which is the most important part.
So when I say that we live for the weekend but we more so live for the week, I am referring to how on the weekends we can get together all seven of us focus on one another and how we are each doing but during the week we find the time to help one another excel in our lives whether it be a hand to hold, a ear to listen, or even a mouth to give advice we are always there. I am proud to say that they are my family and they have now helped another child who they have never met and have never seen but because of their advice they are helping them with their future.
Moral of the story... the next time that you are doing something and part of your family isn't there, think about them and how they would feel if they could be there and invite them to come along that time or the next time. When someone gives you advice, remember that it is not to fault you but to benefit you and the others around you. Who knows it could change the way that you see your life or the life of another.... This is a planet of peace and harmony, let's try to keep it that way.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Who knew a hair tie could change the world.....
As many of you know, I started working at the R.O.C.K.. Yes I call it the ROCK because that is what it is. It is not to be called an after school program for disadvantaged kids because that is putting a bias on it. I see it as the ROCK and so do the kids so that is what we call it. It is unfair to put a bias name on such a wonderful thing. But that is besides the point. Each day that I go there, I find myself enjoying the program a little bit more and developing a personal relationship with each of the kids that are in the program. The excitement on their faces when you show up everyday for the program is really heartwarming. You find that whatever you have going on in your life, you just instantly check it at the door because of these kids.
Today that happened to me. It was simply over a little hair tie that I had handed to a little girl named Kelly. Kelly is the most lively, energetic seven year old that you will ever meet! She looks forward to the days that ROCK comes to see her and loves every bit of it. She is very warming, loving, and she latches onto everyone if she likes you. In a way she reminds me of my little sister.
When I arrived at ROCK today, Kelly was the first one to come up to me and yell "Miss Christina! I missed you". It just made my heart melt. The fact that this one little girl remember who I was frankly took my breath away and stole my heart. We were playing with jump ropes, balls, and other outside game toys when Kelly came to me and asked me if I would play with her. " Of course!" I replied with no hesitation. So we played a game in the court and then I had to go with the other kids. In the midst of playing with the other kids, I noticed that there was something wrong with Kelly. I couldn't help but to notice it out of the corner of my eyes. She seemed upset about something... so i approached her and we talked for a while about a lot of things. How she was feeling about playing games at ROCK, how school was, and what was wrong at the ROCK. Since the first day that I met her she has latched onto me like no other. It really gives you a sense of how much these kids just want to be loved, appreciated, and given that extra little attention.
While chatting with Kelly, I came to find that she had made a bracelet for herself with the letters MAW on it. Now I really do not know what the letters stand for but I knew that there was some kind of significance to her bracelet or else she would not have worn it. So I made a comment about it and told her that it was very nice and asked her about it. I asked her where she got it from, how she made it, and why she had letters. She of course gave me the answers to all of the above in the full detail that a seven year old would do. She of course was thrilled to pieces. So as ROCK went on, it was getting hotter as we were playing more games and doing more activities. I had noticed that Kelly was using her bracelet as a hair tie. I asked her what was in her hair and she said that it was her bracelet. I told her that she should not waste such a pretty bracelet in her hair and I asked her if she wanted to use a hair tie because I think I may have an extra one in my pocket.
So I checked of course and found one. It was this little brown one that I had as an extra. I gave it to her and told her to put on her bracelet instead of using it as a hair tie. Her face just lit up! the fact that someone was giving her something of such little value that she could appreciate so much was so amazing!!! She let me tie her hair up and put it into a pony tail and she was so grateful for the whole thing! She told me that she was going to keep that hair tie and use it forever. That made my day. Then Joyce the girl next to Kelly asked if I had another one so that she could have one just like Kelly.... Moral of the story..... who knew that a hair tie could go such a long way and change the world. I guess it is safe to say that the next time I go into work I will be carrying a bagful of hair ties to give to each girl if they ever ask me for one so that their day can be a little bit brighter and happier all around.
So the next time someone asks you to borrow something or you notice that they need something, you shouldn't hesitate to help them. It is the little things in life that make others happy and someday when you are in that situation, you may just get the help from someone who doesn't know you either.
Today that happened to me. It was simply over a little hair tie that I had handed to a little girl named Kelly. Kelly is the most lively, energetic seven year old that you will ever meet! She looks forward to the days that ROCK comes to see her and loves every bit of it. She is very warming, loving, and she latches onto everyone if she likes you. In a way she reminds me of my little sister.
When I arrived at ROCK today, Kelly was the first one to come up to me and yell "Miss Christina! I missed you". It just made my heart melt. The fact that this one little girl remember who I was frankly took my breath away and stole my heart. We were playing with jump ropes, balls, and other outside game toys when Kelly came to me and asked me if I would play with her. " Of course!" I replied with no hesitation. So we played a game in the court and then I had to go with the other kids. In the midst of playing with the other kids, I noticed that there was something wrong with Kelly. I couldn't help but to notice it out of the corner of my eyes. She seemed upset about something... so i approached her and we talked for a while about a lot of things. How she was feeling about playing games at ROCK, how school was, and what was wrong at the ROCK. Since the first day that I met her she has latched onto me like no other. It really gives you a sense of how much these kids just want to be loved, appreciated, and given that extra little attention.
While chatting with Kelly, I came to find that she had made a bracelet for herself with the letters MAW on it. Now I really do not know what the letters stand for but I knew that there was some kind of significance to her bracelet or else she would not have worn it. So I made a comment about it and told her that it was very nice and asked her about it. I asked her where she got it from, how she made it, and why she had letters. She of course gave me the answers to all of the above in the full detail that a seven year old would do. She of course was thrilled to pieces. So as ROCK went on, it was getting hotter as we were playing more games and doing more activities. I had noticed that Kelly was using her bracelet as a hair tie. I asked her what was in her hair and she said that it was her bracelet. I told her that she should not waste such a pretty bracelet in her hair and I asked her if she wanted to use a hair tie because I think I may have an extra one in my pocket.
So I checked of course and found one. It was this little brown one that I had as an extra. I gave it to her and told her to put on her bracelet instead of using it as a hair tie. Her face just lit up! the fact that someone was giving her something of such little value that she could appreciate so much was so amazing!!! She let me tie her hair up and put it into a pony tail and she was so grateful for the whole thing! She told me that she was going to keep that hair tie and use it forever. That made my day. Then Joyce the girl next to Kelly asked if I had another one so that she could have one just like Kelly.... Moral of the story..... who knew that a hair tie could go such a long way and change the world. I guess it is safe to say that the next time I go into work I will be carrying a bagful of hair ties to give to each girl if they ever ask me for one so that their day can be a little bit brighter and happier all around.
So the next time someone asks you to borrow something or you notice that they need something, you shouldn't hesitate to help them. It is the little things in life that make others happy and someday when you are in that situation, you may just get the help from someone who doesn't know you either.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
In Recent News......
As many of you know i graduated from college in May from Penn State University. I received my bachelors of science in Crime, Law, and Justice. Walking across that stage was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. After walking across that stage I realized that I was becoming an actual adult. Not that I wasn't an adult before but this had justified it for me. So where do I go from here? I had left college life behind, friends behind, and a whole other experience behind. The answer? Go forward. Find something that would make me happy and something that I would really love doing. That was fairly simple and hard at the same time. I was applying for jobs left and right, I thought I had most of them in the bag but unfortunately that wasn't the case. I kept getting shot down. I thought that having a degree really matter these days. Then my ultimate dream job came along. I was able to be the coordinator/ supervisor for a program called the ROCK program. I had the opportunity of a lifetime. This job combined the two things that I really enjoyed and loved together. Crime, Law, and Justice and Juveniles. My first day with the program was the most memorable day that I have had in a long time. I spent the day with kids who didn't know who I was or what I was doing there with them in the program. They simply saw me as a person. I introduced myself to them as Miss Christina and they all brightly smiled at me (some with missing teeth) and said hello.
Then I had a moment, we were at the playground and this one little girl who had just met me grabbed my hand and held it so tightly. It was as if she had known me for the longest time. That whole time she was tightly clung to me by a hand I realized that I was making a difference in these kids lives. In every activity that we plan, in every moment that we take to talk to them about something that is happening to them in their lives, it matters. They look at my staff and I as people who actually care, who actually want to take the time to hear their concerns, as people who give them the little extra attention that they may not get at home and that is priceless. So yes, I could take my time and travel everywhere again like I did this summer like I have been doing for a long time, I could take the days that I have off from work and do something for myself and be selfish but I find that these kids are what matter the most to me. They matter the most because you are the future. So the next time that you think a child is being annoying or bothering you, just think about how they may not be getting some type of attention from home and they are just looking for that extra emotion. FTK all the way!!!
Then I had a moment, we were at the playground and this one little girl who had just met me grabbed my hand and held it so tightly. It was as if she had known me for the longest time. That whole time she was tightly clung to me by a hand I realized that I was making a difference in these kids lives. In every activity that we plan, in every moment that we take to talk to them about something that is happening to them in their lives, it matters. They look at my staff and I as people who actually care, who actually want to take the time to hear their concerns, as people who give them the little extra attention that they may not get at home and that is priceless. So yes, I could take my time and travel everywhere again like I did this summer like I have been doing for a long time, I could take the days that I have off from work and do something for myself and be selfish but I find that these kids are what matter the most to me. They matter the most because you are the future. So the next time that you think a child is being annoying or bothering you, just think about how they may not be getting some type of attention from home and they are just looking for that extra emotion. FTK all the way!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
