Day 23--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, I had a really good day today. They already put me in GED classes. I was taking pretests today in Social Studies, Science, and Reading (I got a 530, 530, 620 (it takes 410 to pass, and 800 is the highest)). I think I did pretty well. Most of it was all common sense and reading comprehension. Simple. After class got out I played a lot of pool and won most all my games, I'm getting better!
Then after this GREAT day SOMEONE just had to ruin it. The dorms switch off cleaning Rec each week. Every day it's a different wing. This week the boys in dorm 3 have Rec. And I'm not sure what wing it was but this boy, Evan Vandiver, threw me an attitude when I assigned him a job. He's 19! I asked him to mop the gym floor with two other people and he REFUSED. I didn't ask him to do anything unreasonable. He wanted to clean the weight room but someone was already assigned. I mean, really? If he has just DONE it, without wining, it could have been finished really quick and simple. Then I ended up being the bad guy. Grrr.
Also, some students were in the weight room earlier, not working out just flirting with some of the girls who were clearly just messing around. I told them plain and simple that the weight room was for people who meant to work out, and others may need to use the equipment. I asked them to leave if they weren't going to be using it and they didn't of course. After 15 min I got staff and they said they didn't know I was a Rec Leader. I call BS. But I ended being the bad guy (of course) and they all stormed out giving me dirty looks. It's not like they got into trouble. SIGH. Comes with the territory I suppose.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Class
Day 22-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sitting in class right now. blah. I wanted to see how long I could blog until the teacher Ms. Julie. Don't worry she won't mind. I don't have anything to do right now so this is kind of free time.
I was way too swamped to write yesterday. Mondays are usually like that. With all the cleaning we have to do, and we have to stay in our rooms. Even if our room is shiny we can't leave until we are excused.
I have decided I don't really like education. I really feel like I'm wasting my time. It makes me wonder what they think they are helping me learn here. I don't see any social skills or studies involved in these assignments. The past three class days (Thurs, Mon, Tues) we've been doing power point presentations in drugs, STDs and, birth control. Three days?? What is going on? How is this going to help me here or on the outside? Urg.
I'm sitting in class right now. blah. I wanted to see how long I could blog until the teacher Ms. Julie. Don't worry she won't mind. I don't have anything to do right now so this is kind of free time.
I was way too swamped to write yesterday. Mondays are usually like that. With all the cleaning we have to do, and we have to stay in our rooms. Even if our room is shiny we can't leave until we are excused.
I have decided I don't really like education. I really feel like I'm wasting my time. It makes me wonder what they think they are helping me learn here. I don't see any social skills or studies involved in these assignments. The past three class days (Thurs, Mon, Tues) we've been doing power point presentations in drugs, STDs and, birth control. Three days?? What is going on? How is this going to help me here or on the outside? Urg.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Home
Day 20-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being here... it breaks my heart. I want to go home. I miss the trees and the water and the mountains. I miss my pets, and Lance, Linda and Colton, and Mom and John, and my grandparents. I miss the pond and the cabin. I miss my friends and lifted trucks. I miss beer and late nights. I don't want to be here anymore. The girls don't like me, but the staff and all the guyslove me. I don't want all this attention. I do well here, but that doesn't mean I like it. There's nothing for me back home... but I miss it anyway. This is the biggest challenge I've ever faced. It doesn't matter how many things from home I bring to place in my room. It just makes it seem even more out of place. I want to lay in bed with my cat and dog. I want to sit on the couch and watch movies with my family. I want to smell lavender and hear the sound of coyotes outside my window at night. I want to swim in the pond and feel the mud between my toes. I want to ride on the back of a horse and feel the wind in my hair and see the ground rush beneath me. I want to be free. I want to go home.
Being here... it breaks my heart. I want to go home. I miss the trees and the water and the mountains. I miss my pets, and Lance, Linda and Colton, and Mom and John, and my grandparents. I miss the pond and the cabin. I miss my friends and lifted trucks. I miss beer and late nights. I don't want to be here anymore. The girls don't like me, but the staff and all the guyslove me. I don't want all this attention. I do well here, but that doesn't mean I like it. There's nothing for me back home... but I miss it anyway. This is the biggest challenge I've ever faced. It doesn't matter how many things from home I bring to place in my room. It just makes it seem even more out of place. I want to lay in bed with my cat and dog. I want to sit on the couch and watch movies with my family. I want to smell lavender and hear the sound of coyotes outside my window at night. I want to swim in the pond and feel the mud between my toes. I want to ride on the back of a horse and feel the wind in my hair and see the ground rush beneath me. I want to be free. I want to go home.
Friday, September 24, 2010
State Fair
Day 18------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today everyone, the ENTIRE campus, got to go to the State Fair held in Yakima. Job Corps paid for dinner coupons and all day ride tickets. I went on this ride that drops you from the sky. I was so freaked out that I screamed all the way down. All my friends thought it was hilarious of course. I also watched the sprint car races. No major crashes, but I still had fun with my redneck buddies. I had a really good day. And I'm VERY glad I didn't have to work or go to school today. I am so ridiculously tired. I fell asleep on the ferris wheel. I'm relieved it's the weekend and I can sleep till noon. I need it. I gotta figure out this time management thing. With being a Rec leader and all its hard. But as soon as it come routine it'll be easier. I should make myself a schedule. Hey, why did I think of that before? I'll make it... as soon as I have time. *ha*
Well its almost 11pm and I think I'm going to start heading to bed. My eyes are droopy and my head is about to hit the keyboard. Good night everyone.
Today everyone, the ENTIRE campus, got to go to the State Fair held in Yakima. Job Corps paid for dinner coupons and all day ride tickets. I went on this ride that drops you from the sky. I was so freaked out that I screamed all the way down. All my friends thought it was hilarious of course. I also watched the sprint car races. No major crashes, but I still had fun with my redneck buddies. I had a really good day. And I'm VERY glad I didn't have to work or go to school today. I am so ridiculously tired. I fell asleep on the ferris wheel. I'm relieved it's the weekend and I can sleep till noon. I need it. I gotta figure out this time management thing. With being a Rec leader and all its hard. But as soon as it come routine it'll be easier. I should make myself a schedule. Hey, why did I think of that before? I'll make it... as soon as I have time. *ha*
Well its almost 11pm and I think I'm going to start heading to bed. My eyes are droopy and my head is about to hit the keyboard. Good night everyone.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Verdict.
Day 17------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just enough time to tell you what happened today.
So I did what Scott, the HER instructor told me to do. I worked really hard and didn't even quit when we were allowed a break. I was grinding and cutting metal all day. That's hard work. And a LOT of standing. My legs are so tired. I usually slaughter people while playing pool (I'm getting really good) here at Rec (Recreation) but I can hardly stand. Been up late studying too. Just not enough time in the day!
Anyways, Scott pulled me into his office and gave me an evaluation. I got above average in all my work slots and he said, "Get your name on the waiting list. I can only let one 16 year old in this trade per year, so by the time your name comes up, I should be able to get you in here." I was so excited! Whew. Now I get to cross my fingers until then. And STAY FOCUSED. I can't lose sight of my goal. But there's a lot of time between now and then. I think I'll write it down and everyday when I open my closet or something my encouraging memo will be there to remind me. AND, first thing's first, I need to get my GED. I keep forgetting that I'm not finished in that area. Urg I just want to get started! Well, at least I got my foot in the door!!
Just enough time to tell you what happened today.
So I did what Scott, the HER instructor told me to do. I worked really hard and didn't even quit when we were allowed a break. I was grinding and cutting metal all day. That's hard work. And a LOT of standing. My legs are so tired. I usually slaughter people while playing pool (I'm getting really good) here at Rec (Recreation) but I can hardly stand. Been up late studying too. Just not enough time in the day!
Anyways, Scott pulled me into his office and gave me an evaluation. I got above average in all my work slots and he said, "Get your name on the waiting list. I can only let one 16 year old in this trade per year, so by the time your name comes up, I should be able to get you in here." I was so excited! Whew. Now I get to cross my fingers until then. And STAY FOCUSED. I can't lose sight of my goal. But there's a lot of time between now and then. I think I'll write it down and everyday when I open my closet or something my encouraging memo will be there to remind me. AND, first thing's first, I need to get my GED. I keep forgetting that I'm not finished in that area. Urg I just want to get started! Well, at least I got my foot in the door!!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hands on in HER (Heavy Equipment Repair)
Day 16-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So HER is what I'm here for, and it's what I've been fighting for for the past 2 weeks. I did my hands on in HER (and of course had an... exchange of words with Scott, the instructor, on my first day), and I LOVED IT! I pretty much crawled into the break panel of a bulldozer got all greasy and covered in oil. I even welded. I Did a lot of heavy lifting and it was perfect.
I stayed afterwards and cleared things up with Scott, I told him that this is REALLY what I wanted, it's what I dreamed about. Scott said that the success rate of 16 year old he accepts into HER is at 0%. I told him that I couldn't say anything that he hadn't heard from every other student trying to get into his class, but I was going to prove to him that just because I'm 16 did not mean that I couldn't handle the responsibility and stress of being dedicated to a trade and the living conditions here at Fort Simcoe. I said that I didn't care how long it took for me to be eligible to graduate, I wouldn't let this go without a fight. He seemed willing to come to a compromise and said that if I worked my ass off while I'm doing hands on in HER and then was did the same in Auto, he would make a few calls and consider it. He promised that he was taking his definite "No" away and replacing it with a "Possibly". It definitely was not a "Yes" but it wasn't a "No". THAT I can work with. :)
So HER is what I'm here for, and it's what I've been fighting for for the past 2 weeks. I did my hands on in HER (and of course had an... exchange of words with Scott, the instructor, on my first day), and I LOVED IT! I pretty much crawled into the break panel of a bulldozer got all greasy and covered in oil. I even welded. I Did a lot of heavy lifting and it was perfect.
I stayed afterwards and cleared things up with Scott, I told him that this is REALLY what I wanted, it's what I dreamed about. Scott said that the success rate of 16 year old he accepts into HER is at 0%. I told him that I couldn't say anything that he hadn't heard from every other student trying to get into his class, but I was going to prove to him that just because I'm 16 did not mean that I couldn't handle the responsibility and stress of being dedicated to a trade and the living conditions here at Fort Simcoe. I said that I didn't care how long it took for me to be eligible to graduate, I wouldn't let this go without a fight. He seemed willing to come to a compromise and said that if I worked my ass off while I'm doing hands on in HER and then was did the same in Auto, he would make a few calls and consider it. He promised that he was taking his definite "No" away and replacing it with a "Possibly". It definitely was not a "Yes" but it wasn't a "No". THAT I can work with. :)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesdays / TABE Testing: Part 2
Day 15-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay so Tuesday morning. Wake up at 6am. Get dressed. Breakfast 6:15 to 6:45. Back in the room by 7. Clean my room and bathroom. Take all my sheets and walk ALL the way across campus to Warehouse to get them washed. Walk back. It's 7:40. Clean the dorm. It's now 7:55. I have five minutes to run to class before I get a referral. URG! There's gotta be an easier way. Maybe take my sheets to breakfast and then hit the Warehouse? Well I'll have to try again next week.
I got a job as Recreation Leader. I get first pick on all trips such as white water rafting, movies, rodeos, etc. Awesome huh?
Okay. Now the BIG new you've all been waiting for. I needed to score a 566 on the math TABE test today... I got a 644! I'm the only one in my ICL class that passed both test. And with flying colors! Whew. I'm glad I've got that behind me. Now all I have to do is get my GED and then really get to work!
Okay so Tuesday morning. Wake up at 6am. Get dressed. Breakfast 6:15 to 6:45. Back in the room by 7. Clean my room and bathroom. Take all my sheets and walk ALL the way across campus to Warehouse to get them washed. Walk back. It's 7:40. Clean the dorm. It's now 7:55. I have five minutes to run to class before I get a referral. URG! There's gotta be an easier way. Maybe take my sheets to breakfast and then hit the Warehouse? Well I'll have to try again next week.
I got a job as Recreation Leader. I get first pick on all trips such as white water rafting, movies, rodeos, etc. Awesome huh?
Okay. Now the BIG new you've all been waiting for. I needed to score a 566 on the math TABE test today... I got a 644! I'm the only one in my ICL class that passed both test. And with flying colors! Whew. I'm glad I've got that behind me. Now all I have to do is get my GED and then really get to work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)