Day 54--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week has been extremely busy. I've had a lot going on at Rec because they're doing a whole bunch of Halloween activities.
Thursday there was a dance and I wore my brown dress that I hadn't worn for any event yet. All the boys were whistling and the girls were jealous, but all in all, everyone was impressed since the only thing I wear is blue jeans and sweats. The dance itself was pretty terrible though. They didn't play very good music and no one danced. It felt like middle school all over again. I ended up going to Rec and playing pool in my dress instead. I'm not much of a dancer anyway.
I carved a pumpkin yesterday. Not my best one but I definitely know what I'm doing next year. I have at all planned out in my head. All I need to do is put in on paper.
I'm going to the corn maze tonight, everyone has been saying how fun it is. I guess they have people standing in costumes waiting to jump out and scare you. Our pumpkin patch has always closed at night, so this should be pretty exciting.
My friend (yes, he's a guy) Jamie Turner's family invited me to spend Thanksgiving with them. I would have stayed on center but I didn't want to be rude and Jamie's got some work lined up so I might be able to make a few extra bucks. Everyone is gonna think that we're like together or whatever but it's so not even like that. The only person I came here for was me and I'm not going to waste my time worrying about someone else. Jamie's family only offered becuase they know how relieving it is to get off center and away from all the BS for a while. And besides, no one should be alone on Thanksgiving.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Good News
Day 49----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, about that good news, I have officially been appointed Recreational President. My job is to try and come up with creative activities for students, advise Rec Staff on student punishment, and keep things organized. But other than that, my duties are more or less the same as far as reinforcing the rules; no chewing, excessive public display of affection, excessive horseplay, misuse of equipment, and swearing. Of course, I have to play for both teams and keep the staff and the students happy.
I wouldn't say I let students get away with a lot, but I'm not a hard ass either. If I have to repeatedly ask a student to behave, I inform the staff and let them deal with it. Most of the kids in Rec are my friends anyway and they respect me so they listen to me, more or less. Many of the them also happen to be guys that admire me, and a quick bat of the eyelashes and a pouty face goes a long way. Don't get me wrong, I have kicked a few of my friends out for not taking me seriously. They know that behind these big brown eyes there is a woman not to be messed with. As my Mom always says, "Don't poke the sleeping bear".
I was also appointed Wing Two Leader in the Dorm. Originally, the Dorm Manager, Barbara Corpuz, wanted me to be Dorm Chief, the highest position within the dorm. Alas, the other head staff was against it; she didn't think it was fair to the other girls or that I was ready, so that didn't happen. Wing Leader is not a big step and its not a hard job. What exactly does it entitle? I'm not sure because I politely declined the position. The reason is because you can't be a leader in Rec, a member of the SGA (next paragraph), and a leader in the dorm, so something had to give. And besides, it won't be my last chance for a dorm position.
I recently signed up for a position in the SGA (Student Government Association). I very much hope that I am elected as Vice President. I think that I could really make some significant changes. Maybe not right away, but over time anything is possible. I felt that I could have more of an effect on student lives and make a difference to a larger amount of students while being a member of SGA, rather than being Dorm Chief and trying to influence a bunch of crabby, defiant, emotional, PMS driven young adults.
*punctuation is hard! damn commas and semicolons. grrrrr*
Anywho, other than that I don't believe I have any more serious updates. I'll keep you posted. 'Night all!
P.S.
Almost forgot! Today, all the students who went on the fishing trip went to a salmon barbecue. I guess it was kind of a 'Thanks for helping out' kind of thing. The food was delicious and I had a really good day! :)
So, about that good news, I have officially been appointed Recreational President. My job is to try and come up with creative activities for students, advise Rec Staff on student punishment, and keep things organized. But other than that, my duties are more or less the same as far as reinforcing the rules; no chewing, excessive public display of affection, excessive horseplay, misuse of equipment, and swearing. Of course, I have to play for both teams and keep the staff and the students happy.
I wouldn't say I let students get away with a lot, but I'm not a hard ass either. If I have to repeatedly ask a student to behave, I inform the staff and let them deal with it. Most of the kids in Rec are my friends anyway and they respect me so they listen to me, more or less. Many of the them also happen to be guys that admire me, and a quick bat of the eyelashes and a pouty face goes a long way. Don't get me wrong, I have kicked a few of my friends out for not taking me seriously. They know that behind these big brown eyes there is a woman not to be messed with. As my Mom always says, "Don't poke the sleeping bear".
I was also appointed Wing Two Leader in the Dorm. Originally, the Dorm Manager, Barbara Corpuz, wanted me to be Dorm Chief, the highest position within the dorm. Alas, the other head staff was against it; she didn't think it was fair to the other girls or that I was ready, so that didn't happen. Wing Leader is not a big step and its not a hard job. What exactly does it entitle? I'm not sure because I politely declined the position. The reason is because you can't be a leader in Rec, a member of the SGA (next paragraph), and a leader in the dorm, so something had to give. And besides, it won't be my last chance for a dorm position.
I recently signed up for a position in the SGA (Student Government Association). I very much hope that I am elected as Vice President. I think that I could really make some significant changes. Maybe not right away, but over time anything is possible. I felt that I could have more of an effect on student lives and make a difference to a larger amount of students while being a member of SGA, rather than being Dorm Chief and trying to influence a bunch of crabby, defiant, emotional, PMS driven young adults.
*punctuation is hard! damn commas and semicolons. grrrrr*
Anywho, other than that I don't believe I have any more serious updates. I'll keep you posted. 'Night all!
P.S.
Almost forgot! Today, all the students who went on the fishing trip went to a salmon barbecue. I guess it was kind of a 'Thanks for helping out' kind of thing. The food was delicious and I had a really good day! :)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Family Weekend
Day 48---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry I haven't written in four days. I wasn't able to get near a computer all weekend because Mom and John came to visit, and they brought Harry Potter (my dog)! They picked me up on Friday and we went to stay at Great Grandma Sauve's old house (so sorry she wasn't there!). We ate steak, potatoes, and corn on the cob for dinner. First REAL meal I've had in weeks! You probably don't know this, but on campus, anything they fry in vegetable oil and any mixed meat has soy additive. Well I'm allergic to soy and since they serve that almost everyday, I've been sticking to things I know are safe like salad, sandwiches, bacon (they broil in the oven), etc. So you could understand how relieved I was to have some real meat.
Anyway, after dinner, we all watched movies on this itty bitty tv that was left in the house. The screen was so small, John had to grab a stool and sit 3 ft away becuase he couldn't see from the couch. The whole thing was rather comical.
On Saturday, we went out to breakfast then came back and hung out for a while. Around 1800hrs, John went out to watch the Huskies football game at the casino and Mom and I stayed at the house, carved pumpkins, and listened to a book on tape.
Sunday (today), we came back to base and I dropped off my stuff in the dorm and showed them around. They left about an hour later. It was really good to see my family (and Harry) and I'm really glad they could make the 7hr drive out here, but at the same time, I wished I had just stayed on campus. It's just so hard to say goodbye. I miss everyone back home dearly.
*sorry for any incorrect punctuation, I was having some trouble*
P.S.
I have some good news, but I don't have time. Tell you tomorrow!
Sorry I haven't written in four days. I wasn't able to get near a computer all weekend because Mom and John came to visit, and they brought Harry Potter (my dog)! They picked me up on Friday and we went to stay at Great Grandma Sauve's old house (so sorry she wasn't there!). We ate steak, potatoes, and corn on the cob for dinner. First REAL meal I've had in weeks! You probably don't know this, but on campus, anything they fry in vegetable oil and any mixed meat has soy additive. Well I'm allergic to soy and since they serve that almost everyday, I've been sticking to things I know are safe like salad, sandwiches, bacon (they broil in the oven), etc. So you could understand how relieved I was to have some real meat.
Anyway, after dinner, we all watched movies on this itty bitty tv that was left in the house. The screen was so small, John had to grab a stool and sit 3 ft away becuase he couldn't see from the couch. The whole thing was rather comical.
On Saturday, we went out to breakfast then came back and hung out for a while. Around 1800hrs, John went out to watch the Huskies football game at the casino and Mom and I stayed at the house, carved pumpkins, and listened to a book on tape.
Sunday (today), we came back to base and I dropped off my stuff in the dorm and showed them around. They left about an hour later. It was really good to see my family (and Harry) and I'm really glad they could make the 7hr drive out here, but at the same time, I wished I had just stayed on campus. It's just so hard to say goodbye. I miss everyone back home dearly.
*sorry for any incorrect punctuation, I was having some trouble*
P.S.
I have some good news, but I don't have time. Tell you tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Fish Hatchery
Day 44-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, ten other students and I went to Prosser to herd salmon for the fish hatchery. This is how it worked; we took big nets that dragged at the bottom walked them through the water from one end to the net at the other end. It was probably a quarter mile walk. That's a long ways in the water dragging a huge net behind you.
Once we got to the end of the dam, we pulled the net into a small half circle. We then proceeded to catch the salmon with our hands. It was hard work! They were too strong for me and I only caught three, but some of the boys caught on really quick and were practically just dunking their hands in and bringing them up! After we caught the salmon, we put them in bags and sent them up the hill to the fish truck filled with water. Those salmon were pretty heavy and hard to control, especially since my hands were frozen from the cold water. We worked from about 0900 to 1300hrs.
After all the salmon were caught, our Rec Staff, Steve Gardiner, said there was to be a grand finale. He chose the 4 students who caught the most fish and split them up into two teams. We then walked down to a small pond. In it, there were two 20 year old sturgeon ( a bottom-feeding fish about 13 ft long (at that age) and 145 - 200lbs). Each team was to try and catch one, first team that did, won. No prize, they just simply had the satisfaction of winning.
It was rather amusing watching to boys squeal like little girls everytime the sturgeon swam past. Although, I could understand, it IS a damn big fish. It didn't take long for the two teams to try and work together on one fish, and it took even less time for the other guys want to join the fun and jump in the pond with 'em. There ended up being about seven kids and one pissed off fish wrestling in the water, myself not included.
At the end of the day, we were all cold, soaked, and covered and smelling like fish slime. Yum. As soon as we got back to base, I took a long hot shower and put on some clean, dry, not fishy clothing. All in all, I had a pretty good day.
(Do you guys think the above blog is essay material? It's not really essay format, there are some things I didn't do (like a thesis statement), but I have my writing test tomorrow. I thought it would be good to put my new found skills to use.)
Wish me luck on my writing GED test everyone! I'm going to hit the hay early so I'm fully rested. I'm feeling pretty confident that I will do well. I've studied hard and I think it will pay off. Night all.
Today, ten other students and I went to Prosser to herd salmon for the fish hatchery. This is how it worked; we took big nets that dragged at the bottom walked them through the water from one end to the net at the other end. It was probably a quarter mile walk. That's a long ways in the water dragging a huge net behind you.
Once we got to the end of the dam, we pulled the net into a small half circle. We then proceeded to catch the salmon with our hands. It was hard work! They were too strong for me and I only caught three, but some of the boys caught on really quick and were practically just dunking their hands in and bringing them up! After we caught the salmon, we put them in bags and sent them up the hill to the fish truck filled with water. Those salmon were pretty heavy and hard to control, especially since my hands were frozen from the cold water. We worked from about 0900 to 1300hrs.
After all the salmon were caught, our Rec Staff, Steve Gardiner, said there was to be a grand finale. He chose the 4 students who caught the most fish and split them up into two teams. We then walked down to a small pond. In it, there were two 20 year old sturgeon ( a bottom-feeding fish about 13 ft long (at that age) and 145 - 200lbs). Each team was to try and catch one, first team that did, won. No prize, they just simply had the satisfaction of winning.
It was rather amusing watching to boys squeal like little girls everytime the sturgeon swam past. Although, I could understand, it IS a damn big fish. It didn't take long for the two teams to try and work together on one fish, and it took even less time for the other guys want to join the fun and jump in the pond with 'em. There ended up being about seven kids and one pissed off fish wrestling in the water, myself not included.
At the end of the day, we were all cold, soaked, and covered and smelling like fish slime. Yum. As soon as we got back to base, I took a long hot shower and put on some clean, dry, not fishy clothing. All in all, I had a pretty good day.
(Do you guys think the above blog is essay material? It's not really essay format, there are some things I didn't do (like a thesis statement), but I have my writing test tomorrow. I thought it would be good to put my new found skills to use.)
Wish me luck on my writing GED test everyone! I'm going to hit the hay early so I'm fully rested. I'm feeling pretty confident that I will do well. I've studied hard and I think it will pay off. Night all.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Counselor
Day 43----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I was having a pretty ordinary day, work, study and work some more. That is, until I was called to The Counselors office.
As it turns out, I was to speak with a mental health counselor. Apparently, a staff member was concerned that I had an issue with authority and that I was experiencing symptoms of pre-bipolar disorder. Google it. Most of those symptoms are the WHOLE WORLD.
Anyway, I went and straightened everything out. I hope I passed. But he did say, "See you in about 3 weeks." Uh, oh.
So I was having a pretty ordinary day, work, study and work some more. That is, until I was called to The Counselors office.
As it turns out, I was to speak with a mental health counselor. Apparently, a staff member was concerned that I had an issue with authority and that I was experiencing symptoms of pre-bipolar disorder. Google it. Most of those symptoms are the WHOLE WORLD.
Anyway, I went and straightened everything out. I hope I passed. But he did say, "See you in about 3 weeks." Uh, oh.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
October 17
Day 41 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure how much I have to say. I'm almost totally prepared for my Writing test on Thursday. I have only two more chapters to complete, maybe one more to re-read, and I will feel totally confident that I have enough knowledge to score 710 on my writing essay. A lot is hanging on my ability to a write an organized, on topic essay. Tough stuff. I always have so many thoughts. Thankfully, I have practiced the ability to harness them and put them, in order, on paper. Hopefully, I'll have all this studying done by tomorrow so my brain can have a few days off.
Wednesday I have a Recreation trip to capture salmon to bring to the fish hatchery. Hopefully I can be excused from K.P. to go. I'm really looking forward to it.
There was no Rec staff today, so Donovin and I (the two options for Rec President, although he really doesn't deserve the position) we placed in charge. We were told that one of us needed to be in Rec at all times. If one had to run an errand, the other could keep an eye on the place. Well, after I had already been at Recreation since 1400*, I asked Donovin to cover for me from 1600-1630, only half an hour, so I could do mandatory centerwide with my dorm. We refused, saying he was "busy" and he couldn't break his schedule. When I asked him what his schedule was, he said that he was cleaning (by choice, mind you). I tried to explain to him that someone needed to be here. He then retorted that since Rec staff wasn't here, it wasn't a big deal. Well, that's not the the point, I said. I finally just let it slide and wrote an a letter to the dorm staff (one of the girls took it up for me), apologizing and asking to be excused.
After that was taken care of, Donovin decided to break the rules and chew tobacco in Rec. His defense was, and I quote, "There's no staff so it shouldn't matter". I don't let anyone else chew in Recreation and I told Donovin that as a Rec Leader he need to follow the rules just as much as everyone else, or more. He got angry and stormed out. He said he was just going to quit. That's not what I was aiming at but if that's the way he feels, so be it.
*military time
Not sure how much I have to say. I'm almost totally prepared for my Writing test on Thursday. I have only two more chapters to complete, maybe one more to re-read, and I will feel totally confident that I have enough knowledge to score 710 on my writing essay. A lot is hanging on my ability to a write an organized, on topic essay. Tough stuff. I always have so many thoughts. Thankfully, I have practiced the ability to harness them and put them, in order, on paper. Hopefully, I'll have all this studying done by tomorrow so my brain can have a few days off.
Wednesday I have a Recreation trip to capture salmon to bring to the fish hatchery. Hopefully I can be excused from K.P. to go. I'm really looking forward to it.
There was no Rec staff today, so Donovin and I (the two options for Rec President, although he really doesn't deserve the position) we placed in charge. We were told that one of us needed to be in Rec at all times. If one had to run an errand, the other could keep an eye on the place. Well, after I had already been at Recreation since 1400*, I asked Donovin to cover for me from 1600-1630, only half an hour, so I could do mandatory centerwide with my dorm. We refused, saying he was "busy" and he couldn't break his schedule. When I asked him what his schedule was, he said that he was cleaning (by choice, mind you). I tried to explain to him that someone needed to be here. He then retorted that since Rec staff wasn't here, it wasn't a big deal. Well, that's not the the point, I said. I finally just let it slide and wrote an a letter to the dorm staff (one of the girls took it up for me), apologizing and asking to be excused.
After that was taken care of, Donovin decided to break the rules and chew tobacco in Rec. His defense was, and I quote, "There's no staff so it shouldn't matter". I don't let anyone else chew in Recreation and I told Donovin that as a Rec Leader he need to follow the rules just as much as everyone else, or more. He got angry and stormed out. He said he was just going to quit. That's not what I was aiming at but if that's the way he feels, so be it.
*military time
Friday, October 15, 2010
October Graduation
Day 39-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They had seven students that walked to get their diplomas / certification today. A lot of them left right after the ceremony. Many tears were shed, but I personally did not cry because I feel I still have not earned the right to. I haven't been here long enough to really grow strong bonds with anyone.
I wonder if I am even able to. I mean there isn't really anyone back home (besides my family) that I miss. I spent my whole childhood and part of my teenage years in Sequim! I've known some people for years back home, but I don't necessarily miss them. There's very few people who have touched my heart so deeply that I tear up when I think about them.
All the students keep saying I have a "wall" put up. What reason do I have to be defensive? And they tell me that I'm so hard to read, but I'm not hiding anything. Well not really. I don't talk about my past much and I don't ask anyone about theirs. We figure all ended up and Job Corps because we all went through a period in our life that opened our eyes to the bigger picture. We can only see life through our own eyes and all that we have experienced, we have interpreted in our own unique way, and it has made each and everyone of us into the individual we are today. What may seem like a dramatic eye opener to one person, may be a ridiculous sob story to another.
Seeing those students walk today made me excited to see how much I can accomplish in the 2 years of my life. When you go back, and you actually take the time to account for all the happenings and events in your life, whether they be big or small, and put them on paper, it's shocking to realize just how much you've been through. It's stunning how much you have grown, developed, and learned a new part of your Self, how much that you have to offer to the world around you, and sometimes it's hard to believe why you couldn't understand what you have come to accept today.
Sorry that I may be rambling. But those are the thoughts that I have been pondering for a while. Maybe they are words of wisdom gifted to me by God. He's helped me a lot recently. Nothing is coincidental. Everything that happens, happens for a reason. It is the balance of life.
*Pick up the book - Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsch
They had seven students that walked to get their diplomas / certification today. A lot of them left right after the ceremony. Many tears were shed, but I personally did not cry because I feel I still have not earned the right to. I haven't been here long enough to really grow strong bonds with anyone.
I wonder if I am even able to. I mean there isn't really anyone back home (besides my family) that I miss. I spent my whole childhood and part of my teenage years in Sequim! I've known some people for years back home, but I don't necessarily miss them. There's very few people who have touched my heart so deeply that I tear up when I think about them.
All the students keep saying I have a "wall" put up. What reason do I have to be defensive? And they tell me that I'm so hard to read, but I'm not hiding anything. Well not really. I don't talk about my past much and I don't ask anyone about theirs. We figure all ended up and Job Corps because we all went through a period in our life that opened our eyes to the bigger picture. We can only see life through our own eyes and all that we have experienced, we have interpreted in our own unique way, and it has made each and everyone of us into the individual we are today. What may seem like a dramatic eye opener to one person, may be a ridiculous sob story to another.
Seeing those students walk today made me excited to see how much I can accomplish in the 2 years of my life. When you go back, and you actually take the time to account for all the happenings and events in your life, whether they be big or small, and put them on paper, it's shocking to realize just how much you've been through. It's stunning how much you have grown, developed, and learned a new part of your Self, how much that you have to offer to the world around you, and sometimes it's hard to believe why you couldn't understand what you have come to accept today.
Sorry that I may be rambling. But those are the thoughts that I have been pondering for a while. Maybe they are words of wisdom gifted to me by God. He's helped me a lot recently. Nothing is coincidental. Everything that happens, happens for a reason. It is the balance of life.
*Pick up the book - Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsch
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