Formatting code for MinjaeAn
An Psychology Practicum 498 C
The director of the YWCA is Alex Wright and he has asked me to assist and aid the students in this program. His email address is awright@ywca-wny.org. Osa Amadasu is a teacher at the YWCA and she has a major impact on the students of the YWCA as well. Her email address is oamadasu@ywca-wny.org and cell number is 716-907-0570.
My name is Minjae An and I am a senior at Canisius College. I am a psychology major and an adult,child clinical minor. My email address is anm@canisius.edu and I have chosen to do my practicum at the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association). Empowering women and eliminating racism! Such a bold mission statement is pursued by the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA). This organization is a program intended to help young women, however it now advocates male youths to participate in the program as well, challenging the process of their mission statement which is limited to women by being all inclusive. By permitting all individuals of different sexes and races to come together and work for a common good can be extremely beneficial to the organization and the individuals. The area I helped out at the YWCA was the after school youth leadership program which consists of all African American high-school students living in the inner city of buffalo. This program gave individuals who had trouble in schools the label “at risk youth”, an equal opportunity to excel in all areas of life such as careers, health, relationships, education, global issues and various others. Students applicable for the YWCA are those who are being tracked at city public and private high schools by principals or counselors who feel these students are at risk of failing due to academic problems or being expelled due to behavioral problems. This program is designed to aid educational problems the students may pertain and teach them positive thinking. However, by labeling the children “at risk” stigmatizes their image negatively. Therefore, the goal I helped fulfill by volunteering at the YWCA was educating them in areas where they lacked greatly.
Monday 4/27
Today was my first day at the YWCA and I was introduced to all the students and what this program entailed. As soon as I settled in, the director Alex Wright had assigned a task for me right away. My job was to assist the student's on the Discover project they have been working on for couple weeks. The Discover project consists of the student's strengths which were poem writing, dancing, singing, or art. Each student chose to write a poem, dance, sing, or show their artistic abilities in front of an audience on Wednesday April 29, 2009 and my job was to go over each student's project and fix anything that needed to be fixed. Some wrote poems about their lives and what they had accomplished. Others created posters showing their strengths.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 4/29
Today was performance day for the students where each student expressed their strengths in front of an audience. We had set up a stage and chairs for the friends and family members to watch comfortably. After each student sang, danced, read their poems, or showed their artistic abilities, we got to socialize with the students, directors, friends and family members about the good this organization is bringing to the students. On top of that, tasty treats and pizza was served which we all enjoyed greatly.
Hours: 2
On Monday 5/13, the director had brought all the students in the classroom to learn about crimes occurring in the city of buffalo. In addition, the ways to prevent such devastating effects. Each student was asked to write down why such crimes occur and most of them would say because of jealousy, anger, revenge or fun. A large discussion was initiated where each student expressed their point of view towards the topic. After a long discussion, an article was given to each student describing an African American UB engineering graduate student who was shot to death near UB south campus. It was noted that the student was shot two days after graduation because of an argument over a female, indicating the extreme dangers of jealousy.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 5/15. The students at the YWCA discussed what attributes about a male or female attracts the opposite sex. For example, each male student would write down four things they like in female and female students would write down four things they like in males. Many wrote down physical characteristics such as their eyes, face, or body. Others wrote that they like people who are confident, smart, or funny. This discussion led to the topic of violence and stalkers. Alex Wright, the director of the YWCA strongly emphasized the dangers that arise from sexual attractions of the opposite sex. Stalking was the primary discussion which he warned the students to be cautious which can lead to sexual abuse and violent relationships.
Hours: 2
Thursday 5/16. Why do people join gangs? This was the question asked to each student at the YWCA. Most of them would say for protection and the feeling of reassurance. Such a topic led to a discussion of gangs such as the “crips” and the “bloods” which are common gangs throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, some students found gangs to be a good thing to be a part of which in a sense had worried the director and I. Most of the students at the YWCA come from low socioeconomic families which play a major factor into crime. Our job is to eliminate the negativity from the students and point them toward success.
Hours: 2
Monday 5/18. Today a lesson plan was created for the next 4 weeks at the YWCA. The classroom discussion was about what the students wanted to learn in the future classes. Topics such as drugs, sex, behavior problems, why people have certain disorders were the most popular ones. After the discussion, the students went on computers and chatted with their peers for the remainder of the time.
Hours: 2
Tuesday 5/19. Today, I observed the student’s discussion on whether gay marriage rights resemble the civil rights comparison. Those who agreed with the similarity argued that all individuals in general were stripped of their rights. For example, blacks were segregated and gays are not allowed to get married. Both are abused by individuals who strongly oppose African Americans or gay individuals, mentally or physically. Those who disagreed with the resemblance of gay rights and civil rights argued that African Americans had it much worst because they were legally abused by white owners. In addition, they were segregated. On the other hand, gays were not legally abused. However, they were stripped away of their marriage rights. Such a topic led to a heated debate between the students which led to great interaction with one another.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 5/20. Today was open mic day! The students and I enjoyed other individuals in the city of Buffalo perform their talents and show their attributes on stage. Some sang, danced, read poetry, discussed certain topics such as the negativity in the world today, and various other things. Today was pretty much a day for the students where they got to enjoy lively performances and simply just relax!
Hours: 2
Thursday 5/21. Today an extremely interesting discussion was illustrated. An article was given to each student fully describing a transgender individual. A young boy growing up wanted to become a girl. In the article, Ben was born a male yet had a female perspective in life and changed his persona to Katie. As young as age 2, Ben would use anything he could fin to create long hair. At age 3, Ben was a princess for Halloween, wearing a tiara. At age 5, Ben was taking girl toys to show and tell in Kindergarten. The key term transgender was the main topic in today’s discussion.
Hours: 2
Friday 5/22. Today the class discussed different techniques of learning. There were three groups set up and each group had a different method of learning. For example, the first table wrote down a phrase 15 times for memorization. The second table repeated the phrase over and over to memorize it. The last table had a spokesperson to repeat the phrase to them repetitively. Each group rotated until every student experienced each learning method. This evidently allowed the students to see whether they learned more efficiently by writing, listening, or by repeating on their own.
Hours: 2
Monday 5/25 – Friday 5/29
During this week, the YWCA was changing locations and I had to do a lot of strenuous and heavy-duty work. By packing computers, chairs, tables, school supplies, and a myriad of other necessities, we quickly moved all of the things located at the old area to a new and larger building. This new area was located on Hickory Street near Erie Community College. By packing and moving all the items to the new location, I learned great organizing skills, time management, analyzing, managing, communication, planning, and problem-solving. All these skills were unexpectedly obtained from the organization switching locations. By expressing good interpersonal skills with others made it easier to plan, organize, and engage in the renovation.
Hours: 12
Friday 6/12
Today was the first day at the new location and the first day with the students since the renovation. Throughout the summer on Monday through Thursday, the students go to their jobs provided by the YWCA to gain experience and knowledge in the working field.
Most of their jobs included working in hospitals and zoos in which the student obtain numerous skills. These jobs were offered to the students to keep them busy and active in order to lessen their deviant behaviors throughout the summer. In addition, it tested their reliability, responsibility, and interpersonal communication with others. The first day back was simply just a fun day where new students in the program got to socialized with the returning students and interact with myself and other leaders at the YWCA.
Hours: 2
Monday 6/15 - Friday 6/19
For most of the summer, Mr. Alex, the director of the YWCA and I planned to create an engineer program at the YWCA. He was strongly for this program which his goal was to introduce new ideas to the students. Throughout the week, Mr. Alex gave me a list of hobby shops to call and ask them for donations such as cars, helicopters, and trains for the students to work on. He wanted the students to build these items from scratch and become “engineers”. The hobby shops I called were all for donating cars, helicopters, and trains for the students to work on. Some shops completely denied the donation and were not interested. By asking these hobby shops for donation, greatly improved my interpersonal communication skills as well as planning and organizing skills as well.
Hours: 10
Monday 6/22 – Friday 6/26
Throughout this week, Mr. Alex had another task for me to accomplish. He asked me to call Sex education programs to see if a guest speaker would come in and talk with the students. After calling numerous programs around Buffalo, NY, the Erie Health Department in the think it over program and AIDS coalition insisted on coming in and speaking to the students about sex. A guest speaker from the Erie Health department is scheduled to come in on Friday, July 10th, while the guest from AIDS coalition is scheduled to come in on Friday, July 3rd.
Hours: 10
Friday 7/3
Today, the guest speaker from the Erie Health Department in the think it over program came in and discussed the negativity that comes from unprotected sex. She explained the various types of diseases such as STD’s and aids, safe sex, birth control, hygiene and abstinence. After the speaker was done with her presentation, all of the students were horrified by the pictures, videos, and the informative facts that was given to the students.
Hours: 2
Friday 7/10
Today, the guest from the AIDS coalition came in and solely focused on the different types of diseases especially AIDS that come from unprotected sex. He emphasized the causes, symptoms, and treatment of such a devastating disease and ways to prevent from getting it.
Hours: 2
Monday 7/13- Thursday 7/16
Throughout this week, my job was to create a job and college resume as a template for the students to follow. There were numerous ways to write a resume, but I solely used the Canisius College resume template. I printed out enough copies of the Canisius College resume template for the students to look at on Friday. They can then use the resume as a framework for their own resumes in applying to colleges and to jobs. In addition, I wrote up a resume for myself to show the students on how I would write one and assist them in writing one in a professional manner.
Hours: 8
Friday 7/17
Today, I taught the class on how to write a job or college resume. The overall task was very challenging due to my lack of teaching and presenting skills, however such a challenge gave me a greater knowledge in teaching and helping others. My initial statement in transitioning to the resume writing was by asking all the students whether or not they plan on going to college or working. All the students planned on either working or going to college, taking the assignment very seriously. In the end, all the students wrote exceptionally well job and college resumes and plan on using them in the future.
Hours: 2
Monday 7/27- Friday 7/31
Throughout this week I worked with Mr. Alex to finalize on grants for the non-profit organization in order to get money for the program. I looked over all of the documents, edited grammatical and mathematical functions within the grant documents. Alex asked me to help with the task of correcting the grants in order to introduce me to a different aspect of a non-profit organization which included the business and finances. In doing so, I had to come up with different programs that could be included within this program to get further government aid.
Hours: 10
Monday 8/10-Friday 8/14
Throughout this week, Mr. Alex asked me to look through the archives of all the previous students that attended the YWCA in 2004 until now, seeing what their status is in life. For instance, to see if they attended college after high-school or are currently employed. Going through hundreds of names and calling all of them was very strenuous and took a lot of planning and organizaing. However, I created a list and chart of all the students who attended the YWCA and their status. Overall, most of the students who attended the YWCA are either employed or are in college, indicating that the YWCA may have positively influenced a student who was once stigmatized as an “at-risk youth” of failing in life.
Hours: 10
Monday 9/28
Before class begins, I help the students out with their school work and quiz them for their exams and quizzes they have to study for. Today, Osa Amadasu, a teacher at the YWCA, asked the students what types of activities they’d like to do for the Week Without Violence Event. Students stated suggestions such as movie night, posters, open mic about violence, etc. Ideas were written down and a set schedule was finalized for each day of Week Without Violence.
Hours: 2
Tuesday 9/29
I helped the students get a better understanding of their school work before class begins. Today, the class discussed the issues on a violent act that had occurred in school. They discussed the incident with a 16 year old honor student in Chicago who got beaten to death. He was dragged into a large fight where students were using sticks and winging violently towards one another. This led to Derrion Albert getting involved and being severely beaten. Derrion was simply trying to get his friend out of the mob which led to a devastating disaster. The students then dragged his dead body back into school not knowing that he was dead. Such an incident was so devastating, that Osa, the teacher at the YWCA was trying to make a point of how violence can lead to serious consequences.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 9/30
Before class started, I helped the students with their homework assignments and answered questions the students had trouble with. During class, each student wrote a contract, making a commitment of not engaging or facilitating any part of violence. By doing so, students who disobeyed these rules were either suspended or kicked out of the program at the YWCA. Osa, the teacher of the afterschool program made sure the students took the contract seriously. After class, students worked on homework or socialized quietly with one another.
Hours: 2
Thursday 10/1
Before each class, the students ask me for help on their homework assignments or ask me to quiz them for their examinations. In today’s class, the main topic was juvenile delinquents and reasons why they behave the way they do. Economic, social, and mental factors were discussed in which peers, gangs, parents, families, social status, and the area they grow up in all have a correlation with juveniles to commit deviant acts.
Hours: 2
Monday 10/5- Friday 10/9
Throughout the week, the students worked on their violence posters to present on the week without violence event. Students worked individually or with partners, portraying different types of violence. One poster had gun violence while another student portrayed violence in the household. On top of that, students practiced and created their skits to present on the event of Week Without Violence.
Hours: 10
Week without violence week
Monday 10/12
Today was the first day of week without violence where the community of buffalo, representatives of the YWCA, students, and family members came and interacted with others about violence that has occurred within their lifetime. A large circle was created where a person had the option to discuss their experiences with violence. This day was extremely moving because of the some experiences these certain individuals had to face. By bringing people together made such an experience powerful and touching. The interaction led by the director of the YWCA, Alex Wright, brought others to share their stories, even the students. At the end, drinks and food was given to all members who participated at the first day of the Week without violence.
Hours: 3
Tuesday 10/13
The second day of Week without violence entailed a guest speaker from a nonviolence coalition who articulated the types of violence and the reasons why they occur. Students, family members, and individuals interested in the week without violence respectably listened and participated during her presentation.
Hours: 3
Wednesday 10/14
The third day consisted of the students portraying their posters signifying non-violence. Each student showed off their artistic abilities and understanding of non-violence via their posters. Such a project helped the students develop further understanding of violence. In addition, by gaining knowledge in the negativities of violence will someday prohibit these at-risk students from committing such delinquent acts and doing something to prevent it.
Hours: 3
Thursday 10/15
On Thursday, the students, family members, and the community watched videos of violence. Some disturbing images were present, however such images impacted us greatly.
Hours: 3
Friday 10/ 16
On the last day of the Week without violence, students performed their skits on violence in front of a large audience. The skits created re-enacted violence that occurs throughout the world as well as in homes, schools, etc. The Week Without Violence gave individuals a greater understanding of such negativity and strongly promoted the stop of violence and the initiation of coming together. Hours: 3
Monday 10/19- Friday 10/23
Throughout the week before each class, I assist students with homework, problems, and anything they need, alleviating their worries. This week’s topic in the classrooms focused on a student’s career path and their future goals. Each student wrote down their future goals and where they see themselves in the future. This led to the discussion of further education such as undergraduate level and perhaps to graduate or medical school. One of the students here plans on attending Canisius College, but feels as if she will not get accepted. I gave her advice by telling her to be positive and to fulfill all the requirements Canisius is looking for. Other students plan on going to Erie community college, while some plan on working after high-school. By influencing the students to have goals in life and have the willingness to succeed will benefit them greatly. A little encouraging and motivating brought excitement in their lives and gave them the hope to strive.
Hours: 10
Monday 10/26- Friday 10/30
Throughout the week of Monday through Friday, Mr. Wright, the director of the YWCA asked me to write donation letters for the Halloween party on Friday and give them to organizations such as Wegmans, tops, La novas, etc. This letter written asked for donations such as food, drinks, supplies, etc for the students at the YWCA. La novas pizzeria applied back and donated 2 sheet pizzas for our Halloween party on Friday.
Hours: 10
I still am volunteering at the YWCA to this day and enjoy assisting the students in any possible way. I have become extremely close with all the students as well as the leaders here and plan on helping them until I graduate in spring 2010.
The director of the YWCA is Alex Wright and he has asked me to assist and aid the students in this program. His email address is awright@ywca-wny.org. Osa Amadasu is a teacher at the YWCA and she has a major impact on the students of the YWCA as well. Her email address is oamadasu@ywca-wny.org and cell number is 716-907-0570.
My name is Minjae An and I am a senior at Canisius College. I am a psychology major and an adult,child clinical minor. My email address is anm@canisius.edu and I have chosen to do my practicum at the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association). Empowering women and eliminating racism! Such a bold mission statement is pursued by the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA). This organization is a program intended to help young women, however it now advocates male youths to participate in the program as well, challenging the process of their mission statement which is limited to women by being all inclusive. By permitting all individuals of different sexes and races to come together and work for a common good can be extremely beneficial to the organization and the individuals. The area I helped out at the YWCA was the after school youth leadership program which consists of all African American high-school students living in the inner city of buffalo. This program gave individuals who had trouble in schools the label “at risk youth”, an equal opportunity to excel in all areas of life such as careers, health, relationships, education, global issues and various others. Students applicable for the YWCA are those who are being tracked at city public and private high schools by principals or counselors who feel these students are at risk of failing due to academic problems or being expelled due to behavioral problems. This program is designed to aid educational problems the students may pertain and teach them positive thinking. However, by labeling the children “at risk” stigmatizes their image negatively. Therefore, the goal I helped fulfill by volunteering at the YWCA was educating them in areas where they lacked greatly.
Monday 4/27
Today was my first day at the YWCA and I was introduced to all the students and what this program entailed. As soon as I settled in, the director Alex Wright had assigned a task for me right away. My job was to assist the student's on the Discover project they have been working on for couple weeks. The Discover project consists of the student's strengths which were poem writing, dancing, singing, or art. Each student chose to write a poem, dance, sing, or show their artistic abilities in front of an audience on Wednesday April 29, 2009 and my job was to go over each student's project and fix anything that needed to be fixed. Some wrote poems about their lives and what they had accomplished. Others created posters showing their strengths.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 4/29
Today was performance day for the students where each student expressed their strengths in front of an audience. We had set up a stage and chairs for the friends and family members to watch comfortably. After each student sang, danced, read their poems, or showed their artistic abilities, we got to socialize with the students, directors, friends and family members about the good this organization is bringing to the students. On top of that, tasty treats and pizza was served which we all enjoyed greatly.
Hours: 2
On Monday 5/13, the director had brought all the students in the classroom to learn about crimes occurring in the city of buffalo. In addition, the ways to prevent such devastating effects. Each student was asked to write down why such crimes occur and most of them would say because of jealousy, anger, revenge or fun. A large discussion was initiated where each student expressed their point of view towards the topic. After a long discussion, an article was given to each student describing an African American UB engineering graduate student who was shot to death near UB south campus. It was noted that the student was shot two days after graduation because of an argument over a female, indicating the extreme dangers of jealousy.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 5/15. The students at the YWCA discussed what attributes about a male or female attracts the opposite sex. For example, each male student would write down four things they like in female and female students would write down four things they like in males. Many wrote down physical characteristics such as their eyes, face, or body. Others wrote that they like people who are confident, smart, or funny. This discussion led to the topic of violence and stalkers. Alex Wright, the director of the YWCA strongly emphasized the dangers that arise from sexual attractions of the opposite sex. Stalking was the primary discussion which he warned the students to be cautious which can lead to sexual abuse and violent relationships.
Hours: 2
Thursday 5/16. Why do people join gangs? This was the question asked to each student at the YWCA. Most of them would say for protection and the feeling of reassurance. Such a topic led to a discussion of gangs such as the “crips” and the “bloods” which are common gangs throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, some students found gangs to be a good thing to be a part of which in a sense had worried the director and I. Most of the students at the YWCA come from low socioeconomic families which play a major factor into crime. Our job is to eliminate the negativity from the students and point them toward success.
Hours: 2
Monday 5/18. Today a lesson plan was created for the next 4 weeks at the YWCA. The classroom discussion was about what the students wanted to learn in the future classes. Topics such as drugs, sex, behavior problems, why people have certain disorders were the most popular ones. After the discussion, the students went on computers and chatted with their peers for the remainder of the time.
Hours: 2
Tuesday 5/19. Today, I observed the student’s discussion on whether gay marriage rights resemble the civil rights comparison. Those who agreed with the similarity argued that all individuals in general were stripped of their rights. For example, blacks were segregated and gays are not allowed to get married. Both are abused by individuals who strongly oppose African Americans or gay individuals, mentally or physically. Those who disagreed with the resemblance of gay rights and civil rights argued that African Americans had it much worst because they were legally abused by white owners. In addition, they were segregated. On the other hand, gays were not legally abused. However, they were stripped away of their marriage rights. Such a topic led to a heated debate between the students which led to great interaction with one another.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 5/20. Today was open mic day! The students and I enjoyed other individuals in the city of Buffalo perform their talents and show their attributes on stage. Some sang, danced, read poetry, discussed certain topics such as the negativity in the world today, and various other things. Today was pretty much a day for the students where they got to enjoy lively performances and simply just relax!
Hours: 2
Thursday 5/21. Today an extremely interesting discussion was illustrated. An article was given to each student fully describing a transgender individual. A young boy growing up wanted to become a girl. In the article, Ben was born a male yet had a female perspective in life and changed his persona to Katie. As young as age 2, Ben would use anything he could fin to create long hair. At age 3, Ben was a princess for Halloween, wearing a tiara. At age 5, Ben was taking girl toys to show and tell in Kindergarten. The key term transgender was the main topic in today’s discussion.
Hours: 2
Friday 5/22. Today the class discussed different techniques of learning. There were three groups set up and each group had a different method of learning. For example, the first table wrote down a phrase 15 times for memorization. The second table repeated the phrase over and over to memorize it. The last table had a spokesperson to repeat the phrase to them repetitively. Each group rotated until every student experienced each learning method. This evidently allowed the students to see whether they learned more efficiently by writing, listening, or by repeating on their own.
Hours: 2
Monday 5/25 – Friday 5/29
During this week, the YWCA was changing locations and I had to do a lot of strenuous and heavy-duty work. By packing computers, chairs, tables, school supplies, and a myriad of other necessities, we quickly moved all of the things located at the old area to a new and larger building. This new area was located on Hickory Street near Erie Community College. By packing and moving all the items to the new location, I learned great organizing skills, time management, analyzing, managing, communication, planning, and problem-solving. All these skills were unexpectedly obtained from the organization switching locations. By expressing good interpersonal skills with others made it easier to plan, organize, and engage in the renovation.
Hours: 12
Friday 6/12
Today was the first day at the new location and the first day with the students since the renovation. Throughout the summer on Monday through Thursday, the students go to their jobs provided by the YWCA to gain experience and knowledge in the working field.
Most of their jobs included working in hospitals and zoos in which the student obtain numerous skills. These jobs were offered to the students to keep them busy and active in order to lessen their deviant behaviors throughout the summer. In addition, it tested their reliability, responsibility, and interpersonal communication with others. The first day back was simply just a fun day where new students in the program got to socialized with the returning students and interact with myself and other leaders at the YWCA.
Hours: 2
Monday 6/15 - Friday 6/19
For most of the summer, Mr. Alex, the director of the YWCA and I planned to create an engineer program at the YWCA. He was strongly for this program which his goal was to introduce new ideas to the students. Throughout the week, Mr. Alex gave me a list of hobby shops to call and ask them for donations such as cars, helicopters, and trains for the students to work on. He wanted the students to build these items from scratch and become “engineers”. The hobby shops I called were all for donating cars, helicopters, and trains for the students to work on. Some shops completely denied the donation and were not interested. By asking these hobby shops for donation, greatly improved my interpersonal communication skills as well as planning and organizing skills as well.
Hours: 10
Monday 6/22 – Friday 6/26
Throughout this week, Mr. Alex had another task for me to accomplish. He asked me to call Sex education programs to see if a guest speaker would come in and talk with the students. After calling numerous programs around Buffalo, NY, the Erie Health Department in the think it over program and AIDS coalition insisted on coming in and speaking to the students about sex. A guest speaker from the Erie Health department is scheduled to come in on Friday, July 10th, while the guest from AIDS coalition is scheduled to come in on Friday, July 3rd.
Hours: 10
Friday 7/3
Today, the guest speaker from the Erie Health Department in the think it over program came in and discussed the negativity that comes from unprotected sex. She explained the various types of diseases such as STD’s and aids, safe sex, birth control, hygiene and abstinence. After the speaker was done with her presentation, all of the students were horrified by the pictures, videos, and the informative facts that was given to the students.
Hours: 2
Friday 7/10
Today, the guest from the AIDS coalition came in and solely focused on the different types of diseases especially AIDS that come from unprotected sex. He emphasized the causes, symptoms, and treatment of such a devastating disease and ways to prevent from getting it.
Hours: 2
Monday 7/13- Thursday 7/16
Throughout this week, my job was to create a job and college resume as a template for the students to follow. There were numerous ways to write a resume, but I solely used the Canisius College resume template. I printed out enough copies of the Canisius College resume template for the students to look at on Friday. They can then use the resume as a framework for their own resumes in applying to colleges and to jobs. In addition, I wrote up a resume for myself to show the students on how I would write one and assist them in writing one in a professional manner.
Hours: 8
Friday 7/17
Today, I taught the class on how to write a job or college resume. The overall task was very challenging due to my lack of teaching and presenting skills, however such a challenge gave me a greater knowledge in teaching and helping others. My initial statement in transitioning to the resume writing was by asking all the students whether or not they plan on going to college or working. All the students planned on either working or going to college, taking the assignment very seriously. In the end, all the students wrote exceptionally well job and college resumes and plan on using them in the future.
Hours: 2
Monday 7/27- Friday 7/31
Throughout this week I worked with Mr. Alex to finalize on grants for the non-profit organization in order to get money for the program. I looked over all of the documents, edited grammatical and mathematical functions within the grant documents. Alex asked me to help with the task of correcting the grants in order to introduce me to a different aspect of a non-profit organization which included the business and finances. In doing so, I had to come up with different programs that could be included within this program to get further government aid.
Hours: 10
Monday 8/10-Friday 8/14
Throughout this week, Mr. Alex asked me to look through the archives of all the previous students that attended the YWCA in 2004 until now, seeing what their status is in life. For instance, to see if they attended college after high-school or are currently employed. Going through hundreds of names and calling all of them was very strenuous and took a lot of planning and organizaing. However, I created a list and chart of all the students who attended the YWCA and their status. Overall, most of the students who attended the YWCA are either employed or are in college, indicating that the YWCA may have positively influenced a student who was once stigmatized as an “at-risk youth” of failing in life.
Hours: 10
Monday 9/28
Before class begins, I help the students out with their school work and quiz them for their exams and quizzes they have to study for. Today, Osa Amadasu, a teacher at the YWCA, asked the students what types of activities they’d like to do for the Week Without Violence Event. Students stated suggestions such as movie night, posters, open mic about violence, etc. Ideas were written down and a set schedule was finalized for each day of Week Without Violence.
Hours: 2
Tuesday 9/29
I helped the students get a better understanding of their school work before class begins. Today, the class discussed the issues on a violent act that had occurred in school. They discussed the incident with a 16 year old honor student in Chicago who got beaten to death. He was dragged into a large fight where students were using sticks and winging violently towards one another. This led to Derrion Albert getting involved and being severely beaten. Derrion was simply trying to get his friend out of the mob which led to a devastating disaster. The students then dragged his dead body back into school not knowing that he was dead. Such an incident was so devastating, that Osa, the teacher at the YWCA was trying to make a point of how violence can lead to serious consequences.
Hours: 2
Wednesday 9/30
Before class started, I helped the students with their homework assignments and answered questions the students had trouble with. During class, each student wrote a contract, making a commitment of not engaging or facilitating any part of violence. By doing so, students who disobeyed these rules were either suspended or kicked out of the program at the YWCA. Osa, the teacher of the afterschool program made sure the students took the contract seriously. After class, students worked on homework or socialized quietly with one another.
Hours: 2
Thursday 10/1
Before each class, the students ask me for help on their homework assignments or ask me to quiz them for their examinations. In today’s class, the main topic was juvenile delinquents and reasons why they behave the way they do. Economic, social, and mental factors were discussed in which peers, gangs, parents, families, social status, and the area they grow up in all have a correlation with juveniles to commit deviant acts.
Hours: 2
Monday 10/5- Friday 10/9
Throughout the week, the students worked on their violence posters to present on the week without violence event. Students worked individually or with partners, portraying different types of violence. One poster had gun violence while another student portrayed violence in the household. On top of that, students practiced and created their skits to present on the event of Week Without Violence.
Hours: 10
Week without violence week
Monday 10/12
Today was the first day of week without violence where the community of buffalo, representatives of the YWCA, students, and family members came and interacted with others about violence that has occurred within their lifetime. A large circle was created where a person had the option to discuss their experiences with violence. This day was extremely moving because of the some experiences these certain individuals had to face. By bringing people together made such an experience powerful and touching. The interaction led by the director of the YWCA, Alex Wright, brought others to share their stories, even the students. At the end, drinks and food was given to all members who participated at the first day of the Week without violence.
Hours: 3
Tuesday 10/13
The second day of Week without violence entailed a guest speaker from a nonviolence coalition who articulated the types of violence and the reasons why they occur. Students, family members, and individuals interested in the week without violence respectably listened and participated during her presentation.
Hours: 3
Wednesday 10/14
The third day consisted of the students portraying their posters signifying non-violence. Each student showed off their artistic abilities and understanding of non-violence via their posters. Such a project helped the students develop further understanding of violence. In addition, by gaining knowledge in the negativities of violence will someday prohibit these at-risk students from committing such delinquent acts and doing something to prevent it.
Hours: 3
Thursday 10/15
On Thursday, the students, family members, and the community watched videos of violence. Some disturbing images were present, however such images impacted us greatly.
Hours: 3
Friday 10/ 16
On the last day of the Week without violence, students performed their skits on violence in front of a large audience. The skits created re-enacted violence that occurs throughout the world as well as in homes, schools, etc. The Week Without Violence gave individuals a greater understanding of such negativity and strongly promoted the stop of violence and the initiation of coming together. Hours: 3
Monday 10/19- Friday 10/23
Throughout the week before each class, I assist students with homework, problems, and anything they need, alleviating their worries. This week’s topic in the classrooms focused on a student’s career path and their future goals. Each student wrote down their future goals and where they see themselves in the future. This led to the discussion of further education such as undergraduate level and perhaps to graduate or medical school. One of the students here plans on attending Canisius College, but feels as if she will not get accepted. I gave her advice by telling her to be positive and to fulfill all the requirements Canisius is looking for. Other students plan on going to Erie community college, while some plan on working after high-school. By influencing the students to have goals in life and have the willingness to succeed will benefit them greatly. A little encouraging and motivating brought excitement in their lives and gave them the hope to strive.
Hours: 10
Monday 10/26- Friday 10/30
Throughout the week of Monday through Friday, Mr. Wright, the director of the YWCA asked me to write donation letters for the Halloween party on Friday and give them to organizations such as Wegmans, tops, La novas, etc. This letter written asked for donations such as food, drinks, supplies, etc for the students at the YWCA. La novas pizzeria applied back and donated 2 sheet pizzas for our Halloween party on Friday.
Hours: 10
I still am volunteering at the YWCA to this day and enjoy assisting the students in any possible way. I have become extremely close with all the students as well as the leaders here and plan on helping them until I graduate in spring 2010.
