Pregnant at 12 years old?

             So, As you might already know, I did not do the December activity this Saturday. Something came up and we had to reschedule to this Saturday, December 18th. The plan is to still be there at 4pm at the home of the girls. I'm pretty excited because exams will be over and the girls will be excited to be out of school.
          However, I was on spgirlshome.com and I found this heartbreaking but moving video of a girl who used to reside at the girls home, her story, and her speaking out about childhood abuse and pregnancy. This young lady was sexually assaulted by her mothers boyfriend (starting at the age of eight), and became pregnant. She was only 12 years old during her pregnancy, but did not realize she was pregnant. Here is a link to the News Channel 7 website to where you can listen to her story. If you would, please take the time to watch this video!  Thanks, Claire.

---->  Click Me! I am the link to the Michelle Rice story

Are gingerbread houses edible?

Hello Friends! My next planned activity is coming up quick! On Saturday, December 11th, I will be at the Ellen Heins Smith Girls Home once again, this time, making Gingerbread houses! I have bought three separate gingerbread houses for the girls. I am trying to decide whether to divide the girls into three groups, or divide the girls in two groups and then have a staff team. I think it would be neat to include the staff in an activity. Anywho, I will also be going to the girls home on Thursday for my usual every other Thursday visit. This week, I think I might bring a small treat, like gingerbread cookies, to get the girls excited for Saturday! I am a bit nervous about Saturday, but hopefully the nervous will go away! I will be sure to update you on how Thursday, and Saturday goes later on in the week. However, here is the thought of the day: Are gingerbread houses edible? (:

"I'm commin' home wit chu!"

     



My mom, dad, and
I in my kitchen!



     So, On Saturday November 20th I held the second planned activity with the girls at the girls home. This activity was more of a dinner, a Thanksgiving Feast. We prepared a Smoked Turkey, mac n cheese, green bean casserole, croissant rolls, and cake. The girls LOVED the food, especially the macaroni and cheese! They ate ALL of it, and some were even scraping the plate to get every last bit! Everything was homemade, with the help of my mom, dad, Kyle, and I.

            When we arrived at the Girls Home at 4:00, my mom and I unloaded the food in the car and took it inside. All the girls we're patiently waiting the arrival of us, and were all so eager to help out. After setting up the tables with the Thanksgiving table cloths and plastic Turkey's, we played Apples to Apples. We divided into two teams, and team 1 (my team!) actually won the game! After playing for a while, it was time to enjoy the home cooked meal.



Everything packed in the car and
ready to go!



 As mentioned earlier, the girls (and staff!) LOVED all the food. The two favorite were the macaroni and cheese, and the croissant rolls. (Those are my favorites, too!) All the girls also loved the scrumptious chocolate cake. All of the girls we're very appreciative and thankful for spending time with them, and they all loved having the company of my mom there as well. (I'll have to admit, I was a little nervous with her there because I did not want the girls to think "hey I have a loving mom" like I was rubbing it in there face). While eating, one of the girls said “I’m commin’ home wit chu! I’ve never had food this good!” I think that comment made me realize that I should not complain when my mom makes nasty things for dinner, such as broccoli, because some people don’t ever have to opportunity to get home cooked meals!!.

preparing the food

This activity went really well! Mrs. Zion actually came by to see how things were going as well, which was really cool! Through this experience, I have learned so many things. I have become a more appreciative person, and I have learned that I need to be more thankful of what I have.  I cannot wait until I can spend more time with all of the girls!

My dad carving the Turkey

Stoood up? No, not really

So, last thursday I was supposted to meet with my mentor, Chamlee. But, she did not show up. Was I stood up?
No, she had something to do wit  her daughter and forgot. It so hard to keep in touch with her, It's hard scheduling a meeting with her because our schedules are so conflicting..ohwell we will find time some how or another, Saturday is my big dinner with the girls. I can't wait! I'm soooo excited. I'll post a blog on Saturday telling you what was going on!

Chamlee, Mac-N-Cheese, and Pride&Prejudice

All the girls loved
this movie and
thought he was
really cute! (Well,
I'll have to agree!)

     So, I'm leaving for NYC tomorrow and I am verrrry excited! However, before that I am having another meeting my my mentor, Chamlee today at 4:00. We are going to talk about the Thanksgiving Feast I have planned fro on November 20th....that's coming up real quick! As far as food goes, I am gonig to have stuffing and a Turkey, Mac-N-Cheese, green bean casserole, croissant roles, and I'm trying to figure out what else to have. Anywho, while that is in progress, I have to fill you in on last weeks visit with the girls!

     As you might remember from a previous blog, my heart really broke when I saw 'smile' written on a pumpkin that one of the girls made. This girl hardly ever smile, or talks. While I was there on Thursday we started to talk and to bond. After dinner she even asked to play a board game with me (which is a big deal to play a board game at the home). After she asked me to play, she mumbled "wow, I never thought I would ask YOU to play with me" Maybe I'm doing something right, or wrong...only time will tell.

     A group from Wofford also came that night and showed the movie Pride and Prejudice and ate cookies. When they came, I kind of felt like a lost puppy because there was so many of the Wofford girls there, and only one me. That was okay though, I enjoy the movie!

I'll fill you in on how the meeting goes with Chamlee! Thanks for listening'!

stress?

Stress, stress, and more stress. The past couple weeks have been VERRRRRY busy for me becasue of school, so I have not been able to plan as much as I would like to have for my November activitywith the girls at the grils home. So far, it is scheduled to have a thanksgiving dinner at the girls home on November 20th (Saturday) and the time is undecided. Today, I am going to see all the girls and help tutor them. While there, I plan to ask what they would like to eat for the meal I will be cooking and preparing for. I'm nervous about tonight, becasue I am helping tutor them. If scared that if they ask a question and I am unable to answer it! Oh well, I will try my best. Before we wat our meal, I want ot have an actual activity planned for the girls. I was thinking about making pillows, like assigned in September. (This failed to happen becasue I had to get premission to have all the activities, and I has not yet had permission to do so) I'll ask Chamlee about that...

So, I'm off to the girls home! I post later about what we do and how everything goes!

Open Mic Night, Home Visits, and Adam Vann

           So, this past Thursday I went to the Girls Home again. Once I got there, the girls were really 'rallied' up because they did not hae school Friday, so they we're all out of routine. One I got there, *Sammy ran up to me and asked if I wanted to go to Open Mic Night with some of the girls. I said sure, unknowing of what I was getting myself into. Before we left, I ate dinner with the girls and they all remembered my name! I played Checkers with the youngest girl in the home (who cheats!) And helped the girls get ready to go out. It was really good to see the girls again, even though I saw them the past Saturday. A girl named *Jewll was going on a home visit. She was SO excited!! Her Uncle, came to pick her up around 630, and he walked right in the front door. This really took me by surprise. I did not know that the family members could just walk in..oh well, I'll look more into that later. The girls that were not going on a home visit immediately changed when he waled into the door. They got really quiet..I think it was jealousy. I can't wait to see how her home visit went though!

         Furthermore....Later at the Open Mic Night..

Open Mic Night

I later found out that it was held down town at the Hub-Bub, where high school students get together and have the opportunity to sing, rap and read poetry. All hte girls gathered in the bus and we took off! Once we got there, It was really neat to see how many people showed up! It was packed! It was fun to fellowship with the girls and see how they act in a public place. It was almost as if we all had been friends for a while. We talked, listen to people sing, (good and bad!) and I watched them giggle and smile as a male walked buy, like normal teenage girls do. One of the girls asked me if my boyfriend was a good influence, The Open Mic Night was really fun!

Adam Vann, was actually a host at the open mic night. I had the opportunity to have a conversation with him and the girls at the same time before he tragically passed away last week. This taught me to never take someone you know (or just met) for granite.

Next wekk i'll be spending the Thursday with the girls as well, can not wait to see what this week brings!

OH YEA!

P.S- I finished my research paper rough draft with sucuss! Complete and on time!

October 16th 2010

                                                Pumpkin Decorating  

These were some of the pumpkins
after the decorating!! They did
an awesome job!

These were some of the
pumpkins before the girls started to
decorate

On October 16th, I had my first planned activity with the girls. Because it was my first activity, I decided that it would be a good idea to get togeather with another group with more expierence so i could see what to do. I worked with Fernwood Baptist church and their Youthgroup. Starting at 4pm we all met at the girls home and decorated pumpkins! The girls loved the pumpkins and they turned out really good! After that, we ate dinner, had fellowship time and relaxed. For dinner we had hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chips, and lemonaide. To top that off, everyone had a cupcake to go with it. The girls seemed to really enjoy the time and interactions with other people. After dinner, we played games, and had a bonfine. At the bonfine, we roshed marshmellows and had S'mores! I loved getting to relax with the girls and get to know them better! Everyother thursday starting tomorrow, i will be going to the girls home and tutoring the girls and spending time with them! i can't wait! I've had so much fun. It was really neet to see how each girl decorated their pupkin. Their emotions they were feeling really impacted how they decorated their pumkpin. One girls pumpkin said "mamas girl forever". One girl that does not speek very ofter had one of the surprising pumpkins. This girl never has a smile on her face and does not talk or associate with people much. Her pumpkin said SMILE on it, with pretty black and red stars. To me, that pumpkin SCREAMS "I want out of this, I want to burst out in smile, but I just cant." Tomorrow, I'm going to devote more attention to her, and see what happens

Faces have to be blured out or
covered for protection. She was so
proud of her pumpkin!

One if the pumpkind that 'spoke' to mt the most

Laerning upon my Thesis

For my Senior Project research paper, i am writing about date rape and why it occurs more ofter now. Before, my topic was really broad. Now I am writing about why date rape happens due to the way society views women, women's morals, and women's loss of self-respect.  Through my research, I have learned lots of new statistics. 1 in every 4 girls are raped or sexual assaulted, and 84% of these girls knew their rapist. I have learned that rape is more common now than ever. Did you know that when a teenage boy looks at a movie with a rape scene (one example is the last house on the left)  it makes him feel as if that is 'in the norm'. Also, the phrases "I'll rape you" are tossed around frequently at hignschools and middle schools as a joke! I am learning so much about my topic ,and it is really interesting to learn about. Next week, I will be interviewing Trey Gowdy. I'll keep you posted!

Meet "Natalie"

This months feature girl is "Natalie" Natalie likes things to be neat. She takes great pride in decorating her room with her favorite things and in organizing the common areas of the group home. Her peers have voted her the manager of the home because of her great administrative skills. She is a hard worker, making the honor roll this past year. Recent test scores showed her testing two grade levels above her current school grade. Natalie also shows a lot of care for her peers, often being the first to welcome in a new resident.

         Natalie entered foster care at the age of fourteen. Her mother died a few years before she entered care and the Department of Social Services removed her from her father's care. When she was removed, she lived with her father in a drug house where a great deal of prostitution of was taking place. She was addicted to multiple drugs, had poor grades due to poor attendance and it was suspected that Natalie was being prostituted out. Many of these behaviors continued when she first entered foster care. After multiple placements, Natalie entered the Girls' Home in late summer, 2008. In the last eight months, she has made amazing strides as evidenced in her likes and her hopes for the future.

anyway, On October 16th (saturday) I will be helping a local church and their church group decorating pumpkins, having a bonfire, and making s'mores! While attending the Spartanburg International Fest. on Saturday, I actually ran into a couple girls from the girls home! That was cool. On Thursdays, I will be tutoring the girls and eating dinner with them! This has been such a neat journey!

Pumpkins, Inez, and Thesis, OH MY

So Senior Retreat was better than expected, although I had to leave early to babysit and take a college math class :( Wish I could have stayed, but, life goes on. Anyway, I have been talking to Chamlee a lot about dates fro all the activities for the girls. October 16th (Saturday) is the date planned for the Pumpkin activity. Where each of the Cottages will be decorating the pumpkins, and I'll have a ribbon for the winner. I am thinking about the staff decorating a pumpkin to, just for fun. Also, I'm thinking about getting a fake pumpkin instead of real ones so the girls can keep them forever, but that takes the fun out of scooping all the goop put of the pumpkin. Inez, activity director, is keeping me updated on when the girls are available. She will let me know if October 16th will be a good date!

On the other hard, I think this research paper will be the death of me. I'm not sure why it is so hard to come up with a thesis! I guess it is because I am a perfectionist, and I strive for the best. I have changed my thesis more than two times now. It's killing me. One person likes it, the other person doesn't. So, NOW I am thinking about writing about teenage pregnancy. Oh well, we will see.

The Senior Commons is FILLED with left over food from the retreat, so I'm going to kick back, eat, and research.

Meet "Monica"

This week has been pretty slow. My mentor, Chamlee, will be leaving town next week so I probally wont be able to see the girls. As of right now, the pizza party is planned for the second weekend in october. It had been moved due to other activitied the girls have planned and such.
anyway, I thought it would be neat to show you the "featured" resident at the girls home, as found at http://www.spgirlhome.com/ :

Meet Monica:

Monica recently became a Junior Scholar.  This program, developed by the South Carolina Department of Education, identifies students with academic talent. In order to become a Junior Scholar, Monica had to achieve an above average score on the PSAT. Along with receiving an Award of Merit from the SCDE, she may also be invited to attend summer opportunities at participating South Carolina colleges and universities. Monica is in care at the Girls' Home due to abuse and neglect by her parents.  Her father was not actively involved and her mother regularly used illegal drugs in the home, often leaving Monica unsupervised and exposed to other addicts. At a very young age, Monica's mother prostituted her out for drug money. Monica, loves to work with her hands. She used to help her dad work on cars and quickly learned the enjoyment of creativity and hard work. Monica is also very social and enjoys spending time with friends. Monica loves to listen to music and to create it- she plays the cello.

I might try and eat with the girls next week, although chamlee wont be here. Well, talk to you later!

I'll start shopping for the girls next week! SO EXCITED FOR THAT!

Busy, Busy, Busy week!

            I feel like this is the true start of Senior Project. My project proposal was today and I think I did great! I was a little nervous, and Mrs. Zion called me in there while the board was taking a bathroom break, so I was standing in a room with only two board members! That stirred my nerves up a little bit!
            I think that the Board members really liked my project. Everything except for my research paper topic, so I think my new one will be 'Does what women wear and how they present themselves provoke males and rape?'  That may be too broad as well
           The girls- I'm so sad that I am not meeting with the girls this week! It's been so hectic around Oakbrook, that I don't think I would have had time anyway. I will for sure be eating diner with them again next week.
          Between two party time jobs, a boyfriend, and friends, this week has been CRAZY. Senior project proposal today, Econ outline due today, Econ paper due friday, vocabulary test today, college class math exam tomorrow morning, and I'm leaving this weekend for a wedding. Hopefully, I'll survive this week and write more later!

First impressions.

                     My first encounter with the girls was today. it went great, and i'm actually amazed of how great it went. I was extremely nervous at first. As soon as I walked in to the home, I felt like everyone was staring at me. My mentor, Chamlee introduced me to all of the girls. As soon as I was introduced, it was like I had been friends with them for a while. They all greeted me with a handshake and a smile, except for one. After this, Chamlee gave me a tour of the cottage, and  then it was time for dinner.

            " Line up and wash your hands!" was what I was instructed to do. When we lined up the team leader, one of the girls, went through dining room expectations. Each girl down the line went through the expectations and someone prayed. Then it was time to eat! Dinner was probally my least favorite part of the night. WE had beef and beans, and just weird stuff. I didn;t get a lot on my plate at first, and someone made the comment "Is that all you're going to eat?" so I felt like I had to get more. I ate beside the youngest  member of the home, a 12 year old little girl. she was precious. She asked what my favorite hobbies were, and we share the same favorite color, Green!  Anyway,

            After dinner a young girl, the age of 13 gave me a tour of the cottages. It was nothing like I expected. It was cozy and like a home. I liked it, a lot. I loved getting to know the girls. 

              One of the girls, I can not remember her name, writes poetry. When I went in her room, she had it on notebook paper posted on her walls. Heres some of what I saw: 

                                       "Am I really that bad of a person?" 

                                        "What did I do to deserve this?" 

                                                   "Why did all this happen to me?" 

This really made me hurt. I wanted to reach out and hug her and let know know she IS loved. I was deeply impacted tonight, and realize that I have a burning passion for these girls. I can't wait to to back.

"FC"- family conference- where a cottage of girls get togeather and discuss topics. Todays topic was Passion. We all went around telling each other what we were passionate about. It was amazing. I loved it as well. 

Hanging out with the girls: I was siting on the lawn chair talking with two girls. One is 15 years old and has a 27 year old boyfriend, named Jeff, who has 4 different babies. She is recent to the home. some of her comments : 

"I'm not used to living in a 'home-home" I've lived in a trailer all my life." 

"food stamps, is home me and my mama get by" 

I hurt for this girl. She told me horror stories about being arrested. I wanted to cry for her. 

Piercings!: EVERYONE has a piercing. A nose piercing to be exact. And some of the girls want to pierce my nose (: hmmmm. Administration prob wont agree with that!

My first impression of the hoe and the girls went better than expected. I loved it, and can't wait to go back. I found out that this, is my passion. 

The start of Senior Project

So I met with Chamlee last week. She is really cool and neat to talk with. My heart hurts for those girls at the Girls Home. Nest week i will be eating dinner with all of the girls at the home. I'm really nervous about talknig to them, what to say, what not to say. And I hope I like the food! As I said, here are some of the girls living there, and why they are there: Their stories are incredible. Here are some of them!:



"Kelli" was abandoned at age 6 by her mother at a friend’s house. She hasn’t seen or heard from her mother again. Kelli went through dozens of foster homes, never long enough to form substantial relationships. Now that she is “too old” for a successful adoption, she is living at the Girls Home. She loves to read and excels in school. She hopes to be a police investigator so she can search for her mother when she grows up.


"Jayna" was put up for adoption at 2-years-old. Her mother was addicted to crack and couldn’t care for her. After living in multiple foster homes, she came to the Girls’ Home. Jayna is the comedian in the house and loves hair and makeup. She wants to travel to Africa when she grows up in hopes of finding out where her family came from.

"Audrey’s" mother died of a drug overdose and her grandmother has cancer and can’t raise her. Because she was neglected, she never even learned her ABC’s or how to read. After being in foster care for the last year, she has successfully learned to read and write although she is almost four grade levels behind in school. Audrey loves sports and wants to be on the track team in high school.

"Jamie’s" mother had 6 children and was addicted to crack. Jamie was severely abused at age 12 by one of her mother’s drug dealers. After he was sent to prison, her mother couldn’t take care of her kids. Jamie is a straight A student and has a job at a fast food place where she is a top employee. She is obsessed with everything the color green!

"Sonya" was exposed to the world of prostitution at a young age. She watched her mother prostitute herself to feed her children. Sonya and her siblings were placed in foster care three years ago. She doesn’t like crowds but she loves to write poetry and read it to the staff at the Girls’ Home. She also practices basketball every day.

"Elizabeth’s" parents were teenagers. They were not able to care for her so she was put into foster care at five years old. Now she lives at the Girls’ Home. She loves fashion and wants to go to fashion school when she grows up. Her favorite color is red and she tries to wear at least one red thing every day.

"Sarah" is 17-years-old and has been in foster care since she was four. Her mother disappeared one night when she was dropped off at a neighbor’s house saying she had to go to the store for milk and she would be right back. She never saw her again. For years, she bounced around, living with people in her small community until she was placed in foster care. She is now a straight A student and wants to go to college at USC-Columbia. She hopes to practice law so she can help other kids who are forgotten about.

"Sophie" was abused by her step-father at age 11. Her mother didn’t believe that the abuse happened so she decided not to tell the authorities. When Sophie told her teacher, she was placed in foster care. Now she is living at the Girls’ Home. She loves animals and is a very sweet child that makes friends easily. She wants to be a veterinarian to help abused animals.
 all of this information may be found at spgirlshome.com

Taking the first Step

         Well, it's final (for the most part) I have my 2010-2011 Oakbrook Senior Project! At first, I wanted to do something with rape and self injury, to aware people that it really goes on. But looking further into the project, my passion changed and I fell in love with the girls and young women from the Girls Home. As soon as I clicked on the website, I read each of the girls stories. I wanted to immediately cry for those young girls who had been abused, neglected, abandoned and forgotten about. One story was even about a mother selling her own daughter into prostitution at a Young age. After reading these, my heart suddenly changed and I knew what I needed to do! I felt pain for these girls, and I hurt for these girls. And then Senior Project came into place.
         For my senior project, I will be working with the girls at the Ellen Hines Smith Girls Home. I will meet with them every month, probably twice a month. In September, I will have a 'get to know each other' time, and have dinner with the girls. We will make and decorate our own pillows. In October, I will have a pumpkin carving and decorating class, and each girl will have their own Pumpkin to decorate of carve. In November, I am going to make a Thanksgiving feast for the girls and eat a nice home cooked meal with them for the holidays, which can be an emotional time for the girls. In December, I will hold a cookie decorating class and we will decorate Christmas ornaments, In January, I will have a self- defense class, teaching the girls and myself how to better and further protect ourselves. Around Valentines Day, I am going to have a speaker come to the girls home and talk about having a healthy relationship and how to be respected better. In March I will hold a staff vs girls volley ball tournament and I will make tee shirts with the girls like an acutal volley ball tournament.
        Also throughout the year I will meet with each of the cottages and have dinner with a small group of girls, to get to know them sepertaly. I will put togeather special needs packages for each cottage house using my own money as well.
          I never actually thought that I would be excited about senior project, but now I can not wait to get started! For the first time today I met with my mentor and figured everything out and I feel like its going to be such an exciting oppertunity. ahh! I can't wait!!!!! I have to admit, I was super nervous to meet with Chamlee (mentor) today without ever meeting her before today! Tomorrow Im meeting with Jessica from the Rape and Crisis center, to possible hold a conference with the girls home. Can't wait!