Think I'm finally done....

So, I've been thinking alto about ending my Senior Project by the time presentations are. I had originally decided to go until Graduation, but all I do is walk around like a lonely cowboy. I am still planning on having an ice creme party with the girls, and I think that will be the end of my Senior Project. Wow, it's really weird to say that my senior project is coming to an end! But, IM SO RELEIVED! It's a good feeling to know that i made somewhat of an impact of some one's life, and I think that I will def. go back to the  girls home in the future. This week has been a really easy week for me. Its spring break now, because I'm not coming tomorrow! During unadventure week, as many people are now calling it, I have been getting everyhing together for my presentation as well as my portfolio. But, I can't figure out how to print my blogs all at once. Well, that's all for now!

vlogging?

This week I decided to change things up. I made a 'vlog' or whatever it is called. Check it out (:

79 days and counting

        Well, blogging this week has slipped my mind, however, it's better to write at 12:00AM than to not write anything at all. Guess what? There are 79 days until our Graduation. Which means, my senior project is coming to an end. Most of the seniors I have talked to are going to stop with their senior project after our presentations in April. I, however, am not. I will be working with the girls until may 7th, I believe the correct date is. This means extra planning and preparation. I have everything worked out with a lady named Michelle that works there, and we are going to be doing Zumba more often--through May. The girls really seem to love it, and it's fun moving around like we're crazy dancers. I personally, have no rhythm at all so I get laughed at, but that's okay. Prom is coming up, and there are two or three girls who are actually gong to go to prom this year! I am going to possibly go and help them get ready for their big night out this year!  We have to make sure that the girls can go first.
     Anywho, my dad mentioned that Chamlee told him that the staff and girls  needed a wall knocked down at the girls home. We were talking about that, and I think that it would be neat to get a small group of people to go out to the girls home and work on some well needed matance and things done around the house and cottages. Not necessarily as part of my Senior Project, but as a fun activity because it would not really be interacting with the girls. Well, opinions on whether this is a good idea or not would be GREAT!
      This week is going to be busy because I have to prepare for the Saturday activity which will be on March 12th. I think that's all for now. I'll post more exciting news about the girls next week!
     

The Mentor Wars

One of the Senior Girls just
got her acceptance letter
from her DREAM college,
Lander. She is THRILLED.
(This picture is not
of her)

So, as many of you may know, I have STRUGGLED to have meetings with my mentor, Mrs. Chamlee. However, today was the lucky day! We met at McAlister's Deli, and she graciously paid for my lunch! Even though it has taken us a while to meet, I had forgotten how much I enjoined her and having her as a mentor. Lunch today was really good, and we talked about everything. Because two of the girls at the EHSGH are seniors in High school, I wondered where they went after college and on holidays at college and such. She said that the girls can legally sign out of the girls home at age 17 and be on their own after college. She said that some of the girls can still be residents there during college, but many of them choose not to be. However, if the girl decides not to sign out of DSS custody, there re perks. Such as money to buy a car and an appartment. I leaned a lot about my mentor over the short lunch break today, and we talked about almost everything. We both laughted about the mentor war deal, and decided that Mcalister's Deli was the meeting spot from now on! I'm gonig to shaddow her job in the next few weeks. Can't Wait!

Meet "Sarah"

          "Sarah" is seventeen years old, and has been in Foster Care sence she was only four years one. One night, hermother disappeared when she was dropped off at a neighbors house. Her mother told them that she had to go to the store for milk and she would be right back. She never saw her mother again after that night. For many years, she lived around with diffrent people in her small community, untill she was placed in foster care. Now, "Sarah" is a srtaight-A student and wante to go to college at USC.  She hopes to practice law so she can help abandoned children, like herself.   "Sarah" and I have a lot in common! Her favorite color is bright green, like mine, and she wants to do something in the criminal justice feild, like me as well.

         This week, I was supposted to meet with my mentor but she was sick, so hopefully we will be able to meet again soon. I am gonig to hte Girls hoem this afternoon to tutor them, so I'm hopeing all will go smoothly! I'm excited, but yet a little nervous. Wish me luck!

Zumba and Pizza? Good mix!

On Saturday the fifth, I held the pizza party at the girls home. For those following my blog, the last activity I held was a disaster! This time, however was so much fun! I pre-ordered the pizza from Little Ceasers on Friday, and picked it at 11:30 Saturday morning. Then headed off to the Ellen Heins Smith girls home once ago. For lurch, I had 4 cheese and 4 pep pizzas, chips and drinks. When I got there, the girls we're really nice and offered to help immediately. They were really appreciative of me coming too. We at lunch and I really bonded with a new girl, Sally*. She is 16 years old and ran away from her mo and was hiding in Green ville with her grandparents and sister, that she has raised since she was little. Her father left her and her sister, and her mother was abusive. She was hiding in Grenville for three years with her sister until her grandparents couldt care for them anymore, and called DSS. They were then removed from the home and both girls were place in the Girls Home. I thought it was really neat that they kept botgh of the sisters together. I could clearly tell how much she cared about her sister, who was 14. After lunch and after we cleaned up, i set out all the beads mrs price gave for me to use. Some ofthe girls used the beads, but all of us were more interesting in dancing, The FC that was working is a Zumba iunstructor, and she taught us Zamba dances. It was SO much fun! We danced to Pretty Girl Rock which was our cool down, and really danced to Whip My Hair, a song by a nine year old! After that, the girls really wanted to show me how to do the Jerk, Ray, and other dances I did not already know. Four hours went by extreamly fast, and I loved every minute of it! I can't wait to go back!

Jewlrey and Pizza

      This Saturday, for Fifth, I have a pizza party and a jewelery making party. I am prepared, I justt have to order the pizzas and bring them to the home. I have emailed Inez about the time, however she has not emailed back, so as of Wednesday I am unaware of the time. I am extremely nervous to go back this time. EXTREMELY. I don't want this activity to go like the last Saturday activity did, which was a disaster . Anyways, Mrs. Price helped me a lot with time and money for this activity. She donated a huge bag of beads that we will be able to make awesome jewelery with. So far, my senior project independent study has helped me realize how blessed I am.  
    On the other hand, The Ellen Heins Smith Girls home is in need of laundry detergent, and  products. I was thinking about having a donation drive, if at all that would be possible. I think is would also help out the staff at the girls home a lot. They are always running low on toothpaste, soap, shampoo and other products as such. hmmmmm..I'll talk to Mr.Hinds soon!
      Thursday I have a meeting with my Mentor, Chamlee. I have not seen her in a while, and i'm pretty excited to share with her what all I have done withthe Girls from  the last time we have met!    

Tinis and Tapas 2011

The spartanburg Girls Home is holding their annual 'Tinis and Tapas' on February 26th 2011. Foster and Ruth Gray Chapman, along with the Ellen Hines Smith Girls’ Home will host an exciting evening of friends, fun, food, and did, martinis. It's called Tinis and Tapas to benefit the great work being done at the Ellen Hines Smith Girls’ Home.  The theme for this year’s event will center around the most famous (and dangerous) secret agent for British Intelligence, 007 James Bond. A few of Bond's personal traits have become famous, including his preference for martinis…. "shaken, not stirred," thus, this year’s event is titled, Tinis and Tapas 2011 - Shaken, Not Stirred!  When I looked at this first, I thought to myself "great! I can help out the girls home by buying a ticket and going!" Then, however, I noticed that it had to do with martinis, and unfortunately wont be able to attend. BUT, if any of my fellow readers over the age of 21 would like to attend, it would be a great time of fellowship and rewarding of the Ellen Heins Smith Girls Home.

          In case you would like to attend and find out more information about this event, here is some more information. For the fourth consecutive year guests will feast on tapas from many local restaurants and local community members will sponsor eight different martini stations which will be sampled by guests throughout the evening.  The martini stations sponsors have lots of fun competing with one another and enjoy decorating their stations around the theme of their martini.  The event is well attended by many in Spartanburg who love to support a great cause – especially when lots of fun is involved.  There will also be a silent aution. Tickets are $75 in advance but this included martinis and food, and supports a good cause. If you would like to attend, let me know and I can get tickets for you!

     On the other hand, my next activity with the girls is on February 5th 2011 and I meet with Chamlee on the 3ed of February! thats all for now!

Every dog has it's day?

So. The activity I did on Saturday was a complete disaster. I don't think it could have gone worse if I wanted it too. First of all, the original plan was to have a movie night. When I got to the girls home, no one wanted to watch a movie. There was three of four new girls, and when I introduced myself, they hardly said 'hey' or even a little 'hi'. So I though to myself "whatever, bad start, it can't get any worse" But I think i jinxed myself, because it did. After that incident, I walked into the TV room in cottage two. There were three girls in the room. Two on the computer with headphones in, and one watching TV. I tried talking to the young woman watching TV, but she was too interested in Sponge Bob Square Pants. I tried talking to the girls on the computer, but they were too busy watching fights on YouTube. Needless to say, watching a movie was not in their concern. So i walked back into cottage one, and ended up sitting by myself for a while, thinking of how to make a come back. Nothing came to mind, until finally a couple of girls come in. We talked on and off, small talk until it was time for the girls to eat. The leader that day came to me and told me that the girls really wanted to go to the mall that night, and did not feel like watching a movie and having a movie night, and that I should come back another time maybe. This kind of hurt my feelings, but helped some of the girls get ready to go to the mall. When they we're all ready to leave, so was I. However, I was there for two hours, and did the best that I could do. Oh well, I guess, every dog has it's day. 

Oh blogspot, how i've missed you not.



Before



After

Well hello again! It's been two short weeks sense I've visited you! However, on December 18th I did one of my monthly activity's with the girls at the EHSGH. We made gingerbread houses, watched madea Christmas movie, and played the game of Life. I was there for about four hours and had a great time, however, you could tell a tremendous difference in the girls. I was warned that Christmas time and Thanksgiving could be emotional seasons for the girls. When I walked in the room, I could tell that the girls we're, sad. I could hence tension, I immediately noticed that something was different. The reasoning is that some of the girls could go home during the holidays, leaving about 10 behind. But this did not stop us from having a good time! I pre-made the gingerbread houses with a hot glue gun at home, so the houses would not fall down, and then bought icing from Food Lion for the girls to decorate it with. The girls for in groups of about ten, and all worked together really well. Overall, it was a good time! After we got done decorating the houses, we watched Madea...based around Christmas time. The girls seemed to really enjoy the movie. I- on the other hand hated that movie because it was confusing and I could not follow it! Partly because I came in during the middle of the movie after socializing with some of the girls who were not watching the movie. I have another monthly date this Saturday at the girls home. We are having a movie night and a pizza party! Well, I'll let you know how it went! No exciting stories for now, but more are sure to come!