Traveling the World

I’m going to Chabad tonight for the first time in a few weeks. I miss everyone dearly! Another reason is because next weekend I’ll be in Saint Augustine helping my parents with the uncle’s house now that my dad is finally executor of the estate. Woot!

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Some people can change, as opposed to my post a few days ago. I’ve proven in a matter of days that just changing the way you think can radically you. I’ve noticed a smiles from a few girls in just the last two days when I hadn’t had any in a long time, which I attribute to the long-term self-imposed garbage that’s now long removed from my mind.

All you need to remember is that when things get tough, tell your brain to shut up and start telling it how to think instead of letting it think for you!

After discussing him at length, we turned the subject to me and my experiences at the school. What I do is get to know the kids and play with them. After establishing trust, I’m able to sit with them in their class and help them, or take them out of class and talk to them. Usually we talk about their home and school lives. Whatever it is, I do it because these kids are absolutely adorable. Usually I see them because they have a history of behavior problems, but I also see kids in speech therapy, occupational therapy, or kids without any problems.

She told me that I should look into becoming a Behavior Specialist. The funny thing is, I never considered myself a “behavior psychologist” until a week or so ago. I was always the “holistic” or “social” psychologist in my mind. Now that I’ve been exposed to a different style of Psychology, I find it fascinating. My teacher has a degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, and at the beginning of the semester I thought it sounded boring. It’s hilarious how life changes so fast, so everyone out there, never say never baby!

I’ve met so many amazing kids! I have already done 45 hours and am dreading finishing my hours even though I am looking forward to being able to sleep until 9am every day. These kids have taught me many things about themselves and myself that words can’t even begin to describe it. Here’s an example: one of the kids I work with is named Steven. Steven is in the foster care system because his father didn’t want responsibility even though the mother did (but they are married so she had to give him up to remain in the relationship with the father). He’s 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. He is brilliant. I told several teachers at the school (but not in front of him) that if I weren’t leaving America for China that I would adopt him in a heartbeat. I don’t care that he is black because he is a beautiful soul.

Another kid is James, who is 9 and in the 4th grade. He had many behavioral issues when I met him a few weeks ago. Last week I went to pick him up from his class to take him to play Chess with me and the teacher came outside and whispered in my ear, “I don’t know what it is you are doing, but keep doing it because he has been an angel in class since he met you.” I was speechless. Since then, he keeps talking about how he wishes his real brothers were nice to him like I was (or that I was his real brother) and that he wants me to come to his house to play. I am giving him and Steven each a stuffed animal that have belonged to me that have some sentimental value because I hope that after I’m gone they will remember me like I will remember them.

This is just one of the things that makes life worthwhile: children who haven’t yet become cynical (despite being in a bad place).