The week held many stories and highlights, but for the sake of time (and your sanity), I will share just one: about a ten-year-old boy, M., rescued from a rock quarry. When asked to draw pictures of life in the quarry, the children drew themselves carrying heavy boulders over their heads. During an early session with the kids, M. claimed he had no desire to go back to school (having dropped out in the third grade).
Later that same day, one of our social work graduate student interns led a session on the importance of education. This particular group of kids was so attentive that she quickly got through her material; and had time to work with each child individually. It turned out that M., the oldest child in this group, had never learned to write his name! So, D., the intern, spent several minutes teaching him how to write the characters that make up his name in his native tongue.
After his first time drawing the entire sequence of characters on his own, we all clapped for him (including M. himself!). He was so pleased with his accomplishment that he continued to practice and practice until he could draw it all from memory. Every time he finished his name, he would smile broadly and clap for himself...until we’d all join in and celebrate with him. He even learned to write his sister’s name that afternoon.
The kids were called away from our room, after awhile, to join their parents for family activities. Since they all seemed so intent on practicing their writing, we let them each keep one marker for the night. Once the room had been cleaned up, I walked outside to observe the game-playing. Instead, I saw the kids face down over their papers scribbling away on the edge of the field. When M. caught sight of me, he snatched up his work and ran over to show it off. He pointed out his carefully crafted characters, and pronounced each one clearly. We cheered together over his feat, and then he whipped around to hurry back to his spot on the ground.
But, with his back to me, he suddenly froze. I saw him pat his back pocket with sharp, frantic movements. Then, as I watched, he sighed deeply and, looking over his shoulder, he flashed a relieved smile as he held his marker up for me to see. He had not lost his new prize. All was well. The pen was tucked away in that pocket, once again, as we laughed together about his near-tragedy. Again he turned away, and again, he jolted to a stop. I observed the same hesitation, the quick check of the back pocket, and the deep breath of assurance that yes, his marker STILL remained safe in his pocket, before he finally walked away.
In social work, there is a theory that if we can help our clients succeed in one area (for example, in the therapeutic school setting, if a teen who is struggling with staying in a classroom for longer than five minutes manages to stay in a room for ten minutes, he or she might be “rewarded” and that extra five minutes in a room would be considered a success), they will learn that they are able to do something they had previously thought impossible or see themselves as "capable." The theory continues that this will encourage the client to continue working towards further success. Now, I’ve worked in the therapeutic school setting, and this is a slowwwwwww process. To see this theory play out in a span of less than two days, with M. realizing his ability to learn, floored me!
The following day, he could not stop talking about school and how he wanted to become a teacher, just like the gentleman we have leading a majority of the children’s sessions, J. If only words could truly convey M.’s excitement over his achievement...Watching how he cared for his newest tool on the grassy field was such a sweet moment. No matter how tiring the week, witnessing M.’s experience alone would have been worth it all.
Puppet shows used during discussion on child sexual abuse. Amazingly, there were no tears this time (puppets can be scary sometimes! I remember being afraid of Chuck E. Cheese...that was one BIG mouse...it just made no sense!).
A child working on the "touching rules" workbook.
One of the piggies at the farm. We also saw geese, turkey, love birds, cows, and flowers. But mostly pigs. It smelled niiiice.
Running to catch up with the group-we'd been distracted by a peacock sighting! And then there were the deer...eventually we caught up to the group making its way to the farm.
