Kimberly
Be sure to visit this site again for updates on Kimberly's progress in the Summer Youth Program.
Kimberly
The teens spent Wednesday and Thursday at Camp Long in West Seattle participating in a variety of activities such as teambuilding exercises, campfires, hikes, and games.. They also attended a "Peace Camp" where police officers and others who deal with at-risk teens spoke about dangers in the community.
"One thing I learned was that even though gang people are violent and break the laws, they still need some kind of love to get past that stuff. No one taught them how to be men when they were growing up. They didn't have role models," she says.
On Wednesday evening, the teens gathered around a roaring campfire. "We were just dancing and having fun, hanging out, just kick it time. Playing drums. I think we really got to know each other better. It was fun. We bonded."
And together, they received certificates of completion for the program at a graduation ceremony. In just a few days, they'll begin another year of high school, with more confidence and a new, useful set of skills.
Updated 8/28/09
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The Summer Youth Program is wrapping up this week, and it will soon be time for the students to say goodbye. Here's a passage from Kimberly's journal that she and other students were required to keep:
"Today we're getting our time sheets so next Friday we are going to get paid I'm really happy about that! After this week, we have two more weeks left. I'm really going to miss everyone at this program, because I can honestly say I learned something from everyone at this program. Also all the experiences at this program I will carry throughout my life."
A few days ago, after filling out a form to evaluate the course, she said: "It was a good program, overall. I liked making money and being busy over the summer. I'm relieved that the program is over, but I made some friends, and I'll keep in touch with people afterwards. I'm not too happy about it, and I'm not too sad either."
Updated 8/27/09
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This past week was busy for the teens. Guest speakers, work in the parks, the T-shirt project, and more. The kids also received an introduction to cashiering.
"We learned how to handle money and worked a little bit on the cash registers. I liked it a lot. I like working with people and helping them out. When I worked in the store, I passed out bags. If customers wanted a bag, I gave it to them."
Updated 8/26/09
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The T-shirt project that the youth have been working on over the course of the program concluded this week. All five groups presented their T-shirt designs and business plans to a panel of Goodwill employees.
Kimberly's group, which dubbed themselves "Fresh Wet Ink," created a T-shirt that reached out to the community in order to teach about saving the environment. "What I liked most about the project is seeing our final product. We worked really hard on it. Our idea really stands out. Our finances are on point. We worked well together. I think we'll win," she said shortly before her group presented.
Unfortunately for Kimberly, Jordan's group, "Royal-T," took the prize. "I was kind of mad that they won. They had a lot of conflicts in their group, but they had the best design. We could have been more serious, but we slacked off. We should have been more prepared. We were only able to practice (our presentation) once."
Updated 8/24/09
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The teens are required to write entries in a journal every so often, and here's a recent passage from Kimberly's:
"Today we learned about how to get a job and what you need to do before getting a job. I think that's really going to benefit me in the future because it's very important to be flexible and on your resume you have to always write what you can do and all your experiences working."
Updated 8/20/09
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Each afternoon, Kimberly and the other students board vans bound for a city park to build and restore trails, clear invasive plants and clean up the areas. So far, they've worked in Camp Long, Cheasty Greenspace, Lewis Park and the West Duwamish Greenbelt.
"I think the work we're doing in the parks is worthwhile. It's nice to have natural areas in the city with many plants and trees. I also like the work because I like to be active and move around," Kimberly says.
Updated 8/18/09
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The students in the program range in age from 15 to 18. Four years difference may not sound like much, but when you're a teenager, it can be huge. At 15, Kimberly finds it difficult at times to relate to older students in the group. "They are more mature socially and have experienced more."
Whether it's differences in age or points of view, being around other teens can sometimes feel a little overwhelming."Sometimes I get frustrated, but when I do, I write all of my feelings down, which helps me. When I get upset, it's good for me to take the time to think about what I'm doing and how I did something," she says.
Updated 8/13/09
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Kimberly, 15, has learned how to improve her communication skills with people who may have different personalities and views from her own. "I think I now look to see where people are coming from. I listen to their side," she says.
Soft skills like these get a lot of attention from Goodwill's Instructors. What are soft skills? They are the skills, abilities and traits related to attitude and personality, things like being a team player and getting along well with others. These are skills that are a key component of success. Teenagers are at a very critical point in their lives - if they don't learn the right skills now, it can cause them trouble later in life.
The program also teaches hard skills so the teens can find work: "I'm learning a lot about customer service. It's going to help me get a job in the future, but also if I want to get a job in high school."
What does Kimberly want to do in the future, after school? She'd like to work as a psychologist because she likes helping people. She gives her friends advice now, and feels that it's something she could be really good at.
Updated 8/6/09
