As I sat down to reflect on the day, I was still overwhelmed by the powerful emotions combined with the capacity to love and to heal each others pain and offer support for a stronger tomorrow.
Today brought on a multitude of emotions
Reflecting—Rejoicing—Releasing, tears of strength—of sorrow
Not meant for the events of yesterday
But to strengthen our being, to support us through a better tomorrow
The humility was yesterday-today
Dignity-Community-Sanctity
Tears of Strength for tomorrow
Tomorrow…
Teen Challenge was only a phrase I heard, an organization I knew little about. The inspiration brought to our community by Teen Challenge helped ignite thought of how to become a dynamic and compassionate social worker. I have found that by just being present and gentle in approach; trust is gained. Not being directive or corrective, but being a source of acknowledgment and participative creates an avenue of dialogue. Much in the same way putting oneself in a vulnerable state, disclosing just enough so the students see you as someone who has made mistakes; presenting from a humble and honest standpoint enhances relationship building.
Teen Challenge is highlighted by the “get real” approach between peers and adults. In support of adults working within the high school arena, Teen Challenge is a very positive experience which allows for bonds to be forged and relationships of trust to be nurtured. Not just between the student and “educator,” but between fellow students who previously were friends and now find themselves at odds with one another. Last week for the students who chose to participate found themselves challenging their motives, values, and cliques they identify with. The beginning stage of healing between students was a powerful experience and I am honored and thankful to have been a part of such an empowering process, because it allowed me to filter through emotions that pervade some of my thoughts and actions. Witnessing young people standing in front of 125 of their peers and apologizing for be a “bully or a gossip queen” was powerful and shows what a little self-reflection and disclosing can do.
The act of putting oneself in a vulnerable state while working with young people who already lack a strong trust in adults is empowering to the social continuity of the school community. Doing this helps build character and helps model strong aspects of character, as Stephen R. Covey explains...
“Our character is a collection of our habits, and our habits have a powerful role in our lives. Habits consist of knowledge, skill, and desire. The seven habits moves one through the following stages: Dependence is the paradigm under which we are born, and relying on others to care for us;
As each social worker develops their habits, which can be an individual journey, it is also a journey that is led by another person’s knowledge, a guide or a model that shares your same vision. “If you want to accomplish something that demands determination and endurance, try to surround yourself with people possessing these qualities” (Restak, R. 2004 pp.36-37). It is my belief that social work demands a determined soul and compassionate heart, as well as endurance to with stand the most challenging situations. This is why social work practice is a conglomerate of people and their experiences, communities and their resources, individuals and their resiliency, a trust relationship between agency and client. Social work practice is an ever changing process taken on by people with the capacity to do right by their neighbor.
Covey, Stephen R. (1990). Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Free Press
Restak, R. (2004). The New Brain: How the Modern Age is Rewriting Your Mind. Rodale, Inc.
I appreciate your entry. There is some interesting research that is connected to one's behavior when one is being watched. Briefly, it shows that one is more likely to exhibit "acceptable" "expected" behavior when they are being watched. In line with this research, perhaps, the self-disclosure that one exhibits as a sense of responsibility for an infraction they may have committed may be driven more by this than a prefrontal brain cortex sincerity; especially given that not until about our mid-20s are our brains finished wiring. Perhaps, to complete (or get closer to) the neurological circuits of meaningful apologies we should take this into consideration.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Yellow Bird