I did it! Wohoooooo!

Extremely, extremely excited to say my idea was approved. Here is the image of what my sample looks like. I could not have done this without going back and forth about relevance, material and especially design with Marcy, Becca, Denise L., and John G. Thanks to Jenn for giving me ideas on how to make this initial process (slightly) easier on myself and to Dan for (Friday) showing me how to make an online importing system survey for the students.

WOHOOOO!!! Next projects: making a document for each student and importing all of their past service, creating a weekly eblast with service opportunities, planning my second course & writing a song with all the acronyms this school has. Okay..so maybe the last one isn't quite a priority.

Much love!
Jenn

Wait, I'm supposed to MAKE money in life?

“If you could do anything (as a career) without regard to time or money, what would you do?”

I was going through some of my old papers and notebooks from college when I came across the beginning of an assignment that asked that question. It seems odd to me that there has to be such context of “without regard to time or money” but then I realized that we as people put limitations on ourselves, the way we think and in the end, what we decide to do.

Birth –> Preschool -> Elementary School -> Middle School -> High School -> Job & College -> Job -> Career -> Family -> Death

Yep, that’s my outlook on what life is currently.

Birth -> Learning how to read, laugh, love, walk, talk, hug, high five, explore -> Finding oneself, passions, interests, desires, loves -> Exploration -> Death

This is how I hope life can one day be viewed as by everyone. The events, and even the order, can be the same but what is valued is different.

So back to my assignment, I wrote two answers: 1. I would open a leadership camp and serve at-risk youth.  2. I would travel the world helping people for free.

The first is a risk but ends with a savings, retirement plan and health insurance. It offers stability, acceptance by society and structure. The second offers freedom, cultural experiences, varying viewpoints, connections and adventure. Both are great and I will always tend to lean towards the first because that is the safer route but in my heart, I will never be truly fulfilled.

Where is your path taking you and what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money or obstacles?

 

Be true to your passions, desires, hopes, dreams,

Jenn

Embrace your Discomfort

My new backyard/view from Shaaman

 “Embrace your discomfort”

This past (nearly) week has been an experience of a lifetime and it has only just begun…but I’ll into that later.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m off on another adventure and will attempt to update this blog every so often. Last time (in Michigan) I focused more on my internal development: Who am I? What do I want? Am I okay? This time I anticipate professional growth and decisions: How will I start an afterschool program? How can I be more experiential and project-based? Where will I go? I also imagine I will have a collection of student quotes, which I can’t wait to share!

Back to this week: If I was to write about all the things we have done so far, this would be an essay. Do you want to read an essay? I didn’t think so. Here are some highlights:

•         Laying on a picnic table under the stars for hours just relaxing - Friday
•         Stopping to pee and seeing an entire arts festival – Saturday afternoon
•         Telling everyone I snore and sleep talk before choosing roommates – Saturday night
•         Having a $500 budget to spend on (at least) one week’s worth of meals for 12 people. This was more nerve racking than you think. – Sunday night
•         Life Maps – Monday and Tuesday
•         Learning to accept and embrace my own discomfort – Tuesday (I think)
•         Tour of Estes Park, icecream and meeting four students – Tuesday night
•         Sharing values, playing volleyball and discussing course possibilities with my IS (instructional specialist – aka: teacher and mentor) – Wednesday
•         Hanging out with my house parents (although not living with students, we are divided into houses, like Harry Potter) – Wednesday night
•        ROCKCLIMBING SHAAMAN!!!! Three different sides and levels of difficulty – Thursday
•         ????? – TBD 

Look at the small figures - this is what we climbed.

The view of Eagle Rock School from Shaaman. I live down there!

I am completely and utterly excited about this year. It’s a time filled with anticipation, fear, excitement, love, overwhelming moments and adventure. I’ve already learned so much from the staff and fellows and I cannot wait to learn a world from the students. This year I will embrace all my fears, doubts and discomfort to be the best person I can be.

What will you embrace?

Jenn

What I won't (and will) miss about my time in Three Rivers, MI

Top 10 things I will (and won't) miss about this place:

Won't miss

The mold, or the smell of it

Cats having sex in my ceiling

Water coming through when it rains

The terrible phone reception

Being in a different time zone

(Almost) unlimited ice cream

Being 45 minutes to the nearest "real" city

(Re)doing the store inventory

Cardiac hill

The Tarzan rope

Will miss

The lack of potholes and fire, ambulance and police sirens

Working with different groups nearly every day

Free room and board with the (almost) unlimited ice cream

The people - both at Camp Eberhart and Norton Elementary School

Wearing shorts and a tshirt to work every day

Having almost 300 acres to play on and seeing deer daily

The best goodwill store EVER

Flexibility of what I teach, days off and the random projects

The camp Eberhart story

80s parties, trainings, collegiate presentations and TRIO

*I typed this the week before I left in May, but it never made it past notes.

Letters to Alayna

Since moving away I began writing letters to my youngest niece every month. Here is one letter I'm sending to my now 9-month old niece, Alayna:

"Dear Miss Alayna,

How have you been? Are you handling living in two homes okay? How are the teeth coming along? I hope you're doing well and staying strong for your parents.

One day, no, lots of days I hope you pursue things you like and that which is unknown. Explore, try, fall, get up and learn. Without this, how do you know what you like and don't like, what bugs you and causes you will stand for? Do what's right for you as it is your path you walk on. Go after what you believe in but challenge yourselv, your beliefs to view the other side(s). In doing so be open minded as your thoughts my change or modl, or maybe become stronger.

If one day you grow up and become girly, do it because you enjoy it, not because of others or the media. I will support you and will love you even if I may not understand the path you choose. Whatever it is you do, be happy. Know there will definitely be hard times but if it's worth it, and you will know when it is is, keep going.

As for me, I'm still trying to figure my path out. I'm not sure where I will go or if I'll ever stay still, or move back home. It's one of my greatest hopes that we will still find a way to be close, maybe pen pals. You may not know me yet, but I hope one day you will.

A day in the life of me:
             Date: April 08, 2013
      Location: Three Rivers, MI
          Job(s): Outdoor Education Instructor at YMCA Camp Eberhart
Current Song: A hiding place for the moon by Antoine Dafour
           Quote: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - ?


Love always,
   Auntie Jenn"