Names

The counseling center asked us to submit some names of some students who might need a little help this Christmas. They act as a go between when services offer to help out during the holiday season. There is no way that they will have enough to help everyone though. I was sitting in front of my advisory class (homeroom) when I first read the email. My eyes instantly fell on Dakota.

Dakota came the other day dressed in shirt and tie. He is a seventh grader on the JV basketball team, so they dress up on game days. He came yesterday and asked to store his bag in my room again, but he wasn't dressed up this time. I always compliment nice outfits, so I asked why he didn't dress up this time. He shyly admitted that he only had one nice outfit and didn't want to be caught wearing the same thing twice. He had brought one piece of the outfit, but it hadn't been washed, so he left it in his bag.
We just got done having a school food drive, the food was to be donated during advisory. While talking about why it might be good to participate I asked my students to raise their hands if they knew anyone who had benefited from the food bank's services. I figure a few would raise their hand, I was humbled that about 3/4ths of them raised their hand. Dakota raised his hand, and accidentally said out loud that his family went there. He acted kind of embarrassed after he said it so I moved on. But my class got it. They didn't win, but they came in second in my hall, my little group of 20 or so impoverished 7th graders brought in 122 cans of food.


Josh

Next period I was helping Josh catch up on an old assignment. I hate "faking it", when we write letters, we actually write letters. So far we have written to parents (some sad awesome letters there), letters to administration, to active marines, this letter was supposed to be to a company of their choosing that they liked. Josh is a great student, does perfect on everything, so I was surprised when he was having such a huge block understanding this simple part of the directions. Choose a company, any company, try to find their address and write them any kind of letter. I kept tying to ask different questions about his habits and preferences trying to help him choose a company to look up online. I started to get it eventually, he had absolutely no concept of buying something. He couldn't choose his favorite brand of something because he didn't have anything. He couldn't imagine having a lot of money to spend on something to even fantasize, it was too outside of his reality. Eventually he chose Sony because a friend had just showed him a piece of Sony equipment that he had gotten. There wasn't another student right next to us and it was a conversational moment, I also wanted to get past his embarrassment. He's a smart kid and new I was figuring out his reality. So I just asked him. We have a good rapport already and he was very open. He said things were pretty rough. There are five kids at home, he is the second oldest. His mom is sick with diabetes and can't do much and last year his dad lost his job. They only ever shop at DI and he tries to block it all out, he says he tries not to think about it, it's more than he can handle. I talked about my own childhood. I understand being the kid without the brands and the labels. I understand shopping at the stores that you don't tell your friends about. When he heard me say that, you could see something relax. You could see him realize that he wasn't some freak. Hugs are a generally not such a good idea, so I settled for a shoulder pat, then sent another email to the counseling office.


Mat

During the next period I was working with Mat one on one for a minute. I already know that his dad died a few years ago and that he got taken away from his mom because she is an addict. He was given to his older sister who frequently breaks down and tells him how sorry she is she can't do better for him, which just makes him feel worse. They live with her boyfriend in another family's house because they can't afford a place to stay. Shocker he has anger management issues and some piercings. He had a knew black eye, we talked about that for a minute.
I sent another email.


Aleisha sits near my desk.
Aleisha is changing her name right now, she wants to be called Kiersten.... I'm guessing it has something to do with her dad dying last year... I sent another email.