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Post by lindseynharrell on Mar 30, 2016 15:21:50 GMT -5
A of couple days ago I went to my first CAT meeting. It was very informative, and definitely a new experience. I learned a lot about the program and the student. Overall, very positive experience! Share your experiences!
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Post by hannahhiester on Apr 3, 2016 19:40:25 GMT -5
I am so glad you had a positive experience lindseynharrell. I had a couple of CAT experiences at the other end of the spectrum: youths that had been part of the project and had been charged with a crime so were back in jail awaiting trial. I then had one that got moved multiple times and was finally canceled. Sounded more like the parents weren't supportive of the scheme. I have still not fully formulated all my ideas about this but one that sticks out is these youths know certain ways of doing things and discourses and change is hard. So we can provide support and step ladders but it is a long road that not all of them are ready to take.
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Post by rachelhinder on Apr 5, 2016 21:42:14 GMT -5
Last week Katelyn and I met the youth we are working with. I was really excited to start working with this program, but after meeting him I felt slightly different. I think this is a wonderful program, but it took so long to get started that, not only am I trying to cram in hours, but I feel obligated to keep mentoring him past the end of this semester because there's only a few weeks left. When we met him, he was really shy and standoffish. The Project Connect contact said, "I know you're sick of people coming in and out of your life but they're here to work with you." That made me really sad because I don't want to be just another person in a program like that. It has been frustrating to think about, because I really want to keep working with him but I'm already overwhelmed thinking about everything I have going on this summer.
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Post by katelyn on Apr 6, 2016 16:49:02 GMT -5
Going off of what Rachel said, I, too, am feeling kind of wary about this program. Just for background info--I lived in downtown Orlando my entire life, and I've been exposed to varying levels of poverty and varying levels of uncomfortableness. However, I did not feel prepared for what I experienced on Monday. First of all, the youth tried to ditch us. He literally did not show up for our first meeting. At the time I was thinking, "Yep, this kid hates us." But then again, I can't blame him for hating us. To speak frankly, the situation looks pretty glum from the outside. Honestly, being there was a lot harder than I thought. I've spent so much time studying about extreme cases, and how to prepare your classroom in a way that accommodates to these students. I just didn't really visualize ever having to deal with accommodating for students who do not have internet at their houses, do not have supportive parents, do not have structure at home, etc. I want to express how excited I am to spend more time with my youth, but I also think Project Connect needs to provide more guidelines for what we are expected to do. I, too, like Rachel, am upset that it took this long to be matched with someone, and now have to deal with the consequences.
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Post by sarahaubreyr on Apr 17, 2016 16:36:19 GMT -5
Katelyn and Rachel, I'm sorry you guys have been wary about the program. I have talked to a few people in this program and they have told me the same thing. I think the program has good intentions, but from what I understand needs to become more organized.
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Post by ashleyygreen12 on Apr 27, 2016 10:32:28 GMT -5
I had and have a really positive experience working with Project Connect. Yea, it took a while to get placed but when I finally did, I finally got to experience the importance of this program. I worked with Lakin in the beginning and she moved back home so we no longer hang out but now I work with Conner and hos family is pretty cool and they're really rooting for him. I'm super excited to continue working with him this summer and even though it will be a lot on top of summer classes and work, it'll totally be worth it once I can help him finish his online classes and graduate.
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