The Students are Here!

All 61 students arrived yesterday. 40 girls, 21 boys, and each brought approximately 2 parents/ friends/ siblings. This meant that approximately 180 people were shuffled through the registration process, and the dorms. They got their students moved in and set up for a semester. I, along with two other graduate students were responsible for meeting, greeting, and directing 120 of those people from 9am until 5pm. They're walking around, still have the stars in their eyes and are all interested in making new friends and finding their place here.

Looking at this from the perspective as a student this is perhaps what the day might have gone like:

5am: Wake up and drive for about 6-10 hours. You planned to sleep during this time but you can't because you're so excited.
11am: Still with mom, dad, and little brother walk around and register. Lots of forms and paper pushing which mom sorted out before you even got here. You and your parents gawk open mouthed at the facility
noon: Lunch time! Eat lunch with other students and their families. Feel overwhelmed
1pm: Health screening! For 15 minutes talk to the nurse, potentially about embarrassing things you might have such as asthma, your medications, and have to listen to your mom say 'I don't feel comfortable with you giving my child such and such'
1:30: Go see your room! Be greeted by a graduate fellow (me!) and be shown your room, be asked the usual questions "do you have any contraband items?" or my personal favorite "do you have any questions" and while you're trying to process the HUGE amount of information that is in your head and thinking of a good one your mom instead says 'I have some."
1:30-2pm: Take a tour of the building with mom while dad and little brother lug things upstairs and pile them in no semblance of order outside your room completely in the way. Your mom is asking lots of embarrassing questions which you don't care about like 'where is the laundry?' 'can they cook?' 'What will the food be like?' or making statements like 'oh hunny look! a drying rack so you can air dry your bras!'
2-3pm: Mom helps you unpack your things, she makes your bed nice (the ONLY time it will look like this), puts your toothbrush in the toothbrush holder, and folds the clothes in the drawer. Dad and little brother are sitting on the common area couches.
3-5pm: During this time you're all unpacked, and now lots of other girls have arrived and they want to meet you, to talk to you. Your parents and little brother are going to tour the facility and make you know where you're going. They also leave during this time.
After they leave and before anything else happens: You're stuck. You don't know anyone. You try to be nice, cool and accepting during this time. You look at the other girls dorms and assess their sense of style by what they're wearing and how they've decorated their rooms.
5-7pm You do an opening ice breaker with the whole group which makes everyone feel uncomfortable, awkward and potentially a little inadequate. You eat dinner and everyone makes small talk with each other.
After that opening ceremony and bed!

While looking at it from this perspective the kids are still on information overload and we're trying to squeeze in as much as we can. They still walk around with stars in their eyes, they don't see themselves as part of place yet and they're curious to get the year started. I could see myself in the students. When I was a freshman in college I remembered leaving my parents and having that same scared but excited look on my face. I'm looking forward to seeing how these students learn and grow throughout the semester.

Rock Climbing

While I'm in Graduate School I will be working with high school students. During the summer the graduate fellows are taking classes that are giving us the tools to better understand and support the students who are going to be here. The school is a semester boarding school, students from all parts of the country come and learn.

I can imagine that this going to be a rough time for some students. I've been reflecting on my own high school and what was really positive for me. The single most positive activity that I did in high school was rock climbing.

Our school didn't have a football team, but instead had a rock climbing team. The rock climbing gym about half an hour away made it very inexpensive for us to go and practice, it was a team for boys and girls. At the competitions you were required to find someone from another team to belay you. The whole atmosphere wasn't about beating others, it was instead about personal best. Everyone would cheer you on and even if they were from another team they would help you and encourage you. The person who was belaying you was also someone you knew you could trust. There also was a great deal of mutual respect for all ability levels. This created a community setting of positive reinforcement. Everyone did well, regardless of who won.

This is the type of community I am striving to make here. Rock climbing gave me a safe space to meet new people, improve and challenge myself. It also was a great self esteem booster and community builder. Thank you Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center for providing me with such a wonderful space that all teenagers need.