Blog I: Summer Mentorship Component

Literal (Know):

• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AstFXND37V9NdFBIMnZ6MnU4bVQzaXFuUng0UEZqRFE

Literal (Need To Know):

• What is the best way to gain a person's trust? 
• What is the best way to help someone who is in time of need?
• What is the most appropriate way to behave in a foster home/shelter setting?

Interpretive:

• From this experience, I learned how to be more patient & utilize that into gaining trust & understanding, Although packaging food wasn't my ideal way to work at a foster home, it allowed me to realize that every little thing counts. Despite not being able to work with the foster kids face to face, I was able to provide them with some food to eat throughout the day, in case they can't buy food. So I made myself realize that although I didn't get to help them by talking to them or by spending time with them, I still helped them in some way & that was satisfying enough. By working at the shelter, I was able to utilize some patience into gaining trust with the dogs & cats that were skittish with human contact. I got to teach myself how to be more open minded with why a living thing acts a certain way & I got to teach myself how to alter the way I interact with certain living things to accommodate to their behaviors. By doing all this, I gained the trust & comfort of all the dogs & cats of the shelter.

Applied:

• This all helped me realize that I want to help people. I enjoyed making all the animals at the shelter feel comfortable & loved, but I don't feel as satisfied helping them as I would helping a child or teenager. Also because I know that every little thing helps, I know that I want to do whatever I can, do every little thing to help someone that needs someone else to be there for them. I loved being there for the animals & I loved knowing that packing those snack bags for the foster kids was being there for them in some way. I want to be able to be there for anyone who needs someone. In conclusion, I'm hoping to do my senior project on clinical social work & therapy.