Becoming A Gladiator
As I begin the long journey of completing my field experience, I have already found myself using many of the skills that Carl Rogers talks about when creating the optimal environment in order for a person to feel safe and to facilitate growth. I am completing my field experience at The Bridge Teen Center where I am an After School student program intern and a program assistant intern. I am going to have the opportunity to not only interact with the students that attend The Bridge, but work along side many of the staff members and learn about many aspects of an organization. I have only completed one day at The Bridge so far, but have interacted with many of the staff members already through email or phone calls and have built a relationship with many of them. The skills that I have used mostly so far are: unconditional positive regard, optimism, hope and encouragement, and humor.
I believe that the skills of optimism and unconditional positive regard go hand in hand. I am very optimistic about how my whole field experience will go. I have also expressed unconditional positive regard towards my field experience since I have received this position. This organization seemed like a perfect fit for me and I was and still am excited to learn and be challenged in many different aspects during my time at The Bridge Teen Center.
Hope and encouragement has thus far been an important factor in building the relationship between the volunteer coordinator and my supervisor. These two individuals have been helping me and teaching me my job since I received this position. I showed them hope on my very first day when they were understaffed and needed help. I stayed and worked a total of 9.5 hours. During that time, I was trained, completed the Friday night setup check list, and got to interact with students. They spent time before the students came to encourage me and provide the extra confidence boost I was in need of.
Humor is an important skill to have when interacting with not only the staff, but the students of The Bridge. When I first met the founder, Priscilla, she was explaining to me how every staff member has a nickname that she calls them by. She asked me if I ever had a nickname. I told her about how my best friend’s name is Stephanie and even though ours is spelt differently, it sounds the same. When we are in the same room together, it was getting annoying when friends would say Stephanie (or Stefany). We decided to give each other nicknames. Hers is Purple because her favorite color is purple and mine is MoMo because my last name being Moses and because I’m “from the hood”. As I told Priscilla this, her eyes lit up. She told me my nickname will be Mo. She also explained to me that she calls all of the staff members "Gladiators" because we fight for what is right. The students are so much fun and like to have fun. Having a sense of humor with them allows for me to make connections and get to know them better since I am new to The Bridge.
I have not had the opportunity thus far to utilize the skills of empathy and genuineness for the helpee. This is because I have not had much time with the students and staff since I have only interned for one day. I believe that this will not be a problem due to me not having an issue interacting and getting to know the students and staff. The opportunity to use these skills will arise during the upcoming weeks while I get to know and work more with the staff and students.
Overall, I love my experience at The Bridge so far. When I first walked into the building, I felt comfortable and had a sense that I belonged there. After a brief training I got to work on one of my solo tasks, which is completing the set up checklist. While I was walking around on my own working on it, I knew I was meant to be there. After only being at The Bridge Teen Center for one day, I am on the right path to become a Gladiator. I am so excited to see what the coming weeks have in store for me and I also cannot wait to see how much growth happens while I am completing my field experience.
I believe that the skills of optimism and unconditional positive regard go hand in hand. I am very optimistic about how my whole field experience will go. I have also expressed unconditional positive regard towards my field experience since I have received this position. This organization seemed like a perfect fit for me and I was and still am excited to learn and be challenged in many different aspects during my time at The Bridge Teen Center.
Hope and encouragement has thus far been an important factor in building the relationship between the volunteer coordinator and my supervisor. These two individuals have been helping me and teaching me my job since I received this position. I showed them hope on my very first day when they were understaffed and needed help. I stayed and worked a total of 9.5 hours. During that time, I was trained, completed the Friday night setup check list, and got to interact with students. They spent time before the students came to encourage me and provide the extra confidence boost I was in need of.
Humor is an important skill to have when interacting with not only the staff, but the students of The Bridge. When I first met the founder, Priscilla, she was explaining to me how every staff member has a nickname that she calls them by. She asked me if I ever had a nickname. I told her about how my best friend’s name is Stephanie and even though ours is spelt differently, it sounds the same. When we are in the same room together, it was getting annoying when friends would say Stephanie (or Stefany). We decided to give each other nicknames. Hers is Purple because her favorite color is purple and mine is MoMo because my last name being Moses and because I’m “from the hood”. As I told Priscilla this, her eyes lit up. She told me my nickname will be Mo. She also explained to me that she calls all of the staff members "Gladiators" because we fight for what is right. The students are so much fun and like to have fun. Having a sense of humor with them allows for me to make connections and get to know them better since I am new to The Bridge.
I have not had the opportunity thus far to utilize the skills of empathy and genuineness for the helpee. This is because I have not had much time with the students and staff since I have only interned for one day. I believe that this will not be a problem due to me not having an issue interacting and getting to know the students and staff. The opportunity to use these skills will arise during the upcoming weeks while I get to know and work more with the staff and students.
Overall, I love my experience at The Bridge so far. When I first walked into the building, I felt comfortable and had a sense that I belonged there. After a brief training I got to work on one of my solo tasks, which is completing the set up checklist. While I was walking around on my own working on it, I knew I was meant to be there. After only being at The Bridge Teen Center for one day, I am on the right path to become a Gladiator. I am so excited to see what the coming weeks have in store for me and I also cannot wait to see how much growth happens while I am completing my field experience.
Stefany,
ReplyDeleteYou seem very optimistic about you field experience at The Bridge! I'm glad you love your experience so far, you seem like a good fit for the program there. I enjoyed your nicknames with the founder because I do think that establishes a very welcoming environment and breaks the first impression tension.
From my short-time knowing you, you seem like a very genuine person who is empathetic to her friends/colleagues. I think those characteristics will definitely help you at both your internship and in your career. I feel like this program will be a great place for you and allow you to conquer some leadership roles along with building connections with the helpees there.
I'm excited to hear/read more about your experience at The Bridge and think the idea of the "gladiator" is a terrific way for you to show that you are fighting for what is right.
*gasp* I wanna be a gladiator!!!! Keep up the good work Mo! Love it! Dr. Deb : )
ReplyDeleteStefany,
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a very good fit for you for a field experience site. Given what I know about you from the times that I have interacted with you and had classes with you, I know that you really like helping other people and doing what is right. I know that you are going to fight for what is right and this site looks to be perfect. I like that your supervisor uses nicknames as well because I feel like that can get people on a more personal level quicker. As someone who almost never gets called by his first name and rather his last name, I can understand going with a nickname. My closest friends call me by nickname and it actually sounds weird when they call me something else. You seem like a very good fit for a field experience like this and with teens because while we are out of our teenagers I feel like we are still close enough in age to be able to relate to this age group. I am looking forward to hearing throughout the semester how this is going for you.