Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Shifting the Paradigm

 

  • What does this concept of asset-based thinking mean to you?
    • It means to meet students where they are and working/focusing on their strengths to grow them rather than trying to “fix” them.
  • Come with three questions about the concept of asset-based thinking:
    • Asset based thinking focuses on the strengths an individual already possesses, does this hold back a student from uncovering new strengths?
    • Is it possible to apply asset-based thinking fully?
    • How do you implement asset-based thinking correctly in order to build them also in their weaknesses without focusing on what students lack?
  • How does this text relate to the real world?

In The Heights

 

  • Does this song resonate with you? Why or why not? 
    • This song resonates with me. I’ve always been the one who gets good grades in my family, I’m the only one of my siblings who is in college, I’ve always been the one that “does things the right way.” Sometimes I feel like there a certain pressure or expectation for me to succeed in my career and as the end of college is approaching that expectation raises worry and questions.
  • How does this text relate to the real world?

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Wood, Westwood, and Thompson

 

  • 1 quote
    • “The approach relies on starting where young people are at instead of using pre-determined learning outcomes and didactic teaching methods.”
  • 2 new ideas you learned
    • Youth workers build up the young people’s influence and decision making by giving them a voice
    • To be a youth worker you must have a very developed sense of self.
  • 3 key vocabulary words with definitions.
    • Political reform: Relating to the way power is achieved and used in a country or society.
    • Social policy: The principles and legislation enacted by governments and institutions to address and manage social issues.
    • Social practice: Strategic approaches and community engagement efforts aimed at supporting the growth and well-being of youth.
  • How does this text relate to the real world?

Values Exercise

Living Into Our Values

Content and exercise covered on

Values Clarification                          pages 185–197 of Dare to Lead


Refer to the list on page 3 and identify your two values—the beliefs that are most important to you, that help you find your way in the dark, that fill you with a feeling of purpose.

When selecting your values, ask yourself the following questions:

     Does this define me?

     Is this who I am at my best?

     Is this a filter that I use to make hard decisions?

Value 1: Caring

 

Value 2: Loyalty


Taking Values From BS to Behavior

Answer the following questions to dig into your values:


Value 1:

  1. What are one or two behaviors that support your value? Listening and showing            up for people in good and bad times.

2.  What are one or two slippery behaviors that are outside your value? Feeding into anger and speaking without thinking

3.  What’s an example of a time when you were fully living into this value? Whenever I check in with friends and actively listen to their problems, as well as offer help.


Value 2:

1.   What are one or two behaviors that support your value? Acting with honesty and putting others needs above my own

2.  What are one or two slippery behaviors that are outside your value? Acting out of disrespect

3.  What’s an example of a time when you were fully living into this value? Whenever I honor my commitments whether it’s relationships, employment, etc.

 

Keeping in mind both of your values, answer the following:

1.   Who is someone who knows your values and supports your efforts to live into them? My mom

2.  What does support from this person look like?

Encouraging me to be better and treat others better

3.  What can you do as an act of self-compassion to support yourself in the hard work of living into your values?

Show the same values I show to others to myself

4.  What are the early warning indicators or signs that you’re living outside your values?

My heart feels hardened toward people and my thoughts

5.  What does it feel like when you’re living into your values?

It feels like everyone I speak to leaves encouraged

6.  How can you check yourself? By constantly checking my speech and by asking myself if I've truly been serving and encouraging people or just setting an expectation for them.


List of Values


Accountability

Achievement

Activism

Adaptability

Adventure

Altruism

Ambition

Authenticity

Balance

Beauty

Being the best

Being a good sport

Belonging

Career

Caring

Co-creation

Collaboration

Commitment

Community

Compassion

Competence

Confidence

Connection

Contentment

Contribution Cooperation

Courage

Creativity

Curiosity

Dignity

Diversity

Efficiency                                     Intuition                                           Security

Environment                                Job security                                         Self-discipline

Equality                                        Joy                                                        Self-expression

Ethics                                            Justice                                              Self-respect

Excellence                                   Kindness                                         Serenity

Fairness                                        Knowledge                                     Service

Faith                                              Leadership                                     Simplicity

Family                                           Learning                                          Spirituality

Financial stability                      Legacy                                              Stewardship

Forgiveness                                 Leisure                                              Success

Freedom                                      Love                                                 Teamwork

Friendship                                   Loyalty                                            Thrift

Fun                                                 Making a difference                   Time

Future generations                  Nature                                             Tradition

Generosity                                   Openness                                       Travel

Giving back                                 Optimism                                        Trust

Grace                                            Order                                               Truth

Gratitude                                     Parenting                                            Understanding

Growth                                         Patience                                          Uniqueness

Harmony                                     Patriotism                                       Usefulness

Health                                          Peace                                               Vision

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

McKamey and Restler

 I agree and resonate with McKamey and Restler’s piece. I vividly recall being in every single after-school activity I could growing up; I loved it! Growing up I did basketball, baseball, dance, and even tutoring offered by the institution after school, which was offered over the summer as well. McKamey and Restler are correct in their statement of how COVID-19 has negatively impacted Rhode Islanders, especially with the advancement of technology that happened during that time, and I’d go beyond and say the whole world. I remember growing up with all these different after-school activities, playing outside with friends and family. I liked watching TV, but when the opportunity to go outside appeared, I did not once doubt leaving the TV. All this changed for me during COVID; I got so used to being locked up, online school, and being on my phone and computer all day that I didn’t miss the outside at all. I began to isolate, and when the opportunity to regain my old life/habits came back, I no longer wanted it. It was a struggle to get used to the real world again. If this impacted me as a 15-year-old at the time, I can't even imagine what it’s doing to kids who were born at that time or were barely toddlers. I rarely see kids playing outside anymore; I see my cousins scheduling hangouts together just so they can all be on the phone. I believe that the advancement of technology during COVID has made kids more susceptible to anger, lack of creativity, and a lack of focus. After-school programs and hangout spaces are needed for kids. 

Real World Connections:

Transformative Impact of iPads on Children: Before & After #shorts #parenting #screentime - YouTube

This video shows how internet addiction is actually a psychological illness which has taken over the minds and lives of children. It also shows the significant change in a child's behavior before technology (he was outside, playing sports, happy) and after technology (aggressive, stuck on ipad, lacked focus).

"angry Kid Throws Tantrum When Parents Take Away His Ipad!" #comfortzone #focus #motivation - YouTube

This video also shows how an internet addiction can create aggressive behaviors in children.


Thursday, September 4, 2025

This Book is Anti-Racist!

 

The reading “This book is anti-racist” calls us to examine injustice and work toward oneness. It challenged me to reflect on my personal actions but also on how society treats those who are marginalized. It made me think more deeply about how I show up in the world and whether my actions truly reflect love and kindness.

While the book discusses how our race, background, and experiences shape who we are, I began to think about how identity goes even deeper than that of personality and physical traits. It’s more than saying “I like to bake” or “I’m optimistic. "These things are good, but I think they only describe our preferences and feelings, but they don’t fully define who we are at our core because at the end of the day preferences change and so do feelings. I believe true identity is grounded in a solid foundation, in our character, in how we treat others, in what we stand for, and in how we live. Identity isn’t just how we see ourselves, but how we live out our values in a fallen world in desperate need of truth, love, and justice.

The reading made me think about Elastic girl's quote on "The Incredibles"

Academic Advisement

  https://1drv.ms/w/c/7f3c692dfcb1d93e/ET69ApollchFnscFmHMtRjgBxqLltIf3tNvzswNFHjTr1Q?e=7SC5TE