Breaking Free

I began writing this two weeks ago. With student teaching, I had to come back to it this afternoon.

On Wednesday I drove up to my block and noticed a woman passed out on the front steps across the street. We will call her Mary. My friend and her husband recently moved into the house where this woman was. I tried to call my friend to check if she was home. Mary eventually got up and left the premises. I also left to run some errands. As I arrived home, my friend also pulled up to her house. I alerted her about Mary, who works the corners of our neighborhood. I walked into my house, and one of my housemates told me about a conversation she had with Mary earlier in the day. I ended up calling my friend who lives across the street to make sure everything was alright. She told me that Mary was now sitting on the couch in her front porch. I went over with one of my housemates and we all talked with Mary. She was quite intoxicated, and told us that the couch just seemed like a nice place to rest. She talked with us for awhile. She told us that she grew up a few blocks away. She said she just needed some rest.

I do not know the circumstances of her life. I have no idea what has caused her to work the streets. Their are countless unknowns. I know that so much in this life will not make sense. Their will not be easy answers. Space is needed for doubt. Space is needed for cynicism, and for hope.

The next morning I woke up and saw Mary again walking down Lake street. I thought of the students I work with. The kids in my classroom have different factors influencing their lives. They are small, they are so incredibly impressionable. I have no idea what will happen to these kids in the next 15 years of their lives. They will be 21. They will face some difficult choices. I see a lot of light in them. When I worked for DinoMights I was able to spend time with kids at the park, and take them out for ice cream. I pray that they have people in their lives outside of school loving on them, empowering them, and recognizing their strengths. I don't know what will come of their lives. The stories of these children are just beginning to unfold. One girl's father is in jail. He is one of the highest ranking gang members in the city. One little boy falls asleep nearly every day because he does not have a bedtime at home. Two girls in the class live at the same shelter, a few doors down from each other. They cannot control their environment. They are talented, they are bright. I pray for them, I pray for their future. Sometimes it seems that is all I can do.....


A fact that is worth reading: A popular ratio among youth workers used to be 1-7. If you--as one mentor--had seven students in your life that you were investing time into, you were a successful youth worker. However, the Search Institute did some studies recently and decided that the ratio needs to be flipped. To make the greatest impact, the real ratio should be 7 caring adults for every 1 student.