Field Trip #2

During my “Field Trip” with my sponsor, Mrs. Hilinski, we discussed our visit to the Garden Project and the emotions that we experienced while we were there. The women there were all very friendly and if I didn’t know that they once committed a crime, which I’m sure we all did once or twice in our lives, I would have thought that they were all everyday women that I would see on a regular basis. This visit to the Garden Project enabled me to see the different personalities that were in the room and how the women expressed themselves in a number of ways. For example, some women were really open and willing to express their ideas and feelings about the program and how it is giving them an opportunity to feel like an actual human being. While, other people were quiet and expressed their feelings through a simple head nod or a modest smile. But, the most intriguing part of my experience at the Garden Program was the fact that at the Garret House, a halfway house in Camden, the people that run program and the people that live there don’t treat the women as if they are actual living breathing individuals. I found it unfortunate that the people who work at the halfway house believe that their version of “tough love” is best for the women that live in the Garret House. While, I believe that treating other human beings like dirt just to “treat them a lesson” is a blow below the belt. Terrible treatment doesn’t make people want to do better but it dehumanizes them causing them to shut down and not want to better the world or themselves for that matter. 

As my sponsor and I sat and listened to the women speak at the meeting we could tell that they were genuinely grateful for the treatment that they receive when they come to the Garden Project. And to be quite honest, my heart began to warm and in awe I sat and nearly cried listening to the different things that the women had to say to the people that run the Garden Project. I felt a sense of pride for Ms. Pricilla, the founder of the Garden Project, simply because she started something that other people wouldn’t have the courage to begin let alone keep going for five years strong. I have so much respect for Ms. Pricilla because she makes these women that I’m sure have gone through so much feel like they matter. If the truth be told that’s all everyone in this life wants today. People want to feel as if they are needed or at least thought of by someone else. Its one thing to just baby someone for doing something wrong, but it’s something completely different to show respect towards someone that committed a wrong and is doing everything in their power to right their wrongs. In the end, in order to build your character you must first help someone else build theirs. I believe that the Garden Project will enable me to help others and gain a sense of self-satisfaction, something that is much more valuable when you work for it.

"Missing Moreland" :(

I was going to title my meeting with my sponsor “Mingling with Moreland” but, unfortunately my mentor was absent today. Instead of becoming discouraged, I decided to write about the mini powwow sessions that we’ve had during the week. For example, while in my A.P. History class Mr. Moreland and I discussed my meetings with my sponsor and my field trip to the Garden Project this weekend. With this being said, we’ve come up with a couple of ideas that will help make my project a complete success. We both agree that my presentation should be something that involves the audience as much as possible so they don’t begin to feel as if my presentation is something mandatory. I believe that once the audience is involved in my presentation, they will be more comfortable and willing to listen to what I have to say while I present. I’m sure that when Mr. Moreland comes back on Monday we will have many more things to talk about due to the fact that I’m going to the Garden Project this weekend. Until then, I’m “Missing Moreland”.

Moving Up In The World!!!

Earlier this week, I was turned onto a new song by a singer named Miguel. The title of it is “Sure Thing” and the song reminds me of something that the music industry, in my opinion, has lacked for a very long time. Meaning. I believe Miguel brings something unique to the table. He isn’t your typical artist; the songs that I have heard from him so far actually have feeling and make you think you’re undergoing the emotions that he experiences when he sings. The “typical artist” such as Trey Songz (wants people to think he invented sex), Chris Brown (doesn’t want females to be on that “bs”), Ciara (wants men to like the way she rides it), Rhianna (wants men to say her name) and etc. generally sing about sex, they don’t sing about their true feelings that fans can relate to. I feel that music should be more than just the lick me, touch me, feel me crap and more about TRUE love and real problems that go on in the world. I’ve always thought that music was supposed to have meaning and make you have somewhat a one on one experience with the artist, Miguel did just that. This song made me feel like we had some type of connection and I’ve never met him a day in my life. Well done Miguel, you really are moving up in the world!!!     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRM_AFfTkkk

My Very First "Ah-hah!!" Moment

After being let out from bible study last night, my mother came across a young women and her child walking to the transportation center in the freezing cold. Being the caring individual that she is, my mother decided to give them a ride to the transportation center. Once they got in the van, we began to have a number of conversations and there was one topic that came up that just so happened to pertain to my research paper. The young lady told us how she had a rough childhood and how before she got pregnant with her first child she was in the foster care system until she turned 18. With this being said, I became very interested in her story and to be quite honest I got a little teary-eyed simply because I can only imagine the sleepless nights and other obstacles that this women had to endure. Clearly, something had to go wrong in her foster care experience because she was a young woman with two children walking the streets of Camden at night. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask her but at the same time I didn’t want to get too personal with a complete stranger and I can only imagine how uncomfortable she may have been last night. Last night was definitely one to remember simply because it taught me that there are people in the world that still care and want to help others. That encounter allowed me to realize where I get my compassionate heart from and gives me a little bit more hope for the people in this world.  

Field Trip #1

Monday afternoon, I was given the opportunity to have my first official meeting with my sponsor. During our little powwow, we began to discuss the different aspects of my project that I am going to present at the end of the year. With this being said, we also touched base on the field trip that we will have this Saturday to the Garden Project in Camden, NJ. I’ve been to the Garden Project one time since I was given some information about the “halfway house” and the different activities that they do there for the women that were either once incarcerated or still incarcerated today. The Garden Project is a great opportunity for me to obtain information about my research paper use to the fact that it is about, “the system” and the treatment that they give people that were not dealt a good hand by life. I believe that my research paper will enlighten myself and others simply because it is going to obtain information that pertains to everyday life. I look forward to embarking on this topic and hopefully I will have a successful presentation. 

What Do I Think??!!!

I believe that our Kickoff Event was definitely a success. Although, I was very nervous while doing my presentation, I think that it helped prepare me for my project at the end of the year. While I talked about the different aspects of my project, I believe that the audience felt that I was a little out of my element but, I think that they could tell that I had a passion for helping people that are less fortunate than I am. I believe that I would have been happier with my presentation if I wasn’t so nervous about speaking in front of an unfamiliar crowd. It seems like every time I have to present something, I have all of the right words to say but, I freeze up when it is actually my time to speak. Once I master the art of public speaking, I believe that I will become much more successful while trying to sell my point to an audience. Aside from the fact that I was anxious, I believe that I communicated very well with the audience. I feel that I projected while speaking and kept very good eye contact. The Kickoff Event was a little sneak peek of our project presentation at the end of the year. With this being said, now that I realize what I need to work on I can prepare myself for my presentation at the end of the year and hopefully everything will run smoothly.   

Kick Off Event!!!

Hello, my name is Naleah Johnson and welcome to my blog!!! Before I briefly speak about my Senior Project topic, I would like to introduce you to my mother, Emily Johnson. Mr. Moreland, my mentor, and the best history teacher ever (lol). And last but not least my sponsor, Mrs. Jen Hilinski, who is a student assistant counselor here at LHS. Mrs. Hilinski use to work in a psychiatric hospital but, she now does a lot of other work with students inside and outside of our school. 

The major that I decided to embark on for my project is social work. I find this topic to be something that not only benefits me but people all over the world. I believe that once I get out of high school and graduate from college, I will want to do something that will help make a world a better place to live. Although this may sound very cliché, I honestly feel that if there were more people in the world that thought less about their paycheck at the end of the week and more about the wellbeing of others the world as we know it could truly be changed.

During our project we have to incorporate a research paper in to our presentation. I’ve been brain storming about my thesis statement for my paper and I feel that the best fit topic for my presentation would be the treatment that people receive from “the system”. Although, I still have a great deal of tweaking to do, I believe that I am off to a good start and I can’t wait to get more into my project. Thank you!!!