Mingling With Moreland #5

During my weekly meeting with my mentor, Mr. Moreland, we discussed my visit to the Garden Project this weekend and what I expect when I get there. I told him that I am looking forward to seeing how much the women enjoy doing yoga and how they are going to feel after the yoga session is complete. I think that I would rather pay attention to the therapeutic effect that the yoga may or may not have on the women. I believe that yoga can be a relaxing and stress relieving experience and I’m curious to see if the women will feel the same as I do. I explained to Mr. Moreland that I would be interviewing Mrs. Pricilla for my research paper and we discussed questions that I could ask her so that I could get some solid information for my paper. Mr. Moreland thinks that it would be a good idea to incorporate the different activities that we do for the next couple of visits to the Garden Project into my presentation. I believe that in order for me to have a legitimate paper I must think of all of the things that play an essential role not only in my paper but, in my presentation as well. I plan on doing my interview sometime this week so that I can begin looking at the other aspects of my paper.

Cheesecake Factory

This weekend my cousin celebrated her 18^th birthday weekend and while we were out, we visited the Cheesecake Factory. The moment we arrived, I thought of Miss. Money and how she chose to be a Pastry Chef for her project. I began to think of all the tedious work that she would have to go through in order to keep her customers happy if she wanted to obtain a thriving restaurant. Kudos to Miss. Money for actually taking the initiative to be someone that services others in the growing food industry. It’s not everyday that you hear about someone aspiring to be a pastry chef. I’m sure that entering this field may be a challenge but it is one that I’m quite sure Miss. Money is up for. I can not wait to see and hopefully taste the many delicacies that Miss. Money will have during her presentation. Good Luck!!!

Field Trip #5

While on my “field trip” with my sponsor, Mrs. Hilinski, we discussed our visit that we will be taking to take to the Garden Project this weekend. We talked about doing yoga with the women from the Garret House and how performing yoga may be therapeutic for all of the women. I am really looking forward to taking part in yoga with the women just to see how they react to the activity. I know that when the women are at the half way house they are not given the opportunity to do activities that keep them active. I believe that allowing them to experience something new would be good for them all to partake in together. I feel that the women would be more likely to participate if they see majority of the people there participating in the activity. I believe that this visit to the Garden Project will be one that really makes the women get out of their comfort zone and will allow me to get out of mine as well.

Mingling With Moreland #4

During my visit with my mentor, Mr. Moreland, we pretty much had a recap of our last powwow session. We talked about using more than just the Garden Project as my resource for my paper and my presentation. Mr. Moreland suggested that I research more about people that founded and influenced social work. After that we talked about my field trips with my sponsor, Mrs. Hilinski, and how smoothly they have been running. At the end of our meeting he asked me if there was anything I needed from him and when was the next time we would be visiting the Garden Project. I left our meeting with more information regarding social work and a better idea of how I could use my simple aha moments as a resource for my project.

"Spare Change Anyone?"

This weekend while on my way home from church I noticed a homeless man sitting on the corner with a sign that said “Homeless will work for food”. Once I saw this sign a feeling of grief came over me because I had no food or money to give to this unfortunate man. Although this was not the first time I’ve seen this man, this time really hit a nerve inside of me. I began to make connections between my project and this older man and I felt as if I was failing this individual just like the system has been doing all of these years. I also began to think about all of the other homeless people out there not only in the streets of Camden but, all over New Jersey and the U.S. I don’t understand why people are more susceptible to rescuing animals with no homes when there are human beings out in the street without a pot to piss in and a window to throw it out. The mentality of some has never seized to amaze me when it comes to someone being less fortunate than another. Instead of helping the person in need and making it a win win situation a person would rather get over on the next and make it a lose lose. In reality neither of the people in the situation wins when the objective to the game of life is to see others fail while you succeed. Wise words from Ralph Waldo Emerson “It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life….that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself.”

Emmett Till

In my A.P History class my teacher, Mr. Moreland, assigned us a research paper about the civil rights movement (1950-1970). While in his class, I decided that I wanted to write my research paper about Emmett Till, a young man that was murdered at the age of 14. I believe that his story in very tragic but, also a key element in the beginning of the civil rights movement. The moment I heard about Emmett Till’s story, I was immediately interested and enraged at the same time. I couldn’t understand why people in the south during this time period were so cruel to African Americans. While listening to Mr. Moreland speak about Emmett, different ideas rushed through my head at once. There were so many questions that I had regarding the people that allowed the murder to happen and the two men that actually committed the murder. I wanted to know more. Therefore, when the time came for us to write our research paper, it was only right that I write my paper about Emmett Till’s story. Although my paper is not complete, I know that once I begin to put my thoughts about the trial on my paper there will be closure for me concerning Emmett Till.      

Field Trip #4

During my “Field Trip” with my sponsor, Mrs. Hilinski, we discussed my presentation at the end of the year and how I could use my surroundings as a contribution to my project. We talked about changing my thesis statement so that I could write a paper that pertained to me visiting the Garden Project in Camden. Mrs. Hilinski suggested that we find activities that make the audience more comfortable while I present. We both agreed that it was a definite must that we get the audience as involved as possible throughout the entire presentation. This will not only benefit the audience but, it will benefit me as well because I would be much more in my element if I know that the people that are in the audience are actually listening to what I say. During my next visit Mrs. Hilinski and I will prepare for another visit to the Garden Project. I believe that the next visit is definitely going to be a success.