Through my acquisition of the books for this semester it is very clear that the purpose of this class is "to get into the heads of the young adults" and I appreciate all the help I can get! I have always worked with toddlers and pre-K children, something I enjoy very much, and always looked at the YA group as a "project for a later date" - people that I'd like to get to know but it is just SO much work to do so! Unlike their younger counterparts who can be won over with a nursery rhyme and a comfortable lap, young adults intimidate me with their one word answers and always looking like I am completely boring them!
Anyway, I am making breakthroughs with some young adults and I know this class will let me in on some other areas of interest and give me some fresh conversation starters (that is always the hardest part)! When I have a teenager over to take care of my children and the house is still standing and they are tucked in bed and breathing, I have learned to just take what I can get...the typical "they were fine" has to suffice because that is REALLY all I can get! My questions about school, their parents, potential next steps always flop and I send them off with their pay hoping they don't tell all their friends how lame that Kerri-Ann lady is!
Then these same teenagers and many more came to audition for a fundraiser that I co-chair, and treated me like I was completely cool! First I thought that without my kids and binder full of papers for a meeting or book club they saw me in a different light, then we talked more as I coached them through the nerves of the initial auditions and they said they were impressed with my knowledge of "good music" and they liked my boots! It was clear that "getting in their heads" works, they think Berkshire Idol is fun and a great way to be involved in the community and they like being taken seriously and judged on their talents.
I have two more rounds of Berkshire Idol (www.iberkshires.com/berkshireidol) in the next two months, and although my main goal is to raise funds for the charities, my secret goal will be to form relationships with these teens and their friends and try hard to conquer my fears and frustrations typically felt in the presence of these amazing new friends.
1 comment:
What stood out to me when I read your post was that in the situations where you are working with teens and being yourself while they are being themselves you find it pretty easy to talk to them. That's what teens respect. Adults who are simply themselves and don't try to be something else in order to impress the teens they are around. Don't worry too much about making conversation. Simply be who you are and they will respond.
I love the Berkshires Idol idea. Very cool!
Post a Comment