Ivan Avalos

During the summer scholars program we were assigned a service-learning project. This project indicated that we go to an organization such as the Boys and Girls club or Girls Inc. etc., to help a student, from 5th to 8th grade, achieve a college goal. With the assistance of my partner, Gatluak Ramdiet, we decided to go to Omaha South’s Boys and Girls club. Once we were there we spoke to the head coordinator, Paco Fuentes, and explained to him the purpose of our assignment. After our meeting Paco agreed and announced for all 5th through 8th graders interested in college to meet with us. I had not known that we were expected to pick the student and it frightened me horribly. Once I stepped into the classroom filled with little kids all waiting to be picked I felt my stomach drop to my butt. I did not want to be the one to tell all these little faces that only one could be picked. I told my partner and he felt the same way, but luckily he was kind enough to be the barer of bad news. Oddly enough all the little boys were excited, they even wanted to make a game out of it. With the help of the children we agreed to do a Rock-Paper-Scissors game to figure out two finalists that would then be interviewed for us to pick one. After the game and interviews we ended up with Ivan Avalos. Ivan is an eleven-year-old boy that will be going in to 6th grade. We picked Ivan because he showed potential and the eagerness to strive. After everything we set up a scheduled for our meetings. W decided to meet at the boys and girls club every Tuesday after he received his parent’s permission. Our first assignment was for Ivan to make a collage of three jobs that he would like to be when he grows up. Ivan was really excited with this part, and we discovered that Ivan would like to be a policeman, firefighter, or a pilot. After his collage was made Ivan told us his story on why he wanted to be a policeman most of all, in such ways we got to know a little more of each other that day. The following assignment, for our second meet, was for my partner and I to create a power point to show Ivan. The power point was to be about tips on helping him get on track for the careers that interested him starting with high school, going to college, and than facts about the careers. Ivan listened to my partner and me attentively and asked us some questions that he wanted us to explain to him. Our third assignment was for Ivan to write an essay on what he had learned in order for him to obtain his number one choice. Ivan wrote about becoming a policeman and referred to the power point we had made for some facts and details. In the end Ivan had not enjoyed that part too much but he did mention to have had found interesting the experience of writing an essay out side of the format provided for him in middle school. Our last meeting with Ivan was on July 7, 2009. There was chips and candy that my partner and I brought but the sadness of loosing "our child" was still present. Our final assignment was for Ivan to write an action plan about his goals of obtaining a B average in high school and succeeding in college. In the end of our assignment we briefly reviewed with Ivan the key thing that he had learned from our meetings. Over all with this assignment I hope that Ivan learned a thing or two about his future plans and career goals. What I obtained with this assignment was the friendship of my partner Gatluak and the experience of working with others.

My Big Bro

Dark brown hair, glistening eyes, and an inner spirit of fire. This is my brother. My big bro is three years older than me and is my one and only sibling. Through out my life there have been many people that have impacted me. But the one person I know I will carry during my college experience will be my brother. My protector since I was a little girl will follow me where ever I go. My brothers words of wisdom and care have always stuck with me and I know they will never part from with in me. My brother has been through his own ups and downs but his courage to strive is what I admire. Since i was a child my brother taught me to fend for myself in those times that he would not be around. My brother has always pushed me to follow through with my dreams and try my hardest in school. In those times Ive messed up and everyone has pointed a finger and judged me, I am glad to say my brother has not been one of them. I have always known that no matter what I do my brother will always receive me with his open arms. My big brother, my hero, I love this boy so much. In elementary my brother and I were always together but when he left for middle school things were odd. When I reached middle school he was a freshman in high school and it felt as if I would never be with him in school again. When I started high school I was signed up for his school. At first I was scared, at the thought of the transition. But with my brother there, roaming the halls, I could not feel safer. I felt as if I were the lions friend in the jungle. My brother made sure no one bothered me or hurt me. He was once more my protector. When my sophomore year came he had already graduated and things felt odd again. The interesting thing was that it was as if he never left. People still did not bother me and the teachers would always ask me about him. My brother started college shortly after he graduated and he became my inspiration. Before he had been me cheer team but now he was my muse. When tests or home work got hard I would look for help or ask him even. I have learned from his mistakes and taken notes on his success. I know that when I begin college I will think of the pointers he has mentioned before. I will remember the warnings he has given me. Although we will not be attending the same universities I will still come to him when I'm in need. I will not rely on him to fix my problems but simply be a shoulder for me to lean on as he always has.

Life On Campus

Life on campus has been interesting. I went from living with just my mom to living with three other girls. I still had my own room but not everything else. We shared a rest room, kitchen, and living room area. Surprisingly enough we got along just fine. We didn't interrupt each others time to shower or eat. We spent time interacting with one another and even studied together on occasion. I was assigned to be with Justine, Jasmine, and Tione. I will not lie, at first I was worried at the fact that I did not know them. But that same first night we got to know each other and I discovered that I was privileged to be with these girls. They are funny, nice and very smart. I am very glad that I got to be their friend and I truly hope that never changes. Sleeping at the dorm has been a wonderful experience. The activities got us to be more involved in getting to know one another. At times we did feel awkward but we got through it with laughs and smiles. I know how dorky this all sounds but honestly, this has been fun! I will never forget this experience or the friends Ive made. Im glad that we got to be here and I wish we could all stay longer but either way my mother wants me home. LOL. Im glad that we will all still see each other for two more weeks but sad that all good fun must always come to an end. For now I will enjoy these last two days and have fun with my friends=) For now I must go because we are about to do a water balloon fight!!!!

Happy Camper!!

Wow! waking up at 6A.M. has been joyeous. LOL. I had never imagined that I would be doing college homework this summer. I usualy spend my summers staying up late, watching movies, and waking up around 2P.M. The time that I was awake, I would spend most of with my friends or at the pool. When my councelor told me about summer scholars, I was interested. When the time came and I found out that i would be in summer scholars, I knew imediately that things would be different this summe, but I was psyched! I already knew that there would be homework, and waking up early involved, so I had enough time to get mentaly prepared. The first day of waking up early was fine, because I had been anticipating this day. When I arrived to school I was nervous but happy, I even sat near the front. As I sat in class I looked around impatiently, hoping that I might know some one. It turned out I did know two girls and that made things so much less tense. I got to know some of the people around me either way, because I wanted to relieve the tention as much as I could. When Maria Garza (our instructor) came in, I knew it had begun. She began to introduce herself and the program, than we played that ever famous "getting to know one another" game. I could feel the butterflies in my tummy from the excitment of all the things that were to come. After that class I hurried to my English course. Although I had been told that I might be with some college students, it turned out it was just myself and other summer scholras, I think that made things better for me, because it wasnt so odd among us. The teacher turned out to be great! My teacher is the funniest teacher ever, I truly know that if it wasnt for her humor I might have just been too nervous to talk. She has made things comfortable for us all and I am truly grateful to her for that. As  this first week has gone on and Ive gotten to know some of the students and done some of the assignments, Im still phsyched. The assignments are as one would imagine, at a college level but this is something im sure we all were expecting when we signed on. I have found myself overwhelmed at times, but Im still grateful for this opportunity and I can not deny that this is preaty fun. I look forward to my experience of living on campus and the four weeks ahead. This happy camper can not complain=)