In case you were wondering

Yes, I do have A LOT more time on my hands since my Jacket (’s mom) sabbatical.  I couldn’t just relax now could I?  Without realizing it, I’ve sunk my teeth into a community college student from BedStuy (translation: pretty rough neighborhood close to where I live) working at my job.  She’s a direct care worker, meaning she works hands on with the clients with developmental disabilities.  It would be silly for me not to mention that she is STUNNING, has an enormous smile and carries herself with Michelle Obama poise.  She thinks quickly on her feet, is a superstar under pressure and has that “she’s going places” air.  Our interaction has always been limited but recently I realized that she might be sniffing me out, for lack of a better term.

For example, over the past year, “G” has said “Someone told me you had a P. H. D.  and I was like, for REAL?”, a few months later “You don’t really have your doctorate do you?” and then “I told my friends I know someone with a P. H. D.!” and then “I’m in school but I don’t have no one who understands.  My mom told me just to tell her when I get my diploma”, “what kind of things can you do with a P.H.D.?” and eventually “I want to be a counselor, what do I need for that?”

Up to now the only advice I’ve given is to finish school before having babies.  She’s 22 and doesn’t know a single person from high school or her neighborhood who doesn’t have kids yet.  She also didn’t know that her community college degree wasn’t the be all end all of her educational options.  I started thinking about helping her, but didn’t want to be bias - especially given the Halo Effect of her charm and beauty.  So, I started a once a week student support group for all staff. 

I told “G” to bring all of her syllabi.  She laughed.  I said “You think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  I’m on you like white on rice.  I want all of your syllabi and we’re putting due dates on a giant calendar.”  We met today.  There were 6 of us.  G, an MSW student from Russia, an MSW/JD Hispanic student from the Bronx, a bachelor’s level psychology major from China, another Russian lady with a master’s degree in French and me.  It was fantastic.  It turned into a complete intervention on G who has always assumed that anything beyond an Associates degree wasn’t possible.  Not because of ability but simply because it’s never been presented to her, at least not on a personal level. 

The Russian social worker broke out “G, will you contract today to…something…something… college…”.  B.r.i.l.l.i.a.n.t.  And I thought I was being intense!  Next step, I gave her the homework assignment of finding all of the college fairs that will be in NYC this fall.  She’s totally willing to be shipped out to middle America and I think it would be so fantastic for her.  I tried to describe dorm life and she couldn’t even imagine.  I talked about hall meetings and decorating for events and eating breakfast, lunch and dinner in the cafeteria and she thought I was out. of. my. mind.

So not fosterhood related right now, but Jacket will be back soon enough.

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55 Notes

  1. windowtounderland said: Love this! I hated high school but I love college. She seems like she has the drive, she just needs to figure out how to get out there and do it.
  2. nyclust said: Rebecca, this made me smile so big!
  3. shil0h said: MARY BALDWIN COLLEGE - close knit, all women, great education, small classes, one-on-one support, lots of opportunity for scholarship. Pleeeeease look into it!
  4. gracelandmomma said: That’s wonderful.
  5. cosmicsilence said: I’m so happy someone has finally made it personal for her. It’s amazing how much small and simple actions can affect the lives of others.