Teens (and helping them prepare for adulting)

Looking for Work?
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Looking for Work?

Even if you have a less than ideal past or a challenging disability, you may be able to get a job at Goodwill. In our city they have many positions open and are hiring now (Aug 2022).

Goodwill Industries began in Boston at the turn of the 19th century as an idea by the Rev. Edgar J. Helms. The idea was simple, fight poverty not with charity, but with trade skills—and provide a chance for the poor and the unemployed to do productive work.

From History of Goodwill and Mission

One of my children got hired there recently, and I overheard the orientation materials. It was inspiring. I love to work somewhere that my personal mission matches the organization’s. There are more types of jobs than you might realize as well such as e-commerce and job skills training.

Sometimes that first job is the hardest to get. Other times it takes networking which is hard to do if you are new in an area. Whatever the situation, it is exciting to be helping solve and prevent our community problems proactively. I’m happy to know more about and support their mission.

PS: Indeed.com is an easy way to apply to many places but no one I know has had much luck with it. I hear that they receive way too many applications. Most people I know who have met with success have gone directly to the company or organization’s website and applied directly.

Good luck to you!

DSH 8/22

Preparing a child for High School or for Technical College?
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Preparing a child for High School or for Technical College?

Just a heads up, parents, that there are after high school options (and during high school options) that you may not know about that could be amazing opportunities for your child.

Dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, AP classes, OJT, early release, and work experience with job coaching to name a few. When our first child started high school, we found out that tryouts had already occurred. We were late before the school year had even begun.

Your son or daughter could also graduate early or graduate with a technical skill certification.

As much as we would like our children to advocate for themselves and find out about these things in time, it has not been realistic to expect in my experience. How do you know what to ask about if you don’t even know what it is called?

This year my son is graduating, and we are looking into technical schools. We did not realize how competitive they are to get into. Many programs only have 20 students per class. So, if your son or daughter wants or even may want to attend, you have to apply immediately when application acceptance opens.

For a January start, you have to apply on September 1st. September 1st is not when to get the paperwork prepared, it is when to upload it all and turn it in immediately. August start is even more competitive and may have a registration more than four months ahead.

So, plan to advocate for your child and help them apply and meet deadlines well in advance of what you might think necessary. Transitioning to adult education and life is a long process. Just like applying for college, students can apply, be accepted, and still not attend. So, there is little risk in applying.

I’m wishing you luck.

DSH

8/2/22

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Faces

Photo by Roy Reyna on Pexels.com
The faces down the hall
are freaky, glad or grim
The rolling eyes and tossing heads
That clever, angry grin

That whispering, not too soft
will cause a little cry
as giggles erupt behind my back
and burn behind my eye

Faces, faces everywhere
each has a look for you
Some crusty, pent up feeling shows
that might give you a clue

But really masks are all they are
That's all the faces wear
Painted on, dressed up or fighting
Each one stares, "I Don't Care"

But, the fear behind the faces 
is as large as they are weak
The real faces would like to come out
They're just too scared to peek

DSH 4/2/07
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

People are not as they seem. All are walking a difficult road for some reason, even those who appear to have it all together or appear to have it all.

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To my teenage sister

Photo by Sofia Alejandra on Pexels.com

It seems that just a while ago

I wore those shoes you do.

I tried hard to do my best

to be well-liked, like you.

I struggled hard to find my place;

I cried. I felt so all alone.

At times I didn’t fit in anywhere

not even at my home.

I was teased for being happy.

To get good grades was “wrong.”

Labeled “gay” without a boyfriend

How could I carry on?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I could stand for truth I guess,

But then I’d stand alone.

My fire died. I drooped and cried

a fizzled, miserable tone.

For a year or more I suffered

underneath their heavy weight

sad and quiet, they had won

and I accepted fate.

‘Til it occurred to me

how little I had gained.

I had tried their way and got nothing

except constant pain.

I wasn’t me anymore

and I could not please them.

What was left for me to do

but choose to live again?

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

And so I gave my heart a scrub

and set out to do just what I liked.

I let my true self out

and stopped being afraid to be myself.

Doing what I loved was fun

and being what I thought best

gave me joy and confidence

Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

to let go of the rest.

That blissful state of popularity

I doubt really exists

except for those who love themselves

and life the way it is.

DSH 4/2/07

Photo by mentatdgt on Pexels.com
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Blessed

Is there space left

to push in my page–

to share my thoughts

on such an overcrowded stage?

Is there room

in our text-attacking lives

to find my voice?

Is there any surprise

left?  Any story

that hasn’t been already said?

I could read all my life

and still be over-fed.

There isn’t room for it all.

I block out just to breathe;

and my generation wonders

is there any need

for me?

More music available

than I will ever hear.

More knowledge than I

could ever care to seek.

More roads than I could

hope to take or meet.

More food than I

could ever safely eat.

I’m

SNOWED UNDER

by all that is sweet.

DSH

5/2017

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First Day

First Day

Standing at the door of the school year

I hesitate

Anxious

Excited

Prepared, but not ready.

 

Maybe if I just stay in bed

It will all go away.

 

I pray.

 

Impossible becomes

possible

because I’m not alone.

 

Into the lion’s den

DSH 8/2016

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Linking Generations–Get or give advice

I just found out about a great opportunity to get or give free advice.

Seniors can volunteer at their own convenience.

Just like asking Google, you can ask a real person in real time for their advice.

I’m so excited about this.  I don’t want a whole generation of wisdom to be lost.

The problem of technology becomes a vehicle for a solution.  Interestingly enough, this whole set up was made possible by a generous donation from Google.

Elder Wisdom Circle–Get or Volunteer to Give Advice

 

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Walk to cure diabetes

Want to find a way to exercise and help others, but not an athlete or able to run long distances?

You might try this way to WALK to help cure Diabetes.  They have walks all over the United States and it doesn’t split up families.  Children and teens can participate, too.

You can even sign up to get notifications of a walk in your area.

Check it out.  Love, DarEll

walk.jdrf.org