Summer Job

The thing about taking care of little kids is that it makes me realize how much what we do affects them. At orientation they were telling us even though it wasn't part of the job description we're role models to them and they will try to copy what we do so if our posture shows we don't want to do a game or activity because we think its lame or kiddyish it affects the atmosphere because the kids won't be that into it as well even though it might've been fun for them because they're taking a cue from us about how to act. I think at that age that's what you're learning to do, and you're taking a cue from your environment and other people on things like that. I was just thinking this because while I at the sprinklers with them today and it was hot so I decided to get my feet wet in the sprinklers and I went to the sprinklers and kicked my foot up in the air to get it wet. After I did this 4-6 kids tried to copy me because they saw me do it. So we're really role models for the kids because they look up to us, literally and figuratively because at that age that's where their developement is at. So even if we think its just a job, that's part of what we signed up for, we're working with little kids who's lives we are affecting one way or another however big or small. Plus when I think back to the counselor I have had at the YMCA, they really did impact me as child to now. I was pretty lucky because my counselors were all good people. They're probably why I don't curse that much because when a kid said the word heck they were reprimanded and they always replaced any curse words with some creative phrase. Like instead of saying what the hell or heck they would say what in the world and when I was in elementry I liked to copy them and said that too. I'm pretty patient with my kids and I feel like a part of the reason why is because my counselors were patient with me.

Well today two of my kids hugged me, and when they did I thought of orientation because we weren't supposed to hug our kids, but give them high fives or make "special handshakes" instead. So I was just thinking the whole time "uhhh I'm not supposed to hug you". But I patted their back because how are you supposed to say that to a little kid. The other counselor who went to the orientation with me had the same problem and she said the same thing to me about how we weren't supposed to but the kids just hug you and she had the same reaction I did. I don't know at the same time I was thinking about the experiment with babies where the nurses weren't supposed to touch or hug them and how the babies were all silent and abnormal and the nurses thought it was just unnatural and finally did it. So it affected them negatively since human touch is natural I guess. But now in today's society it can be taken the wrong way. Well other than that me and the counselors, Sabrina, Nefi, and Amy played with the little kids and had a really fun game of "Johnny Come Over" with the kids. Where its a bit like helper tag except you had two fences and everyone started out on one fence and had to run to the other without getting tagged once the "it" person says "Johnny come over!".

Afterwards I went to a blood drive with Nefi, and got a snack beforehand, just to find out someone...not naming names.. had gotten the wrong date. It was actually this friday instead. That was fine though since we got something to eat. So I was happy. I shared half since she didn't have money, she offered to go to the bank but I said she could just treat next time. We went to chinatown and got milk tea and a cheesecake but the cheesecake turned out to be a sponge cake... they lied! She thought it was hilarious since apparently things like this seem to happen alot to me? I thought it was funny too because she did. Afterwards, I went to Edgies for the college prep program that I learned late yesterday we had to go to. The times were 12-3 and 5-8, I went to the later one since my job ended at 3. So, we went over what we look at when we're researching colleges, things that we might find important. We also wrote a short paragraph for College Camp, a program that shows you what campus life was like and we would actually take 2 college classes as well. We would be living in a dorm with a roommate and meet with people who worked for the college. It would be this weekend since apparently it was being filled up pretty quickly this year. It'd be our first time going. So I have something to look forward too. When I write this..it seems like alot but I still don't feel like I'm prepared enough. Maybe I'm expecting too much.

But I'm pretty grateful for summer vacation because we don't have homework, maybe reading but that's enjoyable anyhow. I know that this suits me, getting a job and whatnot, because I know that if I didn't have this job I would probably be on the computer all day or watching tv or I'd just sit in the bookstore near my home all day, which as much as I love to read would get pretty tedious.