A fast month...

Good Morning dear souls!!!

If you haven't noticed, I tend to choose titles for my posts which are slightly descriptive, but mostly mundane. "A fast month" isn't poetic or intriguing. I don't know why I choose to do this, but it's a trend, and I might as well stick with it for now! (I was never good at titling papers in college either) :)

Wow, it has been two weeks already since I last posted. I believe this is what prompted my title. February is generally a fast month to begin with, and I have felt really present here at Red Cloud, so I guess that makes time go quickly. I shall highlight a few particularly exciting events in the past two weeks, both school-related and personal.

So, the highly-anticipated Crush-gram sale went really well; I believe I sold around 135 bottles of crush pop (with which the recipients were extremely pleased). Granted, it made for a really chaotic Friday the 13th, especially with the talent show the same day, but overall I experienced one of those, "Wow, I love my job" moments after it was all over. The talent show in particular was SO MUCH FUN. Every student who participated did so solely out of intrinsic motivation (I didn't even offer prizes or competition)... and honestly I think that's what made it beautiful! Two original songs, three instrumentals, two lip syncs, and a few "jam with the music" entries made it well-rounded and entertaining. Our student body also makes a great audience for the students who participated...cheering them on, even when a little off-tune. :) Ah, the beauty of peer encouragement. It doesn't get much better than that!

We also had a successful student council meeting last week (even pulling together a fabulous lip sync for the talent show)! I bought them pizza, and that seems to make me quite popular (not to mention increases the involvement) with the Stu. Co! A bit of reflection on my college days would teach me that at one point in time I was quite cynical of the "eat pizza, hang out" mentality of youth work... but now I would venture to say the concept actually has much more merit than I could have envisioned in my Ymin classes! :) Okay, maybe Stu. Co. is a bit different than a traditional youth group, but I suppose a similar concept could still apply across the board. Kids do love pizza!

Yesterday we had a prom meeting with the juniors, and I believe they have finally decided on a prom theme. I don't want to speak too soon regarding these delicate details (which have inspired so much drama)... but I will take the risk and tell you... they are going to decorate as "Above the City Lights," which has quite a resemblance to my junior prom theme: "City Nights." I told them this, and of course that excited them even more, because I said I would love to help with ideas and such. I am also in charge of ordering everything for prom, from invitations, to memorabilia, to decorations. It will be different than last year (I had no such duties with prom)... but I am glad to be involved in this way, especially since I cannot actually be at prom. :( (a college friend's wedding coincides).

Alright, so that's life here at Red Cloud. Happening, for sure- with the continued one-on-one interaction with students being my primary source of joy and discouragement-Excitement and sadness. Regardless of the activities going on here at Red Cloud, the students have very real (and often disheartening) lives outside of school; I believe I only grasp a small portion of their reality, but it's enough to make me aware of the deep inner-struggles many of them face daily.

Onto personal life...This past weekend I spent a wonderful Valentine's Day with my Valentine, AJ. :) On Saturday we headed up to a bit of the Red Cloud b-ball games in Rapid, then to a Rapid City Rush hockey game. Neither AJ nor I had ever been to a hockey game before, and we were fortunate to receive (complimentary) tickets from our telecommunications provider here at Red Cloud... front row! We were 'on the ice' I guess, if that's how you say it... able to flinch every time a puck or a few intense players would crash into the Plexiglas! We had a great time- and 4 students were suppose to join us, but for a variety of reasons, only one ended up coming. Tiarra Little, a superb freshman, joined us for the excitement!

Tiarra & I at the Hockey game (the strange angle is due to the fact that we were sitting so close to the rink!) :)

AJ & I enjoying the hockey game together. He loved the fight, even though he calls himself peace-loving. :)

On Sunday AJ and I went skiing with a group from my church back home. It was really great, getting to spend some time on the slopes (for me, a little personal interaction with the snow- more than the others). Okay, I'll be direct. I fell. A lot. And sometimes it hurt (I suppose that has something to do with the fact that I was going speeds I have no business going... especially with only an elementary skiing skill set). But I still had a great time, I want to emphasize the fun over the fact that I came home with several bruises, a sore calf, knee, and elbow, and a confirmed understanding that I need to take lessons before I venture again!

AJ & I posing after the excitement had ended... still smiling, of course! :)

This will conclude my post for today. Oh, before I end- I want to mention that Stu. Co. is hosting a Pennies for Patients drive once again (we did during Homecoming as well)... and it thrills me to see the students bring it what little they have to further the cause of Leukemia research. I'll let you know grand totals once we are finished!

Much love, coming from a heart full of life, full of love, and full of spirit,

Emily

Love, Crushes, and Drama...

Hello Faithful and New Friends alike,

I initially tried to post this several days ago, and it wasn't until I decided to check out my blog for comments did I realize that it never posted, and much of what I had written didn't save either... so here's to my love/hate relationship with technology. :)


I have picked a title for this blog which reflects the feelings currently permeating the air of Red Cloud High School. I tell you what... even though I sometimes feel as if life directs me to dramatic moments at times... I have to admit that I hate drama. Especially when it causes fractions between students (all of whom I know are precious in their own state of being)...


Love. Well, this is an interesting concept here... since it is Valentine's day soon, and I have the great pleasure of listening to the relationship episodes in many of the students' lives. So, this is what "Love" means in the lives of my darling students...are you ready for this tragic but true analysis? The perceived "love" of high schoolers (one for another) often translates to... I'll like/love you when it's convenient, but I always keep my options open. (I've heard one student say, "Play them before they play you- that's what it's like here on the Rez, idnit?") Keeping options open at a young age isn't inherently a bad idea, but the reality of how this takes place, and the emotional destruction which occurs, is a horrible consequence. Students feel extremely committed (more so than I sometimes give them credit for) and their vulnerable identities long for a sense of stability...which they will not and cannot find in this environment of dating infidelity. It's similar to the trend of infidelity so commonly seen across the nation.. in real homes and homes on the big screen. My response is- why? why does it have to be this way? where does the cycle begin again in a healthy fashion? I have yet to find the answers. Even so, some students give me hope.


Crushes. Speaking of those students, crush-grams have provided endless amounts of entertainment for me this week. Several students have stopped in to order them- and the stack of order forms is piling high! I am in awe of the sweetness which many students have exhibited toward one another, both in the sending of crush grams to friends, and in the grams sent anonymously to secret crushes. It is these moments and sincere acts of kindness which instill a sense of hope, even amidst the reality of the tragic relationship situations which exist here and everywhere.


Prom. Its like any big event of which I inevitably am forced to ask this question : "Do the ends really outweigh the means?" SO MUCH DRAMA exists in the realm of prom preparation. Even students I deeply admire for their ability to reflect on situations thoughtfully- are coming to me with horrible gripes and nasty comments about "the junior class" in general. As if they all get together at their junior class meetings and say, "Hey, how can we make the senior class think we're absolutely horrible and don't care at all about prom?" I have reflected with the students on both sides of the divide, and I have come to realize that effective communication would dissipate drama nearly entirely! Yet it is easier to gripe and complain rather than address issues with appropriate conversations. Ah, the joys and struggles of working with high schoolers. :)

My Life. I am actually sensing many transitions in my life right now- and while I still thoroughly enjoy my position here, I also know it's time to move on, and so I can feel myself beginning even now to deal with the separation I will encounter when I leave Red Cloud. It does not have to be a negative thing, since I hope to leave my mark in a good way- and say goodbye with sincerity and with intention of continuing a relationship with the place and people of Red Cloud. However, I must (partially for my own sanity) continue to separate myself in a subtle and gradual way from my identity being 'a part of' Red Cloud. Now Red Cloud will be a part of my identity, but only a part. My time here has certainly shaped many of my current perspectives, but I know that it is not enough to let myself be changed for a time; I must always be adapting my perspectives according to my many life experiences- the next of which will involve studying at Princeton Seminary!

Okay- it is now time to see if my publishing skills are still intact (i.e. posting a blog), as I try once again to charm my way into the loving world of technology. As AJ says, though, computers rarely make mistakes. It's generally the person operating who is in error. Good thing my situation is an exception to that rule! :):)

Sending my love on this rainy Monday morning,

Emily