November Post; Satisfied

The first book I read that involved suicide was Cut by Patricia McCormick. This book was kind of interesting at first. I didn't know about suicide. I just knew I didn't like my life, and that I cut. My life has always been pretty great, I was never satisfied. But now I am, I have wonderful mentees, a wonderful family, and an amazing job. I have stopped focusing on what I don't have and started focusing on what I do have: everything.

I'm just so thankful for all of the great opportunities I've gotten from my senior project. It's helped me connect to not just teens who are suicidal, but addicts, and alcoholics. I see a lot of people in this category come into my store, and I answer their questions on bikes and such, and they smile. I'm not rude to them. I guess they're all surprised that I'm not a sassy teenager.
Life is good, so hang in there. c:

November Post; Promises

Last week I went to visit one of my mentees and she was in tears. I hadn't seen her for about two weeks before that because she was not in school. I arrived at her school and walked over to her to say hi and noticed she was crying. I asked her to walk outside with me and I let her cry. I just hugged her as she cried and let it all out. We all know what it's like to cry, and that you'll feel good after a good cry.
We just talked about what had happened and she told me everything. I then asked her a question I was scared to get an answer to: Have you kept your promise?
Yes, she most definitely kept her promise. When we first met I asked her to promise me she was not going to cut, and if she did cut she had to tell me right away. It was a big step for her, but she has kept her promise. She showed me her scars, and she asked to see mine, and she looked at me as if I was her hero for overcoming suicide. She is the one who is my hero. She now participates more in class and has promised to try harder to stay out of the hospital. One more hospital visit and she is removed from her home. I know she can do it.
Oh, the progress promises make.

EQ

Content:
1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.  a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
-I believe this one meets the rule of three criteria. It can lead into a discussion.
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

-It does not meet the rule of three criteria. Not very broad, where a study can really be done.
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
 -I believe it does meet the criteria. It is specific, and allows for a discussion.

d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

- I believe this one also meets the criteria, it's also a subject that includes a lot of research to support different answers.

3. What is the best way to help a suicidal teenager overcome suicidal thoughts?

October Blog Post; Loving Life

Life has been pretty wonderful and busy!
Lately I've been mentoring two different girls, I've yet to meet my third mentee. Guys! Today was our first presentation and it was pretty cool to see what everyone else has planned! I have to admit that at the beginning of the year I was already over senior year, but with all of the progress I've made I can say that I'm pretty excited! :D
I'm officially a part of the Pomona Unified School District School Mental Health Services.
Look, I have a badge!

I love what I do now. I love that my mentees smile all big when I go to see them. One of my mentees even said that ever since I've been there that she hasn't cut! I cried like a baby when I got home haha. It's just so overwhelming (in a good way) when you're told that you're making a change in someone's life. I'm hoping to meet with my third mentee soon!
Last Wednesday I joined my mentor Patti to a meeting with a parent. This is when I truly realized how much my mentor does for different people. This lady seemed so tired and my mentor just picked her back up and helped her out and it was wonderful. I love this opportunity!

Research and Working EQ

Content:
1. My working EQ is: What is the best way to help a teenager overcome suicidal thoughts?

2.  

   EQ: What is the best way to help a teenager overcome suicidal thoughts?

• Have them fill up a "stress box". A stress box is a box that can be kept on a school site where the suicidal teenager keeps things that takes their mind off of violent thoughts. 

3. So far the most important source would be the teenager I am working with. I am her "big sister" in a way. She helped me come up with this answer because she has a stress box for herself.

4. My mentor is Patti Azevedo. She works with the Pomona Unified School District for School Mental Health Services. She works with different teenagers who are suicidal and she was the connection I got in order to work with the teenager mentioned above. 

Independent Component 1 Approval

1. What I would like to do for my independent component 1 is create a schoolwide assembly teaching students the difference between attention and intention. I feel that for my 30 hours I should meet with different suicidal teens and truly hear their stories. (I had spoken to my mentor about this and she was all for it and may have a few teenagers willing to talk to me.) Aside from that I could talk to different teenagers who are not suicidal and get their take on the suicidal youth. After I survey different teenagers I could collect the thoughts and create statistics, in a sense, so I know what I should focus my assembly on.

2. The way I could prove that I did 30 hours is by taking pictures with a few different teenagers willing to talk to me. I was wondering if the information and stories they share with me could count as proof, as I will ask for permission to record or film my encounter with them.

3. I feel that if everything works out the way I plan that I could really learn more about my topic because I would get hands on training. I still need to change my EQ, and I hope this will give me the extra shove I need to finalize my question. Another way this will help me explore my topic in more depth is by allowing me to get actual statistics that I was there to witness rather than reading of them in a book or article.

Additional Blog Post for September

I find it rather strange that the year I choose to learn about Suicide, is the year my life revolves around suicide.

Allow me to elaborate, a family friend's nephew committed suicide this summer, my friend just overcame suicide ideation, and most recently my friend is in the hospital for suicide ideation.
Suicide ideation is allowing your mind to wander through the possibility of suicide, rather how to go about committing suicide. Ideation is more of the actual planning of suicide.
I will not give out her name, but I will describe our friendship. She and I met about 5 years ago because our mothers were(are) close friends.When we would hang out we would just talk for hours on end. She is a few months younger than I am, and she is supposed to be a senior in high school this year. Because she will be under medical supervision there is a possibility she will not return to school. 

I come from a family where suicide is seen two ways. 1. as a cowardice act. 2. as an attention seeking act. 

So when I asked if I could go see my friend my mom's initial answer was no, but when she saw that I really wanted to she said she would think about it. I know it will be hard to see my friend like that, I also know it will be hard for her to allow me to see her like that but I want/need her to know I have no problem holding her hand and walking her through the healing process.

Before I end this post I would like to put out there that even if we aren't close, I'm here if you need to talk to me.
That is all, I'll keep an update on whether I get to see my friend soon or not! :)