This is just something that I found while looking for decorations for my bulletin board in my building for October... just something I feel everyone can apply to their own lives :)

The Blog Post With An Impossible Title

WHY DO WE BLOG????? In today's society, we blog for many reasons... to express ourselves, to relate to others, to compare differences, because we have to, to broaden our horizons, to learn, to laugh, to keep in touch and sometimes it is just because we have nothing better to do at the moment. We blog for our own personal reasons and on some level, liked we talked about in class, we are "alone together".

WHY SHOULD WE ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO BLOG????? I think we should encourage youth to blog because it is an ever-present outlet. An outlet for creativity, to vent, to inspire others, to just let it all out. The blog is always there and as the phrase "live and learn" goes... over time, you will live and learn. Blogging over time allows individuals to see their growth over time and I think that is something that every youth strives to see. They want to see where they have been, where they are and where they can go from here.

Hi ho. Hi Ho. It's Off to Work We Go!

Child Labor Article By Gwen Sharp, PhD I chose to do the reflection response for this article because it really hit home with me for multiple reasons. First of all, I live on the Warwick/West Warwick line and the streets that are in the surrounding neighborhoods are lined with old mill houses and decrepit old mill buildings as well as the mills themselves. I remember learning about how the kids would work all of these long hours, going to work with their parents, and being put in so much danger just to have some miniscule amount of money to rub between their fingers.... not even to keep actually but to contribute to their family. My childhood was thankfully nothing like that. I can relate to the olden times in some ways more than others, however, because from the moment I can remember, I was working. Sure it may have been my lemonade stand at the end of my drive way when I was little but by the time I was in fifth grade (11 years old??) I had started babysitting for two families before and after school as well as during the summer and school vacations. I saved up all of my money and while I was still in fifth grade, I was able to buy myself a cell phone. Why I needed one that young? No clue- because in all honesty I really didn't NEED it... I just wanted it and worked for it. Then in junior high, I bought my own laptop- also from babysitting. This probably just sounds like rambling but I swear there is a point haha. All of these things I was able to go and do with my money, the kids years and years ago were not. It was not their money. It went to mom and dad to buy food or clothing or necessities. I am no stranger to working hard...my parents got divorced when I was eight so coming up in a single mother household was not easy but it made me who I am today. we worked and cleaned and did yard work and chores but what these kids went through makes my childhood look like a walk in the park. I cannot even imagine experiencing those same things while I was growing up, and NEVERMIND today's children (sorry for the generalization). I feel like a large majority of todays youth is just very accepting and I do not mean solely of other's lifestyles. there is a lot of "I will take whatever I can get" and this sense of privilege that I have never seen so much of before. Sure I would get upset if I didn't get what I wanted when I was younger but today's youth just expects these things. New phone, new clothes, education paid for, car, etc... Would be interesting to set them up in the lifestyle that the kids in the article had to endure... I know I am rambling at this point but this article made me think of all of these things. Those children experienced and witnessed some pretty awful things and I honestly don't know I today's younger generation would be equipped to do the same....

About Me Take Two :)

Hello everyone! So this is my blog that I used in FNED 346... figured I would just continue with the same one haha. So this is my fourth year at RIC but I am not graduating this year. I was en route in the education/special education but after I had taken one social work class I was at a stand still because it was either I apply to Feinstein or I apply to the school of social work. Soooooo luckily I learned about this program shortly after that dilemma and figured it was a perfect fit for me :) I do not have any experience working in non profit programs but I have been around kids my entire life. I have always babysat, gone to work with my mom (who is a teacher) and spent time with my niece (she is my princess and my world- I love her so much...obv. she's the one in the picture with me) so they are my niche. I have also completed I believe 3 practicums and I just love going into it and how excited the kids are to learn and to see you and oh jeez! They're just so cute!! ANYWAYYYY.... So that is pretty much my experience with RIC and YD so far but I cannot wait to watch that list grow :)