To start off my blog for this week, I want to open it with a quote from my mentor. Mrs. Burt said, "You don"t choose Special Ed.Special Ed chooses you." She said it in a joking manner, with another teacher in the room. This comment has really got me thinking all week about it. That was a very powerful comment to me. It started to make me think about myself and if I had been chosen for it.The thing is, I've got the opportunity to see if this is something I could do the rest of my life. A senior from last year, Micah Barnes, mentor said to him, if you don't enjoying doing it, then why do it? I remember Micah talking to me a lot about that comment. It's one of those things that don't seem like a big deal at the time, but in the long run, it's what means the most.
     My week was a very interesting week. I got to experience each class room. We made up a schedule for what days I'd be in each room. It's really cool to see the different teaching styles that each teacher has. They all have been very open and helpful in letting me into the classroom and working with the children. Working with the kids, there is never a dull moment. I guess one of the kids and tells Mrs. Burt, "Mrs. Burt. I think I caught racism." So they have been trying to cure him of his racism. Best of all, they all love Michael Jackson. One of the kids plays "Will You Be There" by Michael Jackson. He gets so excited when he plays it and dances to it.
     All the classes went to this place called Lifetown. When they got there they were given $12 to spend on things. They could get there nails done, buy food, watch a movie, do arts and crafts, and each thing cost money to do. I got to go along, and walked around with the kids. Talking to the teachers, they say that the old place use to be a lot bigger and better then what it is now. I can see what they mean. This place was pretty small to start with, and they had us, and people from other schools there at once.
       Over all this week has been really cool. I really enjoy what I'm doing and enjoying the atmosphere. Oh I did get scared over something that happened at site. Once of the girls had gotten sick. She was sitting right next to me. It scared me enough to the point I jumped out of the seat and I think I scared her. I know it's something I'll have to deal with in this career, I just need a little bit to get a strong stomach.

     I started my walkabout this week! It was great. I meet my mentors for the first time and started to build relationships with everyone. I didn't expect my walkabout to be like this, but I think it worked out great. I've been having problems finding a place that will let me work with the Special Education department because of liability issues. So I thought that it would end up like that at Ridgeview and I would be working with a different teacher. When I got everything worked out with Mrs. Burt I was more sure of what I was going to be doing.
     I went in Monday morning. At first, I was really scared. I was worried that my mentor or students might not like me. The first day, I just kind of sat back and watched to get the feel of how Mrs. Burt runs her class. In her class she has seven kids with autism. She is one of four teachers at Ridgeview. I've gotten to meet almost everyone. I think. This week I just stayed with Mrs. Burt everyday. Next week I start in other rooms so I can see each room, and the difference between the classes and students.  I also get to help out in gym and art class. I haven't got to work with all of the students but i have worked with a few.
     After the first day I jumped in and started working with the children. I felt very comfortable getting involved. All of the teachers and aids, were so open to letting me help out and letting me learn what I could. They answered all of my questions and very helpful with my education. This is way different then what I thought it was going to be.My mentor pointed out the children don't really shock me. I was surprised when she said that to me. It was nice to hear just like any other compliment. I think I got lucky with my walkabout because they are so open and helpful with me.
     I'm really excited to continue my walkabout here. So far it's been great and I've enjoyed all of my time there. Each student is very different and have there own interests. In the social studies class the students were learning about people that were heros during the Civil Rights movement. Well my teacher was talking about Franklin D. Roosevelt, and one one the students said, "Franklin Devonte Roosevelt?" I just thought I had to include it

Week 4.

     Soooo, I've done nothing all week. I was suppose to start my Walkabout this past week. With the weather as bad as it was, there was no power at Ridgeview. So instead of being out starting Walkabout I was stuck inside. It was weird not getting up and having to be somewhere. I just was so tired of not getting up and getting my day started like i normally would do. I'm assuming that's the feeling I should be getting with this experience. I mean I guess I'm out on Walkabout and I should feel independent and such, but I just don't feel like I'm there yet. I just feel like my life went on hold and it just wouldn't end. I'm over excited to start my Walkabout.
     So Over this past week I've just worked my part-time job. I've started writing more in my free time. Like journaling about what's going on. I think that's best for me. To write about things as they happen so i can look back and reflect on my week and some how pull my thoughts together in this journal. I found something out about myself. When i write things down, I tend to remember them more. Like to do lists. They're super helpful. I don't understand how I didn't find this years ago.
     This week I'm not exactly sure what I should have written down. Or what to talk about. There's not much for me to talk about. I don't want to be like this through walkabout. I have this huge thing that I think Walkabout should be. Like it should be this huge life changing experience. I mean I hope it is, but it stillis a very scary experience that I'm not sure how it will go. It could go horribly and my mentor and I might not get along or anything. Who really knows what's going to happen.

I guess we will find out/

Week 3.

     It's the last week of class! I'm excited now, but when next week comes around I know it's going to be crunch time. This week so far has been a pretty good week. Our class is figuring out what we are going to be doing for presentation night. We're are going to teach people the games that learned. I'm teaching craps, so it should be fun. Winterum comes to a close tomorrow and after that all of us seniors go our separate ways. I've talked to more people this year then I have in years pasts and made friends with some people I never thought I would have. A few of them are going out of town. I know we all say that we will stay in touch now, but once we all get involved in our Walkabouts were going to be busy.
     I'm finding it really strange that I'm making my own schedule. I'm planning when and where I have to be and what I'm doing instead of having someone telling me what I'm doing. I have my times worked our where I'm at my Walkabout Monday through Thursdays.
     My Walkabout is all set up now. I got a hold of a mentor for me and she is over joyed to have me in her classroom. I am at Ridgeview Middle School, working with an Intervention Specialist. My mentor's career is the career I want. I think I'm really lucky to have exactly what I want in a career as my Walkabout. I already know I can do the job because I have such a love for teaching, and I've done a lot of volunteering in this career. still though, a part of me is scared. I know it's natural, but I can't seem to shake it off. i'm scared of college. I'm scared of growing up. People have always told me that each decision effects your life, and my concern is. Everyone in my family is so proud. That's what I hear about. My brothers telling me to go to college. Make something of myself. Be the best thing that I can be. They've told me to not mess up like they did. Thus far I haven't, but sometimes the pressure is a lot. That's when i get scared. Everything up to now has just been talk. The Graham school has given us the opportunity to find ourselves before we get tossed out on our behinds in cooperate America. This way we have more knowledge then an average senior.

     Well, I guess I have an experience of a lifetime.

Walkabout Week 2.

     This week seem to fly by very quickly. It's hard to think about there only being one week until Walkabout starts. I've made more progress with Ridgeview. It's still not all set up. I'm afraid that it won't start on time. I feel like I ran out of time. It was just playing phone tag with them and not much getting accomplished like it should be. I feel like I should have done this Walkabout thing more on my own, but it's hard to manage what's going on with trying to balance work, school, and Walkabout. I'm not even sure if Ridgeview is going to work out the way I want it too. The Principal said she wasn't going to be involved with it at all and it was all between Mrs. Burt, an intervention specialist and my mentor. I was hoping to be more involved in the school as a whole. Now I seem to kind of be stuck where I'm at. I don't know, I mean it will be fun, but it's a much smaller scale then I thought. When it comes to my second Walkabout, I know I will have more opportunities then I have at Ridgeview.
     I'm pretty sure I'm passing my Winterum as well. I really took an intreast in Game Theory. I'm pretty excited for presentation night. Our class plans on teaching how to play the games that we learned how to play. I never really thought there would be so much math as there is in these games.
     Also Hannah and Cady left for their Walkabout. That was pretty sad because they were friends, but I'm also so excited for them. I'm really glad it worked out. I got to see some people that were out on Walkabout during Senior Seminar, and got to catch up with the other seniors. It's cool to hear everyone's experiences and what they are doing. Everyone I've talked to seems to glow about it when they talk about it. It's pretty cool.

Week 1.

      I am starting this blog so everyone can access and see what I'm doing for Walkabout. For those of you don't know exactly what Walkabout is, it's an internship that we have all day for our second semester seniors. This is to help us take on responsibilities of an adult and learn more about our interests. As most of you know I want to be a teacher so my Walkabouts are based on that. My first one is at Ridgeview Middle School, and my second one at Duhlburg. 
      I'm taking a Game Theory as my Winterum this year. We are learning how to play games such as Hold 'em, Black Jack 21, and Craps. We learn the math that goes along with it. I've so far learned how to count the cards in Black Jack and see how many high cards are left in the deck. I learned the percentage of winning a hand in Hold 'em and figure out the probability of getting the cards you need to make your hand better. Right now we are learning Craps. I love my Winterum because I get to learn these things.
     I am also still trying to get a hold of Ridgeview. It seems to be pretty hard to get in contact with them to get my Walkabout set up. It's becoming very stressful and scary to know it's not set in stone yet. I have everything I need finished, just need the meeting with my mentor. I never thought when I was an underclassman that Walkabout would be so scary. I've always been confident in what I do. When everyone let go and I had to start doing everything for myself I saw what I had to do to get everything done. I had to do it alone. I'm pretty proud that I've gotten this far though. I just recently turned 18, so of course I had more things I had to worry about.
     I also took my SAT's, and got my scores back last week. They weren't as high as I hoped so I plan on re-taking them to get a better score. I haven't been to site this week either. I called my site and talked to the secretary and she informed me that they were having an early release and I was already not going to make it due to the weather. I took Today off to head up to Ridgeview, and I can't meet with her until after lunch. So I'm hoping all goes well at my interview today to set up how my time there is going to go.
     I'm excited, but worried at the same time. I'm excited to start being independent and learn how to do things on my own and not depend on my parents to do things for me i can do for myself. I'm hoping to get the most out of this as I can. It's kind of sad to watch everyone leave for Walkabout, but everyone in our class seems to have something pretty cool they are doing and learning. This should be fun.