Reflection.

Before I really knew how this so called "Capstone project" could ever put an effect on the way I would look at certain aspects, i really just thought that it was another hassle to take on as far as senior year projects. This experience ended up being actually one that I didnt mind doing and really enjoyed. When being told that we had to find a mentor that took on a job that fit the standard requirements for the capstone project but also something that was at interest in what I wanted to be/do in life, I instantly came across to homeless youth counseling and outreach program. Through out my years of living in San Francisco Ive always noticed the significant amount of the homeless head count in general as far as homeless people living out on the streets. Ive also noticed how normal it has become for us to see those homeless people now a days & how we tend to walk past them like its a normal thing to see. Though homelessness has always been a problem even in earlier times, it has only gotten worse and the fact that small organizations such as "At The Crossroads" take initiative in noticing these people that are in need of help, I enjoy surrounding myself around positive & on the rise movements. At The Crossroads is a non profit organization that tries to touch base with getting to know these homeless people within certain areas in the city and take them under there wing in joining there organization as the clients. At the crossroads is able to help them slowly but surely take steps in the right direction for bettering there future. Though it is a youth program, the age requirements do go from as young as 16 all the way up to the age of 35. At the crossroads is an excellent organization because they work as a strong minded team to help others, but you also learn new things from this job from the counselors perspective also. I liked the fact that these counselors were never stuck in an office 8 hours a day, but they switch off with many tasks and duties to keep them active and busy. While some days they would be doing computer and filing work, other days were spent walking the city trying to gain clients, meeting with clients, or running certain errands for there counseling team.

By doing the phyical "go out and experience it hands on" part of the project it taught me patience. Patience because your dealing with many different types of people that have different kinds of needs; no one is the same so it teaches you to interact well with your clients and to listen. When my mentor would not say a word but just listen to her clients and what they had to say, it seemed to give them comfort or make them feel important and more connected with my mentor because of the simple fact that she would hear what they had to say. The physical project also taught me to communicate. Being able to communicate with others is something that will actually come in handy for jobs like these because you will know how to talk to others without making them or yourself feel out of place. Now as far as writing my paper on the Reaganomics era, it ties in with homelessness through the causes and effects of Reagans changes during his presidency. Such changes Reagan had decided to make such as cutting back on medicare, taking away mental health care facilities, and limiting section 8 housing programs ended up leaving many homeless or sick on the streets without a place to go. Now though those changes were made during the 1980's, within time no one has taken the time to try and fix this growing problem which has lead us up to where we stand as far as the homelessness percentages in todays society. The paper gives insight on past errors that were made which has lead us up to where the situation stands today, while my physical project gave me hands on experience of organizations today that are trying to make a statement that this subject on homelessness is a problem and what we can do as far as trying to fix it.

Some successes i have gotten out of this project would be coming out of my comfort zone. The staff that works for At The Crossroads are like a family, they support eachother and look out for one another at all times. They also have many events where you have to continuously introduce yourself and participate in many different activities that work on your speaking and interacting skills. Another success I would say At The Crossroads has helped me achieve was to look at things and people with an open mind. When you don't judge others off of appearance you tend to be more outgoing and friendly towards others. They taught me that you really do not know what others may be going through and vise versa. To be able to treat others the way you want to be treated no matter how rich or poor that person may be shows character. They showed me that people are people, dis-reguarding the title or position they might uphold. I enjoyed every minute with my mentor because she always had fun and exciting things on her agenda. This experience was one to remember and I definatley would like to continue volunteering for other organizations similar to At The Crossroads. Though I did find myself discoverving many successful things within this project there were also a couple of challeneges that came along with it. The whole transportation situation was a hassle as for not always having the money to catch bart to the city and back or transportation timing of it becoming to late for my parents to let me leave. One other difficulty I had through out the project was scheduling dates and times with my mentor. At times when I was usually available (4pm-8pm) was also when she would be out on the street physically doing outreach with other counselors and I was not allowd to follow due to safety regulations. I don't have any complaints about this because the challenges were very minor. Overall I enjoyed every minute spent with my mentor and in the near future I can really see myself persuing a job like this that woulnt benefit just me, but also would give me the satisfaction of knowing It would benefit others in our community. There wasn't a dull moment while working with my mentor and her staff and now I do beleieve when people quote "when finding a job you love, you won't have to work a day in your life".

Hours for 05/07/13

Running time: 3 Total hours: 26

Done! Yesterday I met up with my mentor for the last time on 16th and mission to discuss the progress I've made within time. She took me out to lunch where I also recieved a small gift package courtesy of the "At The Crossroads" organization. We ended up doing our last walk around route where I actually got to meet one of her youngest clients and got to hear the lients story. This experience has been unbeleievable for me as to now i look at things in a very different perspective. I enjoyed every minute of meeting with my mentor because it gave me a chance to get out of the house and experience new tasks and challenges to take on. I plan on joining the summer volunteer program which starts in mid July because this particular job has definately caught my interest as keeping this as an option when choosing a carreer.

Total hours completed.

Hours for 05/02/13

Running hours: 4 Hours Total Hours: 23

Yesterday I met up with my mentor on 16th and mission to attend a small event/gathering strictly for the clients who have stayed committed to the At The Crossroads organization for over the past five years. They were all given the choice of recieving $25 dollar giftcards to either Hollister, The Gap, Old Navy, or Target as well as a free meal of there choice from local resturaunts near the mission district. Those giftcards are only some of the sponsors for At The Crossroads as to helping them provide for there clients. Though the event started at 3pm I was present at 2pm in order to help them set up and stayed until 6 to help them clean when the event ended. I enjoyed this experience because I got to meet a few of my mentors clients and they were very open as to how they got into the position and how At The Crossroads helped them get through it all.

In reguards to 04/27/13

Running Hours: 4 hours Total hours: 19 hours

On Saturday April 27th, I met up with my mentor for a youth head count walk around in the Bay View district. Though this activity was supervised by the At The Crossroads staff, it was up to us younger youth to do the walk and get an estimated count of who we thought were living in the streets. This helped us to understand more about how we saw things because what one teenager would think the ideal visual of a homeless would be, others did not. This taught us team work at the same time of also being aware of our surroundings. This activity was a experience that I enjoyed because I met many different youth members with the same interest as me as far as reaching out to other less fortunate youth members in any way possible. This activity ran from 1 pm-5 pm with minor breaks in between. We later had a BBQ  thrown by the At The Crossroads staff thanking us for being apart of this experience.

Hours for 03/23/13

Running hours: 4 hours Total Hours: 15 hours

Today I've met with my mentor. We basically went over the rules and regulations that she must follow when she is out on the street trying to hand out items for her clients or in the office having a meeting with the client. Their work is very confidential and they must keep it that way so I was not able to physically go into the meeting but she did go over the basics as to what the clients goals, wants, and needs are, and how she can try to work with her co-workers to try and help them. After her meetings, she showed me where she takes her clients when they need clothes and how much they are able to take depending on if they come as a single or with children. I spent a total of 4 hours (2pm-6pm) helping her re stock new items that have just came in and also prepare more snack bags that she carries out into the city and hands to clients.

Hours for 03/21/13

Running hours: 4 Total hours: 11

Lastnight Thursday, March 21st I did a total of four more hours for the capstone project and am on my way to getting the rest ASAP. Yesterday in the office at her work my mentor, one of her co workers and I put together bags full of goodies and basic cleaning materials that they hand out to their clients on certain days. Inside the bag was basic hygene tools such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, and other requested items they may have asked for, along with food. Those bags are given out twice a week and I enjoyed making them because you just wouldn't full on know how far a simple gesture can go or actually seeing how something so small can be such an impact on people who don"t have those simple items. They make at least fifty of these bags to take out on the streets with them. They split the deck of goodies and pile them all in a bright orange backpack. The bright colored backpack serves as the outreach counselors identifier of not only how all of there youth clients know them by but also helps the other counselors keep sight of eachothers backs when walking the mission which i actually find quite unique and smart.

Update for 03/12/13

Running hours: 7 Total Hours:7

Due to continuous off scheduling I have not been able to gain more hours with my mentor. I have been keeping her updated on my project and we are working on getting in more time this weekend on Sunday if everything goes as planned. This weekend I will meet with her and discuss general information needed and also so she can help answer my questions so I will have more knowledge of this non profit organization's work and duties. Though phoning my mentor was eaier at the begininng of the whole mentoring process, we now keep in touch strictly through email because it seems to be a faster way for both of us to get a hold of eachother. Ive also learned that because my mentor does alot of her work outside of the office, she constantly keeps up with her work email through her phone. I will continue to keep my blog updated .