Relationships Matter (Long) - Page 6

abbalulu · ‎03-20-2012

@lolakimono Thank you for caring about this student who needed your help. I am sending positive thoughts his way. I hope he has a successful college career and maybe some day in the future when he has a job he will remember what you did and reach out a hand to help another student who is struggling financially. I like to think that when we do a good deed it expands and grows.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx

september · ‎03-09-2010

@lolakimono Although as a parent, I've filled out FAFSA, I have no experience with what the parents may have done regarding the lunch program. Perhaps school personnel helped them when this needed to be done?

what I'm saying, is that someone else told them how to fill out the forms, and they just signed their names.

so maybe they'll need a simular amount of guidance with this. not suggesting you need to be that person! You've done so much, already.

just thinking that someone in the guidance department at your school should be involved in this, and I know that in many schools, this doesn't happen.

lolakimono · ‎03-29-2012

@abbalulu

He has been thanking me profusely with each lead on a scholarship, or tidbit that I send. It's good to see the sparkle back in his eye, as a few weeks ago he was looking a bit lost. He wants to be an architect, and so I contacted my Realtor to see if he knew anyone who would serve as a mentor, even if it were only for a job shadow of one day. I heard back right away and I sent him the lady's contact information. I think he might get to meet with her this month. I really don't know much about architecture programs, but I'm learning along with him.

I told him that my first "thank you" will be seeing him graduate in June, and then again in 5 years if he does the 3-2 program. I told him that really I'm just helping him so that he'll come back and rehab my almost 100 year old ~~historical landmark~~ dump of a building that is in desperate need of renovation. He said he would name it for me and I told him just having a structurally sound building that functioned for 21st century learning would be good enough.

Nbo · ‎09-10-2019

@lolakimono Thank You and God Bless you for being so caring.

roeroe1005 · ‎03-13-2010

@lolakimono,

God bless you - for caring, for doing something to help this young man. You are right, some students do not know how to fight for themselves, don't know how to go about it.

My school was very diverse, many came from single homes, a lot of illegals, parents worked 2-3 jobs to support their family. I remember one student, Gina, may have been illegal, both parents worked 2 jobs. Gina was smart as a whip. Her dad refused to let her go to college, even community college. She needed to bring money into the household. Teachers spoke to him, Guidance spoke to him, even my boss, the principal spoke to him. Nope, she needed to work once she graduated.

Maybe this young man has the same issue.

I hope your student is able to go to college to make a better life for him and his family.

You are the best.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@lolakimono I know exactly what you've been through and have coached many students (and parents) through college. You move forward (we're teachers and students are our first love), and remember they're too young to see the full picture. Family issues are the second hurdle.

Just stay with the course, remember you were guided there for a reason.

Mine graduates from Duke with his Masters of Divinity, the first of his nuclear family. I'm so proud and he's my Bone Fish buddy! We check goals and progress every time he's home.

Some times we have to step back and take a breath.

We need to remember, regrettably, in the end it's their choice.

It hurts at times.

jannabelle1 · ‎09-12-2010

Bless you for seeing the potential in this student, and for being such a positive influence for him. Please let us know how this turns out for him.

MarieIG · ‎03-10-2010

@roeroe1005 wrote:
@lolakimono,

God bless you - for caring, for doing something to help this young man. You are right, some students do not know how to fight for themselves, don't know how to go about it.

My school was very diverse, many came from single homes, a lot of illegals, parents worked 2-3 jobs to support their family. I remember one student, Gina, may have been illegal, both parents worked 2 jobs. Gina was smart as a whip. Her dad refused to let her go to college, even community college. She needed to bring money into the household. Teachers spoke to him, Guidance spoke to him, even my boss, the principal spoke to him. Nope, she needed to work once she graduated.

Maybe this young man has the same issue.

I hope your student is able to go to college to make a better life for him and his family.

The family wanting money can be an issue. One of my sons enlisted in the military from high school. He was surprised to learn of the number of other enlisted whom had been encourged by one or both of their parents to enlist - and SEND HOME MONEY. (There was a sheepish phone call from him "Mom, do you need money?" "No, honey, we can manage.")

Certainly, I hope this worthy young man is sucessful in his chosen career.

Do the math.

sceniccoast · ‎03-09-2010

@lolakimono

It's obvious your student has tremendous trust & appreciation for you. I love this part of your "story."

You've are & have been such a good supporter of his dreams & you volunteered to carry it all the way .. to check out college.

He deserves his dreams to come true. I hope all works out for him & for you as well .. to see him be accepted at a college.

Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher .. & being there for him.

lolakimono · ‎03-29-2012

@ECBG

When I taught in middle school, there was a girl with waist long hair who wore long skirts every day. I never talked to her, but I saw her often in the hallways, and she stood out from the other middle schoolers. When I went to my "new" high school, there she was. I greeted her and told her I was surprised to see her there, since it was in a different area of the school system. About three weeks later she was placed in my Spanish class. She is a heritage speaker as well. I am now in my fourth semester with her, and she is friends with my future architect, though she is only a sophomore. Her parents are part of a religious order that forbids pants for females, and she comes from a large family. Her mother recently remarried, and I think she said there are 11 people living in her home.

She brought me her PSAT form to ask a question, and he was there. I answered her question and in front of him, I told her that we needed to get him off to college first, and then it would be her turn. Last week she showed me her phone and pulled up her grades- all As and one B. She is going to be the tough one to get to college- not because she doesn't want to go or lacks the drive, but because I'm sure in her family there are ideas of what young ladies "should" do after graduation. I will have to plant the seed early and often, and hopefully mom or dad will realize that with such a large family it would be good if each child could earn a decent wage.