November 6, 2007
· Filed under Helping Hands
I had a drama teacher in high school that took me aside before graduation and with tear filled eyes but a very strong voice remarked that there was something different about me. He went on to say that this something different was beautiful and it would someday change the world and he would expectantly sit back and wait to see it happen.
Changing the world seemed like a remarkable feat for a teenager, but his words charged me to go into the world and to make a difference. It was as if I was being sent out and others were depending on me to do something meaningful with my life. That moment was highly motivating and made me feel like someone really believed that I had what it took to bring hope to a broken world. I still recall Mr. Smith’s words as a source of empowerment.
At the Homework House our hope is that the students we serve would have several opportunities through our caring staff, tutors and mentors to be encouraged to be and do their best.
Please let us know your story!
-Abigail Gaines
September 27, 2007
· Filed under Safe Places
During some of my most tumultuous adolescent years- when all of life was extreme, when friends were untrustworthy, and when I was still taller than all of the cute boys- a very specific safe place comes to mind. Believe it or not, it was at the top bunk of my bunk bed. Every night my dad would come into my room to talk with me, pray with me, and tuck me in. I would lie there and drone on about life, friends and boys, while he would sit on my black and white beanbag chair and simply just listen. I even remember working myself up into tears several times as I battled the typical low self-esteem of a teenager. And every time I would speak negative thoughts about myself, he would combat them with the wonderful things that he thought about me. At the end of the day- when I still didn’t feel pretty enough, cool enough, or smart enough- I always knew that I was popular with my dad. I can’t think of any safer place.
In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, “Safety” comes second. He determined that an individual can’t even begin to self actualize- contribute to society, achieve goals, feel confident- until they know that they are safe. In my years at the Homework House, I have come to understand firsthand that food and shelter are not what determines a child’s safety. But, why as a society, do we tend to look at the exterior and automatically make assumptions about their internal well-being? How many of our children look like they have it all together and yet lack safe places in their lives. How, then, can we expect them to do well in school, overcome the odds, or believe in themselves? The Homework House is committed to providing a safe place for children in need of one and we realize for some of the children we serve it may be their only safe place. We want to hear from you about who or where your safe places were growing up! Please join us in this discussion!
-Abigail Gaines, Executive Director
