(Not here, but to the kids...let me explain...)
So, I work with 16-24 year-olds, getting them into Job Corps, which is like a college/prison/high school. They all live in dorms (college), but a lot of them are young(young=drama=high school), and they don't get to leave (prison) while they work on their education and learn to do a trade. It's my job to convince people to do this (or in certain cases, convince them not to), do lots of paperwork, and then try to convince them to stay up there. I get paid bonuses (yes, the bonuses...like mentioned in the april fool's blog) based on getting kids to go and getting kids to stay. Most of the money is in making them stay.
I also have been designated as the staff who goes up to one of the centers to do these focus groups. I sit down for an hour with about 10 kids who went up to the center in the last two months and get their opinions on things. I got assigned this priviledged position because of my hard work, sparkling personality, and incredible good looks. (This is a lie. It is because I live within an hour of the closest center. The next closest person is 4 hours away.)
I love the focus groups. I think it's a blast. I chat with these kids that are hardly younger than me and give them loads of candy and we talk about everything. Some of the kids know me because I got them in, and some don't, but all of them are very comfortable with me. They tell me they love going on trips and working out and getting paid to go to school, but they hate the dress code and the drama and all the ways to get write-ups. And then they tell me that they like letters and they want more of them.
My boss demands we contact the students twice a month when they are on center for three months. This is their way of trying to make the students stay. So, I will write a postcard saying "You are doing great! Keep up the good work!" about 30 times twice a month, and maybe I will throw in a piece of candy. Last night the kids told me that want "real, handwritten letters." Crap. What do I write to 30 kids that I have only met for an hour or two? What do I talk about? Just ask them how life is? Tell them about my life? Holy Hannah! This is going to take forever!
I love the kids, so of course I will oblige. I seriously have no idea though. Do I write about ketchup cakes and tell stupid jokes and fill up the page and time that way? Or do I really write something? Double crap!........Well, hm. Better get to writing and staring at the wall.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Have you thought of starting up a pen pal program for them? I don't know if that would work to help them fulfill their needs, but it may be fun, for someone?
Also, what you could talk to them about doing to increase their mail-intake is to tell them to increase their mail-output... They could even write penpal letters to some of the soldiers overseas or something - which would alleviate some of your letter writing requests?
Just a thought...
And definitely should write to them about ketchup cakes!
And since the job corps is a nation wide type of thing - maybe y'all could start a letter-writing exchange between various "camps"?? That way they have someone else to commiserate with about the drama - and it would instill a sense of belonging, and fill their need for handwritten letters? Just a thought on a thought. Could be way out of orbit for what you are doing, but that's how you can increase their mail without increasing your writing cramp!
Brilliant! I will see what we can do!
Post a Comment