Halloweeeeeeen

Halloween in NYC is not for kids. If you are my parents stop reading now. For those of you that know I'm a big girl, keep reading.

I found out last week that Halloween is a major gang initiation day in many parts of Brooklyn and East New York, including the area I work in at the high school in Cypress Hills. This could mean many things, but basically it's chaos. On the friendly side kids are egging houses, but gang initiation could mean many more awful, scary, and dangerous things as well. Many kids skip school that day, or walk in groups to avoid getting caught up in something dangerous. Most born and raised New Yorkers that I've talked to are used to it. They know which areas of the city to avoid and just stay in on Halloween.

The pressure kids face these days is tremendous. Especially those that do not have a solid, loving family or community to turn to, they may see gangs as just that. Which for me, goes to show that everyone needs to feel accepted, needs to feel loved, needs to feel wanted. If only we can get to them before Halloween.

As cheesy as this may seem, it really is trick or treat. I've always been a sweets girl myself. Happy Halloween!

p.s. Now, this is the stuff Halloween should be made of. Am I right, or am I right.

Cypress Hills

My internship for my first year as an MSW student is with the Mayor's Taskforce on Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy. Sounds powerful, doesn't it? It's actually a HUGE job. The goal is to put Success Mentors (that's me!) in the schools to mentor truant students, hopefully to raise their attendance and help them graduate on time. I'll be working with 15 students, running groups, having individual counseling sessions, and trying to motivate them to come to school EVERY DAY, as well as involve the parents however possible.


This is the school I'm at. It's huge. There are 5 high schools in this one building. Crazy, huh?! Every floor of the school is a different high school. Separate administration, separate mascot, separate teachers, etc. High school in NYC is so weird.

At Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep high school (floor 4), there are 433 students in grades 9-12 and the majority of the population is hispanic. It's way out in Queens, a very low social economic, Latino neighborhood. Their graduation rate is in the bottom 8% of all NYC schools. Last year, Cypress Hills got an F in their progress report overview. This year, they have moved their grade up to a D. Meaning, this is a terrible school. I have my work cut out for me.

But, as a social worker you learn that there is always something going on to motivate the behavior. For truant kids, this is definitely the case, I just have to find out what that something is. For Viviana, she had a baby last year. For Aaron, his commute on the train takes him an hour (school buses in NYC don't exist, it's public transportation for everyone). For Arlene, she works full time after school and is exhausted in the morning. These aren't bad kids. They are kids living with the stress and responsibility of adults. They need someone to care less about their truant behavior and more about them. So, I care. We'll see if it makes a difference, I'm hoping it will.

First Snow Fall

It's October 29th and we are experiencing the first snow fall in New York. I must say, New Yorkers do not handle the snow well. People get crazy. Me, I feel right at home. In fact, I'm going to make some stew!

Only in New York

Many times throughout my week I see random things happening and find myself saying, "Only in New York." Meaning, I see some weird stuff. It's all part of the mystery, beauty, and charm of this crazy city.


Live ballerina statue. Pretty, yes?


One of my favs. This piano guy in Washington Square Park is amazing. In between classes I'll pop out to the park for a listen to the pianist on the green bucket.


Superhero store with a youth tutoring center hidden behind the store front. You can try on superhero capes and buy muscle in a can. Silly and social work all wrapped in one. Genius.


But, nothing I've seen has come close to this. Oh, home, how I miss you.

Nerd Alert

Washington Square North, 1. The Silver School of Social Work, my school. I love it. I think I was made to be a social worker. If you aren't sure what that means, go here.

Here's the gist:
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well­being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

I think that is what Jesus meant when he said to serve the least of these, to love people as I love you. That is my mission, and always be.



p.s. Midterm #1=done! Man, this back to school stuff is work.

14 Butler Place

This is mi casa. Compared to my sweet little place on Grand Ave in Minneapolis it's about 1000 less square feet, three times the price, and shared with two others. But, boy is it ever exciting to walk home to my very own apartment in New York City. Just minutes away from the best food, best art, best people watching, and possibly a celebrity sighting (although I have yet to encounter the famous). But, hey, I live in Brooklyn, and I have a closet. Yes, this is my home.

Ferry ride...to my new home