Little Kids -_- : Ice Cream Day

When I was little, I loved fun days when we got to get all hyped up on sugar and run around. It was fun and I couldn't wait until the next fun day. I actually questioned why we couldn't have fun days everyday. I recently got my answer.

We wanted to give the kids an ice cream party so we got all the scoopers, the cups, toppings, napkins, spoons, and ice cream and laid everything out. I pre-scooped the more popular flavors into cups so that when the kids came I could give them their cup and move on to the next child. This system worked quite well for the first child. The second child tells me she wants mixed ice cream so I hand her a napoleon (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry) and she bursts into tears. I ask her what's wrong and she tells me "it's not mixed right." I tell her to let me help the four other kids behind her and then I'll come back. The other kids take their ice cream with no complaints. I come back to help the crying girl. I ask her if she wants a different one and she says "I want chocolate." I give her chocolate and keep moving. We get through kindergarten through 3rd grade when the ice cream tubs have to be replaced. I take the empty ones and have to maneuver my way through a crowd of excited kids to swap out tubs. The ice cream is frozen rock solid so we have to get hot water to warm the scoopers to scoop the ice cream. The line of kids is endless and becoming more demanding. One kid demanded cookies and cream ice cream, several kids cut the line in an attempt to get seconds, and on top of that, we were running out of ice cream. After rationing ice cream and giving extra toppings, we managed to feed all the kids. After the last kid sat down, I felt like I just completed a 5k. I have never been so happy to clean up in my life.

It was a lot of hard work and a little chaotic, but in the end, I felt closer to the staff and I felt like a better person. Watching the kids laugh and smile while I worked was just so fulfilling. I still can't wait until the next fun day :)

P.S. Thank you so much for reading, commenting on, and sharing my blog posts. I really appreciate it and it really makes me feel good ^_^

Let's Talk About Feelings (._.)

Hi everyone!

This post is going to be about feelings and how to handle them because this last week I have gone through a rollercoaster of emotions. Mind you, I'm typically a very happy person so for my feeling is to deviate in any sort of way is mildly alarming. I started off the week in a contended mood which transformed to sadness and anger when I found out an awful secret. As the week went on, I felt really sad and more so, depressed because I had to suppress my feelings as to not disturb the peace. By Wednesday night, I was crying because I cannot hold in all these unexpressed feelings and unspoken words. It just gets too heavy sometimes. Thursday I had a scholarship interview so I worked really hard to avoid the people involved in the terrible secret, but even they walked into my quiet space. I immediately left knowing that I don't actually have to be anywhere and I don't have to endure discomfort to make someone else comfortable. I went to my interview with confidence and I was already emotionally exhausted so I didn't have the energy to be nervous. Friday I had the day to be quiet and really feel my feelings so by Saturday I was able to articulate how I felt to one of my friends. Talking to him really made the situation better and easier to process. I found out that I made it scholarship semi-finals and now I'm on my way back to emotional homeostasis.

Me last Wednesday night

 Analyze

The first thing I do when I'm feeling stressed or upset is analyze why and check on however else was involved.

  Creative Outlet

I also write poetry when I'm sad or in the middle of crying because I know that beautiful things can be created out of the ugliest feelings; the emotion is raw when I cry so its easier to describe the pain and find the words when I'm in such a distressed state of mind.

   Avoid (do not recommend)

I occasionally use the isolationist technique to avoid the person(s) making me upset, but it's a small world so I'll run into them sooner or later.

  Talk about it (strongly encouraged)

The best thing to do when I'm upset is to talk to the person(s) involved and tell them via phone  call or in person what has been done to upset me or if no one has done anything and I'm just feeling stressed about inevitable things like change, I talk to my friends so that the conversation makes my 'problems' seem a little bit smaller.

P.S. Thank you for reading, commenting on, and sharing my blog posts. I really appreciate it :) The thought of all the international support makes tough days easier <3

Leadership in a Posse?

Hi everyone!

I am going through a very interesting interview process with the Posse Foundation. I expected to go in and review my resumè  with a volunteer. Nope. I put a number on and go into a room with 75 other scholarship hopefuls. Everyone is mingling and I'm interested to see how the foundation leads the process. They have us all work in groups with and do interesting motions like walking in a certain way.  The only hint they give us is that they wanted to see leadership.

Leadership?
What does that mean? Is that code for try to stand out in a room of 75 other amazing kids?
I really question what they meant by show leadership because there a different kinds of leadership. Most times, people assume that the leader is the loudest one telling everyone what to do. If the group is that of more quiet individuals, it may indeed seem that way, but I disagree. In the event that its a group of loud people, nothing would get done because everyone is trying to tell everyone else what to do. I believe that some of the most powerful leaders understand that listening is can be a better strategy than giving blind instructions. Additionally, I think that a good leader should want to help grow other leaders so letting others lead sometimes is a better sign of a quality leader.