Tough days

In our job, tough days take different forms. There's the terribly stressful and emotionally draining days when you encounter something like abuse, self-harm, or suicide. There are the tiring days that are full of meetings where you have to make your case and have to be sure to know your stuff. And then there are the days when you just feel terribly ineffective.

Today was the third kind of day. I have two kind of secret "favorite" kids this year. Two special cases, if you will. Number one is just a really really good kid who I'm worried about because he's started to miss classes and fail everything. He's really really likable, though, which is another reason why he's a special case. I think there are learning difficulties that are leading him to want to avoid class. Today he lied and told his teacher he had been down to see me when he was really just skipping class. Right now I'm doing everything I can to get as much information as I can to figure out how to help. I just wonder if he realizes how much people there care about him and his future.

The second is another special one. He stood me up today. First he came down during a class, and I sent him back to class because we had a scheduled meeting during his study hall. He ended up skipping out of school early.

UGH. I feel like I have great relationships with these two, too, which makes it even harder to handle when things don't go well.

Next week's a new week, though. The good thing about our jobs, though, is that we can have some a strong positive impact. It's hard to remember that sometimes we can only do so much. After that, it's up to them. The hardest part is to not take it personally.

Thank God for great friends

The song Box of Stones is one of those songs that takes me back to a moment. It's actually really special, in that it takes me back to more than just one single moment. It takes me back to a feeling--the feeling I had all of last summer. The feeling of being so grateful and so happy to be alive and young and to be living a life that I always dreamed of living, and yet even surpassed what I was dreaming of. Random, I know, but sometimes I just have to get my thoughts down.

Tonight was a Superbowl party at Erin's house. A ton of my favorite people were there and we had a great time. I definitely didn't take it for granted. My first year here I didn't really know anyone. My second year, Carlos invited me to his place to watch it, which I did and had a really good time. But I really only knew him and Rene at that point. And then this year, there were nearly 20 people and I knew almost everyone there! Life has a wonderful way of working out.

This was a really fun weekend. Volleyball awesomeness Friday and then fun out with Justin and Christine Saturday night for a birthday party. Back to the grind tomorrow but more awesomeness is always on the way!