Monday, May 24, 2010
9:26 PM | 
Posted by
tiiist
Indiana, Indiana, Indiana. This place is interesting to say the least. Over the past couple of weeks, I've learned a ton about myself and other people. Everyday, I get to meet some really awesome people as well as some really not-so-awesome people. I knew going into this internship, it was going to be tough because they told me so. I work 80 hours a week, and it gets tiring. I'm by myself for 13 to 14 hours of the day; just me and Loretta, my car. However, it's not the worst thing in the world because I'm learning a lot about everything. I really suffered from culture shock my first week on the job because I ran into so many parents who couldn't care less about their child's education and future. It's really sad seeing a kid that wants to learn and be educated being raised by parents who don't give a shit. Seeing families like these have really turned this internship into something personal; I've been fortunate to receive a great education through 21 years of my life, but I never really understood how important it really was until this job.
For those of you who don't know what I'm doing, I'm going around, basically soliciting, and showing families educational programs that really help kids get interested and involved with schoolwork. A lot of people ask me why I'm doing this because it sounds like it has nothing to do with my major, which is business management. I'm an independent contractor so I make my own hours and get paid commission, so the amount of money I make depends on how hard I work; the more money I want, the more hours I feel I should work. So all in all, it's my own business.
Anyways, back to what I've learned. I've learned a ton about myself; 13 to 14 hours by yourself gives you a lot of time to think. I've been able to maintain a sense of positivity while doing this job, but sometimes, it's really hard; people shut doors on you, throw obscene gestures/cuss at you, tell you to get an honest job, ignore you, and reject you. I miss my family, my girlfriend, and my friends back at home and sometimes I ask myself, "What the hell am I doing here?" I work these crazy rural areas where houses are miles apart, and I just drive and drive and drive until I'm satisfied with my day's work. I've realized that it's not all about me anymore. There are hundreds if not thousands of kids in my county of Steuben that are just waiting for a chance at a better life, and all they really need is that extra push and someone who believes in them. Towards the end of my first week, I really started getting the sense that this job wasn't all about me, and in order to get my mind off all this loneliness and homesickness, I needed to find something to get passionate about, and then BOOM. I explain to one dad what I was doing, his kid was excited about everything I was showing him, and then he just bluntly tells me, "My son don't need shit like this. What is a kid from around here gunna do with education? Don't waste my time and get out." And then his son started crying.
That day just really hit me, and it hit me hard. What kind of parent doesn't want the best for their kids? It's a shame, really. So over the course of the summer, I really hope to create a foundation of passion to keep me going through the days.
Indiana is pretty plain. There are a ton of corn fields, flat roads, farms, hillbillies and Amish. Everything is super slow around where I am, but for the most part, people are really nice, and I'm thankful for that. It's really nice running into families who are willing to take 5 to 10 minutes out of their day and just talk. I've had families feed me which is awesome. I've had parents get really personal with me and kind of tell me a lot more than I've ever wanted to know about strangers, but I guess it's a lot easier to tell a stranger than someone you know.
As hard, tiring, lonely this experience is, I know there are people out there who have way tougher times than me, so I try not to think about too much. I miss home a lot though; hopefully these next two months will fly by because I'm already looking forward to August.
For those of you who don't know what I'm doing, I'm going around, basically soliciting, and showing families educational programs that really help kids get interested and involved with schoolwork. A lot of people ask me why I'm doing this because it sounds like it has nothing to do with my major, which is business management. I'm an independent contractor so I make my own hours and get paid commission, so the amount of money I make depends on how hard I work; the more money I want, the more hours I feel I should work. So all in all, it's my own business.
Anyways, back to what I've learned. I've learned a ton about myself; 13 to 14 hours by yourself gives you a lot of time to think. I've been able to maintain a sense of positivity while doing this job, but sometimes, it's really hard; people shut doors on you, throw obscene gestures/cuss at you, tell you to get an honest job, ignore you, and reject you. I miss my family, my girlfriend, and my friends back at home and sometimes I ask myself, "What the hell am I doing here?" I work these crazy rural areas where houses are miles apart, and I just drive and drive and drive until I'm satisfied with my day's work. I've realized that it's not all about me anymore. There are hundreds if not thousands of kids in my county of Steuben that are just waiting for a chance at a better life, and all they really need is that extra push and someone who believes in them. Towards the end of my first week, I really started getting the sense that this job wasn't all about me, and in order to get my mind off all this loneliness and homesickness, I needed to find something to get passionate about, and then BOOM. I explain to one dad what I was doing, his kid was excited about everything I was showing him, and then he just bluntly tells me, "My son don't need shit like this. What is a kid from around here gunna do with education? Don't waste my time and get out." And then his son started crying.
That day just really hit me, and it hit me hard. What kind of parent doesn't want the best for their kids? It's a shame, really. So over the course of the summer, I really hope to create a foundation of passion to keep me going through the days.
Indiana is pretty plain. There are a ton of corn fields, flat roads, farms, hillbillies and Amish. Everything is super slow around where I am, but for the most part, people are really nice, and I'm thankful for that. It's really nice running into families who are willing to take 5 to 10 minutes out of their day and just talk. I've had families feed me which is awesome. I've had parents get really personal with me and kind of tell me a lot more than I've ever wanted to know about strangers, but I guess it's a lot easier to tell a stranger than someone you know.
As hard, tiring, lonely this experience is, I know there are people out there who have way tougher times than me, so I try not to think about too much. I miss home a lot though; hopefully these next two months will fly by because I'm already looking forward to August.
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