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Writing as therapy
Topics: Volunteering, mentoring, juvenile hall, writing, therapy, rehabilitation
Posted by citizenjournalist Wed Aug 8, 2007 12:02:12 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments On a recent Monday evening, kids in a drug rehabilitation program at Juvenile Hall were afforded a rare treat. Jennifer Baldwin, Contributions editor for the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, dropped in to speak about journalism.

Avenues to Change is a 32-week, in-custody program for adolescents who have been court ordered for criminal offenses and have histories of substance abuse problems. Through mental health counseling, program activities, school and positive peer and staff relations, the wards will hopefully be able to reintegrate into their communities after their release.

Jennifer Baldwin was a participant in a volunteer program called the Monday Night Mentors. The mentor team recruits role models from the community to speak to the wards about things that may interest them, from  job or educational opportunities to inspirational encouragement. Jennifer’s talk about her job at the newspaper and the requirements to be a journalist was most interesting to the kids because they already kept journals at part of their program.

Jennifer told them that anyone who puts their thoughts down on paper was a writer. She read an eloquent story from a contributor to illustrate how regular people can be as skilled at telling a story as someone who writes for a living. Then she read a letter from a woman who submitted her story to Your Words about growing up in the '40s and her ideas about the youth of that time. Jennifer invited the kids to write down their thoughts about that letter and read them to the rest of the group. Their responses were very thought provoking.

It was a great evening and a wonderful experience for the kids.

— Sarah Webb

Here are the stories written by the teens:

I think everything that you said was very good and I have respect for how things ran back then. I think things changed because of how much techniques have changed. Things got easier so more people started to lay off of being so strict. Also I think if parents would discipline their children more, maybe kids would not get in as much trouble as they are now.
— Anonymous


I understand exactly where you are coming from, yet, I disagree. In today’s modern society, with the rapidly increasing cost of living, it is almost always necessary for both parents to be off at work to support their families. You are totally right though; if parents were more involved with their children, there wouldn’t be so much juvenile delinquency. I grew up in a single parent family. It was just my mom, little brother, and me, and mom had to go to work. I was in day care after school, and on my own a lot, caring for my brother. She is a wonderful mother and she had no choice but to go to work. Now, at 17 years old, I am sitting here in juvenile hall. I know from personal experience that parent involvement is a very important factor in child/adolescent development.
— Olivia, Bakersfield


Now days, I think we should help our parents because they work to hard to put a roof over our heads. I think kids should work not just for their parents, but for themselves also. So they could be responsible for what they do. My parents raised me. They were really strict, but when I turned the age of 14 I just started doing whatever I wanted to do. Then I got into the wrong people and started doing drugs, and then I just did not care what I’ve done to my family and they could not even get me to come home. I would stay away from home for weeks at a time. So I think drugs are really powerful. I’m glad I came to A.T.C.
— Carissa


I disagree with what you said about there was no kids using drugs, alcohol, and gangs. There has always been drugs and gangs. But back when you were a kid parents were more strict and the law had more control over the people. Also times were harder and kids had more responsibility. I feel kids these days are more rebellious and parents are more lenient.

My feeling towards your opinion is that not all people are the same and you shouldn’t categorize people. There were lazy people in your day and if you used drugs back in the time you are talking about, you were more ashamed and you probably were looked down on more.

Drugs were worse back then and not very many people used them so they seemed like a really bad thing to do. (They are really bad.) Drugs were probably not as strong as they are now. I think drugs are starting to do more damage to people and putting people in the gutter quicker.
— Nathan


I think she had a reason to not get into any of the drugs and gangs because in her time she had to worry more about working and staying alive. Probably, during her time it was more of a depression time, it was a shame if you got arrested or was into the drugs. In her area there probably wasn’t any of those bad things. She didn’t have any time to think about trying any drugs.
— Victor


I felt her opinion was good because she was able to stay away from the alcohol and drugs. Also she was a hard worker and she stayed out of trouble by working. And I could also stay alcohol free and drug free by keeping busy and working hard.
— Cody


— In my opinion I think Betty does have a reason to say that kids now a days get in more trouble with alcohol and drugs. Because in the area she was in people didn’t use alcohol and drugs or at least she didn’t want to believe so. But I also think that she doesn’t really have the right to classify all juveniles as parties and drug users. We are not all the same and even if we do use it doesn't mean that we are bad people and that we can’t make it out there. She might also say that now a days we use more drugs could be because they weren’t as popular then, as they are now.
Robert


When I was growing up I lived in the middle of nowhere. We also had no running water and no bathrooms. I hated having to take out “the bucket.” My mom, my sister, aunt and uncle and me all lived in a big log cabin. We would always play in snow and have lots of fun with each other. After a while of having good old days my uncle passed away and times got hard. My sister was only like 11 years old and got into drugs. I always said “I will never turn out like Dianna.” But no matter how good my childhood years were I still got into drugs and gangs and also ditching school and running from my problems. I have been into about nine programs including about six group homes and nothing has changed my way of thinking.

Now that I have been in A.T.C. and have learned ways to get through my problems with others and not on my own I have learned the world doesn’t revolve around me! My whole family and good friends have been hurt by my mistakes and now I want and need to make a change in my life.

In this program I have met the best counselor ever who has taught me many things. I have picked up lots of tools to use and work with when I hit the double doors.
I just want to let you know that if it wasn’t for programs like this I would never have wanted to change my life.
— Kathleen B.


Back then parents would work in the fields. They would take their kids to work with them so they can help. So kids had responsibilities. The family would get together and money to was a problem. It was never enough. Now days kids wouldn’t care. They would go out party, do drugs whatever they can do. Some wouldn’t even be home with their parents and a lot of gangs broke out. Like where I lived I seen a lot of fights. Parents fighting over their son knowing they were involved. And a lot of drugs being sold. People getting killed for being on the wrong side. Half my family was in it. It brought us a lot of trouble. snap! happens. Only if some people had good lives and a good education they would be something and have things in their life.
— Cheyenne


Kids back in the day worked hard and had responsibilities. They ate dinner with their parents but now these days kids aren’t like that. We go out and do what we feel like. It’s not right no but that’s how some people are these days. To go see a movie today is usually $8 or up for adults. I’m pretty sure it was a lot cheaper then. A soda pop is $1.50. I agree that families in 1940 stuck together more and done things together as a family. They seem to have got a long a lot better then most families today. Most teenagers go off, don’t come home, use drugs. Families today aren’t as civilized. My parents try hard to keep the family a family and do activities but I never got involved. I wish my life was more like yours, that I wasn’t a trouble maker and I stayed together with my family. Things are different now. There are a lot of single moms because their husband either go to prison or leave them.
— Eden


Now a days the world is very different from what it use to be. More people are very selfish and violent. People tend to be more out spoken some are responsible others are very irresponsible. I was very irresponsible person because I chose to do drugs and be out doing very bad things acting like I was 18 and sometimes I would act like I was 21 old enough to drink and disobeying my parents was very cool for me back then just because I never got attention from neither my parents. I thought they didn’t care about me because they were never around to say I love you or talk to me about what’s right and wrong. I grew up with four brothers and four sisters and two other siblings I don’t even know how they look like, I just know there somewhere out there. But now that I’m in here it’s help me be more understanding about my life and how no one can make a difference in my life but me. I now understand that even though I been threw the worst things in life I need to keep my head up and try to make the best of it. I wish everything could be like how it was in the 1940s because back then it was very peaceful and more respectful. I bet that if each and everyone of us made an effort to change their lives the world would be a much better place for everyone to feel safe.
— Esmeralda


My name is Britteny. I’m 17 years old and these days is hard being a kid. Theres gangs, racial act, juvenile halls and sometimes we just grow up to fast. Back in your day there weren’t that many things to do. Your parents were around. Now these day we grow up around drugs, gangs, racism, and crimes. Sometimes its hard to get out of those things because you get to used to them. Or we grow up thinking its okay. I know me growing up I was around gang, drugs and crimes. So I got involved. I never had bother my parents just a mother. We had good schools but the people that went there didn’t care what you felt.

Children do keep very busy by doing drugs or gang crimes and later in life they’ll learn its not worth it. But some people need to learn how to accept people for who they are and get them on the right tract and let them express there feelings about their lives.
— Britteny

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