Day One

I have been lucky enough to always seem to find a way to surround myself with people who want me to succeed. My parents, then my friends, and now employers. One in particular suggested very strongly that I keep a journal as I start my new adventure as a summer intern in Memphis at a non-profit called Youth Villages. So I am taking her advice to heart and keeping track of my next ten weeks here.

Let me start by saying that Youth Villages is a nationwide organization that facilitates residential treatments, foster care, adoption, mentoring, and crisis services for behaviorally and emotionally troubled children. Their number one goal is to help children and families live successfully. They are listed as a top 50 nonprofit to work for in the United States and their success rate is double that of the national average. And let me say, I am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing organization. I learned in orientation today that over 600 people applied for this position and they pick 65 interns ranging from here in Memphis to Washington State. So needless to say along with the initial excitement of being one of the chosen few, I also knew that the adolescents I was going to be working with were all place in this facility for a reason and it was going to be a challenging summer. 

I got here Saturday, and with the help of my amazing boyfriend, I was moved into the less than glamorous apartments on the Christian Brothers University campus in no time. We of course explored Beale Street Saturday night and then spent the day at the Memphis Zoo on Sunday. Then it came time for him to leave and with no other distractions until Tuesday, the anxiety and fear started to set in. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know what age group I would be working with and I wasn't even sure if I would be placed with the boys or the girls. So I fell asleep Monday night full of anticipation. 

Day One:

I woke up bright and early ready to get some information about my summer adventure. Each person was assigned a placement at either a group home (level two security) , a residential treatment center (level three security), or the boys or girls center (level four security). I had been assigned to the BCIRT or Boy's Center for Intensive Residential Treatment, which happens to be a lock down and secure facility. So again my nerves start to make my stomach turn as I imagine behaviorally challenged teenage boys  meeting the new summer staff. (They call us summer staff instead of interns so that the kids respect us more.)

Anticipation Builds

The morning dragged on with the typical tax forms and privacy paperwork. Finally at lunch we got some real information. The supervisors over each of our facilities came to eat with us and answer any initial question we might have. Of course my group, which consists of five girls, including myself, and one guy, had a lot of questions. We were all concerned with our safety obviously and we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We were mostly warned about getting spit on or bitten, which isn't any fun but after picturing getting physically assaulted by a 17 year old, it wasn't so bad. We were also informed over lunch that the BCIRT is divided into four courtyards. Courtyard one containing lower functioning 12-17 year olds. Courtyard two has more normal functioning 12-17 year olds. Courtyard three has the little boys, 8-12 years old, and courtyard four houses the older 15-20 year olds. I was assigned with one other summer staffer to courtyard one.

Level Four

At three o'clock we left orientation to travel to our respective campuses and observe for a few hours. We arrived at a single level brick building and immediately had to fill out more paperwork that allowed us to have keycards in order to move throughout the building. After all, it is a level four security facility and these boys will take any opportunity they can to get out. We walked briefly through each of the courtyards, but lingered in courtyard three where the cute little 8 year olds where in the midst of cussing each other out. After touring our facility, which to me seemed like a small step down from juvenile detention, our supervisor left us in the hands of the individual Program Coordinators for each courtyard. My coworker and I entered a dimly lit room to have a chat with our Program Coordinator before we entered into the courtyard with the boys. He sat us both down and very calmly informed us that the boys on that courtyard were mostly there because they are sexually aggressive. He in particular gave us the names of three young men to watch out for. He started listing things to look out for like boys standing behind you or boys trying to sneak into the showers or boys trying to get personal information out of you so that they can find you when they are discharged from the program. It was a plethora of information and I was at the very least intimidated by it all. But after he finished his speech and asked us if we had any questions, we timidly walked into the courtyard where the boys were having anger management class.

Observations

We sat watching for the remainder of the class and as soon as it was over we had boys coming up to us to ask us questions and of course wanting to shake our hands and be near us. Luckily they don't have a lot of unstructured time to just chit chat and snack was promptly given out which occupied the guys enough to steer them away from us. Afterwards they played kickball and then marched, and I mean marched, to dinner. Finally six o'clock rolled around and I was ready to get back onto CBU's campus and hear about everyone else's first impressions. My first impression: What have I gotten myself into? But I am confident that with more information and a little more training, I can muster up the courage to face these boys every day and who knows, maybe I will make a difference in one of their lives.