Look at something or someone for a second, then move about five paces to your left encircling the object or person; do the same thoughts come to mind? same feelings you experienced just a moment ago when you were standing five paces to the right? It's more than likely that the answer is no. Perception has a funny way of impacting what we think and how we feel about the same object or person depending on where exactly we stand.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to visualize and actually SEE what new offerings they may find in the "same old thing".

I work in a school setting as a Counselor, not a guidance counselor, but an MHC. and in search for that complete picture of the student, that recreation of their world, so that individualized sessions can generate, I have found that students are placed in a very negative light, whether by their own creation or reputation preceding them. By no means do I intend to invalidate the experience of others, their perception, thoughts and affect. Rather, I am curious to know when was the last time they noticed change in the student; whether they were quieter than usual, louder than normal, more focused...

To an extent it is unfortunate that per our generation, and the one right before, parents are losing their role as primary care givers. Other adults in different roles are becoming the nurturers, the role models, the guider, the mentor, the caregiver...

Always I have held teachers in high regards and was never one to be disrespectful or challenging in any way; Theirr job was, and is, a difficult one in which another's life would take either of two roads; success (as it is socially acceptable/defined) or its contrary. I can never do that job, I must admit it, but if you choose to do so make sure you do it for the purpose of impacting the most, not just the ones that are seemingly receptive. It is not pleasant, nor is it professional to hear as teachers laugh at students who've been arrested, talk about what they THINK is one's sexual orientation, or downgrade another's in/ability. If time has come and you no longer wish to be a part of, leave. I do not condone disrespect, but its incredulous to me how it is that YOU, the teacher, wonder how adolescents can be so disrespectful; they smell what you think. They simply exhibit a reactive response to the bullshit you feed them; you've just become like the rest who don't care, thanks for fitting a statistic in their lives...

With this I leave you: Do what you love and love what you do and then some. :)

I cannot sit here and say that I am a completely altruistic individual, completely selfless in every aspect, or that I am completely rid of faults; I WILL not, but I care and that is more than enough to deem me eligible to speak up on this issue of inhumanity through categorization.

Categorization was developed to better understand and describe large groups of (_____fill in the blank___). I am sure that the idea seemed innovative at the time, but has its purpose and utility inverted and transitioned into the enslavement of large groups of (___fill in the blank___)? We use words like BLACK, JEW, GHETTO, POOR, AIDS, WOMAN, MEXICAN, YOUNG, CRIMINAL, ADDICT, MAN, DUMB, "ARABIC", HOODLUM AND "DIRTY" to stigmatize and dissociate from that which is not us. Yet, each adjective can be used to describe a human person...a PERSON. I thus ask you, are we not all people? It seems like an easy question, but many complicate it by taking into account these categories that only seem to separate us more from one another. Compartmentalizing one aspect of the whole and deeming it value over a human's entirety. We use them to validate and justify the misfortune that occurs in this world, to easy and comfort our anxiety for not helping, to attribute blame and find scapegoats, to wipe one's hands clean and say, "that's because they are (___fill in the blank___).

We turn a blind eye to what's happening around us and we separate ourselves and do nothing about it because it "has nothing to do with me". I am here to tell you THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AROUND YOU HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOU. Do not read this, sit there, think about it and refute what I've just told you, because if you are honest with yourself, real with yourself you'll be mad* as you find yourself in agreement.

Never mind that person that said that you were too small to impact HUGE change. Believe that just a hand full of small people have the power to impact hugely. All around you there are people dying, suffering, in need...these are the categories that need our attention. It is these categories that need to unity us, bring us to the forefront to fight for humanity, equality, rights, purpose...existence.

Marvin Gay sang "What's going on", and a few years back the same song was remade by the All-Star Tribute to bring awareness to the AIDS fight. While it has been of tremendous influence to have artists bring forth social justice issues, I urge people to take it upon themselves to educate themselves on what's happening and how they can help in increasing and or reducing for the better. You are one person, with one voice, that knows many people. Make life about others, as we are social beings, and as social beings we need to be conscious of our social well-fare. Hand in hand we can make the world a better place. Irrelevant is the fact that you will be trampled on, why? because when you get back up, you'll already know your enemy's tactic; you'll be at an advantage.

Don't let categories push you away from saving, fulfilling, existing...

The choices we make in life have a funny way of presenting themselves as road blocks down the line. Still, to no avail, we forewarn those around us to this misfortune. Now, what you do next is what makes you or breaks you.

I have always been one to never regret my past, the decisions I've made and the behaviors I engaged in. This past week I found my niche. After five and a half months of trying and searching, I was interviewed for a position as a Mental Health Counselor at a school. Midway into the interview, I knew I had landed the job. This was only to be confirmed by the eager manner in which I was scheduled for a second interview the very next day. Within days I was offered the position. Now here comes the the part that was almost heartbreaking to me.

All my life I was waiting on someone to give me a chance, to bet on me, so that I may be able to blow them away with my intelligence, my strengths, my weaknesses, my abilities, my passion and my determination...that day had finally arrived and I was to be responsible for the future of our youth. I was to provide intervention to adolescents; what could be better?

Rewinding into the past: selflessly, I took one for the team.

Fast Forward into the future: remember that hit I took? It was now standing right in the middle of me and my job. Yes, MY job; there wasn't a person, soul, or energy able to tell me that it wasn't for me. Now, what did I do? That's a really good question. After I felt my heart drying from the outside in and almost crumble, after my mind went blank as my brain shut off, I thought my blood began to boil as I felt that I'd been robbed, stripped from what was rightfully mine. The assailant? ME...

When I realized that I had placed myself in this predicament, regardless of the circumstances, it was a bit difficult to snap out of that haze and declare war, in sense, with myself; with an older version of myself, one not as strong as the version that exists today. I snapped back into the here and now, confirmed to myself that from an existentialist perspective this was my purpose and so I sought after it.  The rest is truly irrelevant.

The moral: You are your own inhibitor.
When things seem to be falling apart, almost like a mirage, too good to be true, you have to question whether or not you WANT it to be and then you make it happen. Do not let your past dictate your present, your future...YOU. Take it all with you and transform it into the energy that you will need for the climb. Never believe that "they" or "it" is stronger, whatever that "they" or "it" may be. Show up with your gear, tuck your chin in and CHARGE. Even when you think there's no more fight left in you, you'll realize that you've not even dipped into your reserve.