So this a continuation of the story from yesterday. Here's a recap: Nina told me that a girl in school had threatened to beat her up and had gotten into several fights in the past.
Today, I had my weekly meeting with my bosses (we call them "the office"). These meetings are usually tense and set the whole day off on the wrong foot. This one was no different. Nothing specifically bad happened, it was just awkward and weird. Immediately after that meeting, I had another meeting with one of my bosses, who I'll call Ms. Graw.
Ms. Graw asked me if I'd been having any problems or worries concerning specific scholars. So, I talked about Nina and let Ms. Graw know that I was worried about her transition here. I eased into the stories Nina told about getting into fights. Ms. Graw just started to laugh. She told me that Nina had never been in any fights at her old school (which I figured she would know since they all get a history on the girls). I was pretty embarrassed because I had totally believed Nina, aside from considering that she may have been exaggerating... We speculated that maybe Nina made up the stories to impress me or seem "tough" to make up for her status as the youngest scholar in the house. At the end of the meeting, Ms. Graw said I should tell the other houseparents so that we would all be on the same page about Nina making up stories.
So. I come home. Tell the other houseparents. And they tell me that Nina is Ms. Graw's NIECE!!!!!! WHY did no one think to mention this to me before??? I guess it was okay because Ms. Graw thought the story was funny, but we spent most of the session talking about Nina even though I had no idea she was related to her!! But it makes sense looking back on the meetings... for instance, Nina is the only girl who goes to the middle school while the rest go to the high school. I was planning on visiting Nina's school to help with homework, etc. once a month, since she's 1 out of the 8 girls, but Ms. Shaw said I should go twice a month instead. Maybe a little nepotism there...?
Anyway. I feel dumb for believing a bunch of stuff a 13-year-old told me. But if anything, this just further emphasizes my points about being priveliged and sheltered. I have no idea what goes on in schools on the South side of Chicago... 8th graders getting into fistfights? Why not? Who knows? Obviously not me... but I'm learning.
--Rebecca
No comments:
Post a Comment