Who am I In Relation to Youth Work

 I was never involved in any after school programs as a youth, but my version of out of school time was baking at home. It was where I learned patience, creativity, and how to share comfort and care with others through what I made. It definitely gave me a sense of accomplishment, confidence and connection similar to what OST programs aim to provide for youth. This piece resonated with me because it helped me see that even though I didn't grow up in a structured after school program I still got to experience the kind of learning and support that the reading describes. Baking for me was a place outside of school where I could unwind and feel grounded. After reading this piece, It made me think about how important it is for every young person to have somewhere like that whether its a program or something at home.

CONNECTION:  https://phillyfamily.com/why-cooking-classes-for-teens-are-a-recipe-for-success/

I found this article that talks about how cooking and baking programs can help teens build creativity, confidence, and healthy habits. This connects to my experience because although I wasn't in an actual program, I still got all those same benefits baking at home. 

Asset - Based Thinking

 To me, asset - based thinking means focusing on what people are good at instead of what they aren't good at or what they are missing. In a youth environment such as a school, it's about seeing the strengths, talents, and backgrounds that students have and helping them use those to learn and grow. It's a way of believing that every student has something to offer and every student is capable, not broken or behind.

CONNECTION: This idea of asset - based thinking connects to me because I have always been a quiet more reserved person but as a kid I was extremely shy. I hated being called on or put on the spot, and sometimes that made me seem like i didn't care or wasn't trying. But I had a few teachers who actually saw that I did care, I just learned and communicated differently. They would check in with me privately or let me share my thoughts in writing instead of out loud. Those teachers gave me a lot of confidence and made me feel capable and seen. I think this is what asset - based thinking is, instead of focusing on what I couldn't do, they noticed my strengths and worked with that.

QUESTIONS:

1. How can schools highlight student's strengths every day?

2. How can teachers discover their students strengths if those strengths aren't related to grades or test scores?

3. Does focusing too much on a students strengths cause teachers to overlook the areas where students need help?