Volunteering in Portland
Posted by Mark Sullivan on Friday, April 29, 2011
When I moved to Portland, one of my goals was to volunteer more and try to get involved in the community somehow. I think it's important to "give back" to a community/city in some way, which usually means helping other people (rather than just myself). I recently began mentoring a teenager (a male) who just passed his GED and enrolled in Portland Community College. The agency I volunteer at is called SE Works (Southeast Works) -- they help people find jobs in the Portland area, and also offer classes for people to get their GED.
On a recent outing, me and my Mentee (we'll call him "Jack" - a pseudonym) went to a Blazers playoff game. It was an interesting experience. Jack was really enthusiastic about basketball and was a big fan of the Blazers. I, on the other hand, was just a passive fan who didn't really take much interest in the Blazers. However, once the game started, I started to become a fan. The stadium gives out these paddles, which are the shape of a ping pong racket, and all the fans just beat it when the blazers score, or just for any reason at all. For example, when the crowd yells "Defense," then everyone bats their paddle twice. It functions as clapping would, but it's louder. I could tell it definitely played a factor in the Mavericks poor free-throw shooting percentage.
Jack and I didn't talk much during the game because it was so loud. Also, I think we're both new to this whole "Mentoring" thing and we don't really know our exact role. I try to just be a good role model, but at the same time, I try to relax and be myself. For instance, I would point out to him that there were some cute girls sitting beside us and he should talk to them. I don't think this is necessarily being "macho" or "chauvenistic," but just normal humor behavior. I mean, come on, when there are hot chicks near us, all we want to do is talk to them. Staring just isn't enough many times.
So, anyway, I guess I was trying to show him that it can be positive to flirt with girls; in fact, I think it's healthy, and I should do it more.
I spent most of the game trying to initiate conversations; at times, it was frustrating because he would only give "yes/no" answers. However, by the 4th quarter, he started asking me questions. I can't remember what they were, but I definitely noticed a shift in comfort levels, and he started to open up a bit.
By the end of the game, we waited outside together while Jack was waiting for his Uncle to pick him up. I wasn't sure what to say, so I just said, "so, just let me know if you need any help or advice with school. Let's also hang out again, cuz this was fun. We should do something outdoors like play basketball." Anyway, it was kind of awkward, but I had to say something.
His uncle drove by in an old, beat up, minivan. His uncle seemed fat / out-of-shape. I wondered on my bike ride home what their conversation was like, what their relationship was like...
On a recent outing, me and my Mentee (we'll call him "Jack" - a pseudonym) went to a Blazers playoff game. It was an interesting experience. Jack was really enthusiastic about basketball and was a big fan of the Blazers. I, on the other hand, was just a passive fan who didn't really take much interest in the Blazers. However, once the game started, I started to become a fan. The stadium gives out these paddles, which are the shape of a ping pong racket, and all the fans just beat it when the blazers score, or just for any reason at all. For example, when the crowd yells "Defense," then everyone bats their paddle twice. It functions as clapping would, but it's louder. I could tell it definitely played a factor in the Mavericks poor free-throw shooting percentage.
Jack and I didn't talk much during the game because it was so loud. Also, I think we're both new to this whole "Mentoring" thing and we don't really know our exact role. I try to just be a good role model, but at the same time, I try to relax and be myself. For instance, I would point out to him that there were some cute girls sitting beside us and he should talk to them. I don't think this is necessarily being "macho" or "chauvenistic," but just normal humor behavior. I mean, come on, when there are hot chicks near us, all we want to do is talk to them. Staring just isn't enough many times.
So, anyway, I guess I was trying to show him that it can be positive to flirt with girls; in fact, I think it's healthy, and I should do it more.
I spent most of the game trying to initiate conversations; at times, it was frustrating because he would only give "yes/no" answers. However, by the 4th quarter, he started asking me questions. I can't remember what they were, but I definitely noticed a shift in comfort levels, and he started to open up a bit.
By the end of the game, we waited outside together while Jack was waiting for his Uncle to pick him up. I wasn't sure what to say, so I just said, "so, just let me know if you need any help or advice with school. Let's also hang out again, cuz this was fun. We should do something outdoors like play basketball." Anyway, it was kind of awkward, but I had to say something.
His uncle drove by in an old, beat up, minivan. His uncle seemed fat / out-of-shape. I wondered on my bike ride home what their conversation was like, what their relationship was like...