So yesterday I spent the afternoon at Juvi. Why was I there you ask? We had a choice of where to do a site visit, and I jumped at the opportunity of thinking I would miraculously be able to save a kid or maybe even change a kid from a young criminal to someone with hopes of a decent future...Instead, I found a new boyfriend. I spent the entire hour and a half sitting in a 3x3 cell with a 17 year old boy who incessantly attempted to get "my digits" or try to "hook up once he got out." I played the cool card as long as I could, you know the laughing, like "oh your funny" and "I'm too old for you" type of approach, but he obviously didn't get the picture. I didn't want to slam the kid...but damn homie, get real. Not even the fact that he was in Juvi...cuz you all know my history...this experience definitely brought back some childhood memories, I'm not gonna lie, but the kid really thought he had me. He was funny though...my favorite line had to be, "but you can tutor me though...cuz when you talk, i listen." Thats what I'm talking about...I need to hear that shit more often!
Regardless, the kid was classic, but definitely, I'm proud to say that I instilled some hope in his eyes. I asked him what he wanted to do with his life and he responded with construction or plumbing, and then proceeded to say, "well, i've never really thought of it much before cuz nobody really aksed me that question." Now that really ripped into me. How is this kid 17 and nobody has talked to him about his future. He has a rough life, but doesn't mean it has to continue that way. He just needs someone to give him some direction, cuz his father on parole and his mother who can't afford to feed her children, is not shedding any light on him. And I know I'm being me by thinking that intervention is all this kids needs, but honestly if it's never been attempted, how do you know it won't work? my point exactly...give the kid a chance.
We talked about college and football, and he genuinely wanted to go. Did I mention his 2 year old son...ya...so there was that talk too....but he was smart, every time I asked a personal question, he would spit one right back at me...."so you got a man?...what?...for real though, how does a fly girl like you not have a man?" I quickly told him thats the way I like it. I got some dap for that one..."I've never met a girl like you...damn, there needs to be more females like you, for real. That's how I know you are perfect for me." Guess what my response to that was?
"I'm perfect for every man"
Are you surprised? Of course not...
But other than that, I think I did alright...got nothing medically related accomplished, but whatever, gave a 17 year old boy the only interaction he's had with a girl in the last 18 months...thats bad...I shouldn't be saying that...but dont worry, although this might sound like I wasn't professional, I was, and at one point I did have to put my foot down with him and have him focus at the task at hand.
But seriously, I'm going to help this kid get his life together. I didn't give him my number or any form of contact, but I told him I'd write him and send him some info about schools...I'm not about to be the um-teenth person who has let this kid down...sorry, but thats not how I do....
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