Tiffany's Post

I have known for some time that I wanted to work with adolescents because I enjoy the connection of talking with them and hearing about what's important to them. I enjoy asking questions and having adolescents say how they truly feel and what they really think. I wanted to be able to work with this group because it often seems that they are going through so many changes and society is always trying to find out why they are the way they are-yet not many people are taking the time out to actually ask and discuss their points of views on many issues. I started out wanting to educate and motivate them, and to help them discover hidden talents and goals and dreams. This course has impacted me on a personal level in that I realized if I want to help to educate and motivate adolescents, I myself need to have a clear understanding of what my own goals are and to learn to be open and express what it is I feel. How am I going to teach other adolescents about stepping up to the mic if I myself am afraid to do so? This course made me think of a lot of areas for self-improvement. By me working towards being comfortable in who I am, as a student, future health professional, and most importantly as an individual, I feel I will be able to have a much more positive impact on adolescents.
By conducting the workshop at Metro Teen AIDS, I was very excited because I was finally getting the opportunity to take the first of many steps towards reaching out and getting to do what I have envisioned for myself for so long. It will help me to understand a bit better what questions I should be asking when conducting research, and thinking about how best to involve adolescents in the process, so that they know that I am there to work with them in helping them live healthier lives and to make healthy life choices.
Going through the process of having to design and plan a workshop, made me realize there is still so much more for me to learn! Seeing the drive and motivation in the group from Metro Teen AIDS again reminded me this is why I want to do this-I want to be able to be an advocate for youth and I see myself taking all that I have learned from the course, and being able to stand up tall and stick my chest out (thanks Alis) lol, and go forth and make change.

Tiffany