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DREAM Alive
EQUIPING youth to ACHIEVE their DREAMS.
Scholar Reflection: On Being Grateful
Periodically, we will have the D.R.E.A.M. Alive scholars reflect on the various activities and lessons of which they have been involved. From our DREAM Christmas, to our visit to Coburn Place (a shelter for abused women and their children) to the 30 Hour Famine (www.30hourfamine.org), there has been a lot to think about. One scholar, Kristopher Thomas, tells us why he is grateful:
What I’ve learned about the past 3 months was how blessed I am. I’m so grateful that I have friends and family who care for me. Dream Alive has been so great to see that. I’m a child who doesn’t have to go through struggle and stress over things because I do have. It’s just hard seeing the kids who are YOUNGER than me or even OLDER than me go through that. That’s why I’ve made it my concern and desire to help because CHANGE is needed. So from now on I’m going to be apart of this important crisis because people everyday are struggling.
Patience is a Virtue
I told a scholar recently that when we pray for patience, God does not give it to us, but rather He gives us arenas in which to practice patience. I was pleased when she understood; I was also tickled because I often give advice that I myself should follow.
I have never been the most patient person; as a matter of fact the two biggest things I said I would NEVER do was a) Deal with children and b) Teach. Why? Because those two things together were the ingredients to irritated teachers and difficult learning environments, something I never wanted to be part of again after leaving school. What I’ve learned is that it does not matter what YOU want, but the last word is His will. I am the Site Director for an after-school program (D.R.E.A.M. Alive, of course!), which means I lead youth. What a perfect combination of what I vowed against! Ha!
God placed in my heart the love and passion to be a positive face and force in the lives of the youth for multiple reasons; the less obvious to those who do not know me is for me to practice the patience that I have been praying for, for years. God has an amazing way of operating! I have been given the opportunity to achieve two of my heart’s goals in a setting where my very being gets constant exercise: the classroom. I am able to interact closely with the scholars and deal with difficult situations that I would not have gotten in any other medium (there is only so much books and college classes can convey). Experience is the absolute best teacher there is. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity to not only grow in the youth development field, but to grow as a person.
Youth are like a field of wildflowers—they are all beautiful in their own way, and you simply must stop and appreciate them for their individual brilliance. Every now and then, though, you may find one with a thorn; that does not mean it is bad but rather, it has to be dealt with differently. Once we all recognize this is not just with youth, but with people in general, your patience for varying situations will begin to develop. Besides that, you want people to accept you and YOUR flaws, right?
Peace,
~Robin
2011 DREAM Christmas
Check out the AMAZING video that Helen Wells Agency did for DREAM Alive for our DREAM Christmas Celebration!
A DREAM Christmas
DREAM Christmas features a new design this year that will bring together a unique community of local businesses, schools, students and area families who are transitioning out of homelessness and challenging circumstances. DREAM Alive’s “Scholars,” students from grades 7-12 at Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy and H.L. Harshman Magnet Middle School will be the official hosts of this special event to welcome 27 families to the community. Each family will receive special Christmas gifts for their children to unwrap and will be guests of honor at this warm and fun evening. The DREAM Alive Scholars, assisted by employees of local businesses, will do the shopping and wrap all the gifts.
“It is a foundational value of DREAM Alive to forge new communities, to bring together individuals and groups that otherwise might never interact,” said Glenn, DREAM Alive president. “Our DREAM Christmas has always been a special event. This year, we’re going much further to bring together a diverse group for a wonderful evening to celebrate the best character Indianapolis has to offer, to demonstrate that a new definition of community is really possible. It will be a blessing to all who participate, I guarantee that!”
The event is supported by a host of Indianapolis businesses led by title sponsor Circle Financial Planning, Inc. In addition to financial support, assistance in shopping and wrapping gifts, and volunteering at the event, employees of these companies will join in the meal and fellowship in this unique community gathering. Other sponsors include Chase Bank, the Indianapolis Colts, Inc., DEEM Mechanical and Electrical, the Indianapolis Colts Offensive Line, Keystone Growth Strategies, American Structurepoint, Republic Services, Inc., Bastian Solutions, Helen Wells Agency, Butler University Department of Education, David Reilich Design, Little Events Catering, Indiana State Teachers Association, St. Vincent’s Sports Performance, Simply Fundraising, Inc., John H. Boner Community Center and the MIBOR Realtor Foundation.
ABOUT THE DREAM Alive – DREAM Alive provides afterschool programs for 7th-12th grade youth that focus on community service, leadership development and academic success. Now in its tenth year DREAM Alive continues to have an impact in the lives of its Scholars, their schools and the broader community. The program currently operates within two Indianapolis community schools, Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy and H.L. Harshman Magnet Middle School. Under Tarik Glenn’s leadership, DREAM Alive is positioning to expand its reach to more schools in the near future. For more information, please contact Lisa Burns at (317) 402-7441 or at www.dreamaliveinc.org.
DREAM Alive Tailgate Party
- written by Kris T, 8th Grade
On Sunday me and some other Dream Alive scholars got the opportunity to go to a tailgate party and the colt’s game. When we got to the parking lot we all walked to the place where the tailgate party was. When we got to the tailgate party we saw Kurt’s beautiful office and met new people. The people we met were people that makes Dream Alive successful and helped them.
After we ate until we were full we went to the Lucas Oil Stadium to watch the football game. Before we went to the game it was very packed,busy and chaotic but it was worth it. At the game there was a lot of people everywhere and a lot of talking. I had a really great time and thought it was a great opportunity.
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- “Birds Eye View”
Scholar Quotes
What does it mean to DREAM?
“I believe that dream means you set goals in your future life so you can have something to strive for when you are a young adult. It also means that you put all your effort towards meeting the goal you want to achieve in your adult life. Sometimes it means to go to sleep, but in this case it is more about planning things that you want to achieve and do something with when you grow up or in the near future.” - Nik, 8th Grade
“When someone asks me, I would say to dream means to vision the path you want to take, the future you have created for yourself through your hard-work or slacking off. It all depends on you. You make your own future with the actions you carry out in your daily life.” - AW, 11th Grade
Team Challenges: Camptown
DREAM Alive scholars from Shortridge and Harshman came together last Thursday at Harshman Middle School to host Brandon and Eric from Camptown. The scholars completed a series of team challenges that let them work together to complete various goals. In one challenge, each scholar had to get through a revolving jump rope without the rope touching them; if any scholar was touched by the rope, everyone had to start over. In another challenge, the youth had to work together to use a map to find objects hidden around the school grounds. Activities like these allow D.R.E.A.M. Alive scholars to demonstrate their leadership styles and, with the help of Camptown leaders, learn better ways to communicate effectively. These group challenges each promoted cooperation and thinking critically. Besides that, they were fun ways to bring all of our scholars together for fellowship and fun! Thanks so much to Camptown, our scholars had an awesome time! Check out our gallery of pictures below!
- Cassidy Britton, Community Resources
What Does it Mean to Dream?
Having been faced recently with a host of events that caused me to rethink my dreams, I felt compelled to ‘write myself out of it’ and perhaps inspire others whom may feel as if there is no sense in trying.
As we grow, our dreams reflect our place in life. A child wants a paper route so that she can afford a puppy. A boy cuts grass so that he can buy his first new bike. A teen gets a restaurant job to buy their first car; a young adult has to work 3rd shift and has 5 classes to earn their degree. What these very different dreams have in common is a means to an end. We learn from an early age that to dream means to have an idea, have a plan, and put that plan into action.
We also learn at a young age that sometimes someone may come in with a more efficient way to deliver papers or people are beginning to cut their own grass. When those curve-balls threaten our flow, does this mean that our dreams cease? Does this mean that we find something else to aspire towards? Does this mean we completely abandon what is important to us?
Short answer: No. What it means is we must learn to adapt and find different, more innovative ways to achieve our goals. We must learn from our mistakes and take lessons from other’s lives. We must not forget that the destination is only part of the journey. We must remember that our testimony of our travels will mean more than any prize we may receive in the end.
That is the key difference between dreaming as a child, and as more mature creature: realizing that the means has far more substance than the ends, and that there is a possibility that there may never be an end—or the end we imagined will be modified. That is when we must accept that life is one continuous, bumpy, malfunctioning ride that sometimes causes us to pause, look at our surroundings, and use that information to leap forward. When it gets difficult, when it gets trying, and when it seems impossible, that is when you know your triumph will really matter.
The only difference between dreaming and reality is opening your eyes.
Peace
~Robin
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Arsenal Tech Marching Band for winning the IPS Class A Marching Band Tournament last night at Lucas Oil Stadium. A few of our Harshman DREAM Alive Scholars are proud participants in the Arsenal Tech Marching Band. Great Job Scholars!
Props also go out to our scholars at Shortridge Magnet High School, as they competed admirably as well last night.
