Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is a great tool to use at has proven fruitful 100% of the time. I work with kids at up until the  age of 12 and kids with mental illnesses. Many of these kids deal with oppression and dysfunction in  every aspect of their lives, they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment. I  spend a lot of time communicating with them and finding ways to make them understand themselves,  their needs and inspire them to improve their circumstances and build foundations for their future.   Often, the kids with the special needs feel lonely and sharing stories of their lives help them connect and  find meaning. I believe it has proven to be the most resultful form of teaching and educating. When I  share stories of my life in order to help them visualize a state of independence, I use their feedback  against the context of my story to ascertain their goals, and sometimes we use stories to better  understand their interests and thought processes. I use this information to develop different strategies  to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in the areas they find lacking in  their lives.

Application

In discussing policy changes with the institute, I work for and the social service agency, I was trying to  explain to them the benefits of taking a more children focused approach, among other things, and in  particular, of recognizing each person as a unique being, and addressing their individual needs first and  foremost. The agency was in the grip of a “compliance culture” and its clients were failing in this non- empathetic, rigid structure. I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual  can impact everyone for the better, bringing the conversation to the children’s families or the official  clients of the institute. I told a story about when I had to deal with an extreme case of autism in a  regular classroom a few years ago. The rest of the class (children aged 8) got distressed as well, when  the kid got into crisis. I could tell that after the proper attention was given to the source of the panic,  everyone would overcome their emotionally distressed situation. I sat by the kid’s side focus looked into  its eyes and smiled while began telling a nice story about bravery and the power of a calm mind. It  turned out that the whole classroom hushed and paid full attention to the story, every single kid was  calm and participating with ideas and questions about the story. After I finished the story, I open the  floor for the kids to share experiences of them being brave and handling situations of their own, and  turned out that there a lot of stories like that. The kid with the mental disabilities also contributed in the  conversation with a story and turns out, it was a brave kid fighting with its own problem, oppressing  itself with the aim of not spreading distressed to its family that seemed to have to deal with a lot of  problems as well.

Insight & Approach

That was an eye-opener. Not only understanding that your brain functions in a different way than most,  but also trying to gain control over it so as to ensure others’ comfort and calmness.  The story-telling  worked really well and also helped both me and the kids see the matter of a different perspective. The  kid really needed individual attention for that brief time, and after sharing, the result was true support  from the whole group. So, I told this story to the agency and the board of the institute, and I think it had  a big impact on people there. The policies are being reevaluated and the caseworkers are going through

new training. Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good. This course made me see this as a tool in a  new way. When I've done it before it was really "ad hoc," but now I can prepare ahead and think of  stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them. I have an education  background, but I ended up as an entrepreneur in the field. I had no idea this would ever be considered  an asset, but I am so very grateful that it is!


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling is a great tool to use at has proven fruitful 100 % of the time . I work with kids at up until the age of 12 and kids with mental illnesses . Many of these kids deal with oppression and dysfunction in every aspect of their lives , they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment . I spend a lot of time communicating with them and finding ways to make them understand themselves , their needs and inspire them to improve their circumstances and build foundations for their future . Often , the kids with the special needs feel lonely and sharing stories of their lives help them connect and find meaning . I believe it has proven to be the most resultful form of teaching and educating . When I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize a state of independence , I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and thought processes . I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in the areas they find lacking in their lives . Application In discussing policy changes with the institute , I work for and the social service agency , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more children focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . The agency was in the grip of a “ compliance culture ” and its clients were failing in this non- empathetic , rigid structure . I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better , bringing the conversation to the children ’s families or the official clients of the institute . I told a story about when I had to deal with an extreme case of autism in a regular classroom a few years ago . The rest of the class ( children aged 8) got distressed as well , when the kid got into crisis . I could tell that after the proper attention was given to the source of the panic , everyone would overcome their emotionally distressed situation . I sat by the kid ’s side focus looked into its eyes and smiled while began telling a nice story about bravery and the power of a calm mind . It turned out that the whole classroom hushed and paid full attention to the story , every single kid was calm and participating with ideas and questions about the story . After I finished the story , I open the floor for the kids to share experiences of them being brave and handling situations of their own , and turned out that there a lot of stories like that . The kid with the mental disabilities also contributed in the conversation with a story and turns out , it was a brave kid fighting with its own problem , oppressing itself with the aim of not spreading distressed to its family that seemed to have to deal with a lot of problems as well . Insight & Approach That was an eye - opener . Not only understanding that your brain functions in a different way than most , but also trying to gain control over it so as to ensure others ’ comfort and calmness . The story - telling worked really well and also helped both me and the kids see the matter of a different perspective . The kid really needed individual attention for that brief time , and after sharing , the result was true support from the whole group . So , I told this story to the agency and the board of the institute , and I think it had a big impact on people there . The policies are being reevaluated and the caseworkers are going through new training . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see this as a tool in a new way . When I 've done it before it was really " ad hoc , " but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them . I have an education background , but I ended up as an entrepreneur in the field . I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset , but I am so very grateful that it is !