2. Boys Hope Girls Hope
This organization provides at risk middle and high school
students with around the clock care.
Students live in a house with a counselor and other boys
and girls in similar situations.
There is one girls house and one boys house located near
Regis Jesuit High School.
The organization takes care of the students
medical, emotional, social, and academic needs.
Students live in the houses together and attend Regis
Jesuit until acceptance to college.
4. Discussion with the
Learner
Me: What did you know about Boys Hope Girls Hope before
you joined the program?
Learner: I didn’t know about it.
Me: What has helped you be successful here? What skills do
you have from before you started that have helped you now
that you’re here?
Learner: My counselor really helped me feel at home. It takes
me a while to feel comfortable with people, and she really
pushed me to open up and talk about what was going on in my
head. I used to spend so much time alone that I was just used
to keeping it to myself. Now I know I have a safe place to talk
and everyone here will support me and help me.
5. Discussion with the
Learner
Me: What has Boys Hope Girls Hope helped you the most
with?
Learner: I get good grades now. I never did my homework
before, and now I have to. They study with me and we all work
together. Some of us kind of compete against each other a
little with grades.
Me: How do you see yourself interacting with Boys Hope Girls
Hope in the future?
Learner: I definitely want to keep in contact with them so I can
get the college scholarship. But I also wouldn’t mind helping
other kids like me. It’s like we’re family. This is my new family.
6. Due to sensitivity of the
families, I was unable to ask
the students’ family members
questions. However, I
interviewed one of the
volunteer coordinators and one
of the live in counselors.
7. Discussion with a
Counselor
Me: How did you find out about this program?
Counselor: A friend of a friend told me about it. I’ve always
had a passion for working with this age group and I just really
want to give these boys the support they need to make it in this
world.
Me: What has helped you understand the impact you make on
these boys’ lives?
Counselor: My relationships with all of them. It’s always hard
at first. The transition is difficult and really emotional. The
boys tend to have a hard time trusting me, and it’s just tough.
Once they’ve been here for a while and know I am here for
them, we start to click and they start to improve academically
and socially. It’s just really rewarding to see them mature and
realize they have all these opportunities at their fingertips.
8. Discussion with a
Counselor
Me: What do you think your learner has learned the most
since joining Boys Hope Girls Hope?
Counselor: Responsibility and accountability. He has realized
that we are going to follow through and make sure his work is
being completed and he is following the right path. It’s given
him more confidence to know that we are here every step of
the way.
Me: Where do you think he learned this?
Counselor: He learned it through our discussions and
meetings. Both our individual one-on-one sessions, but during
our groups sessions as well where he sees the other boys
being held to the same standard.
9. Discussion with a
Counselor
Me: What else do you think I should know about this
program?
Counselor: It really makes a difference in these kids’
lives. We take them from places where their chances are
slim and they are facing major obstacles. We give them
opportunities and then expect them to rise to our
standards. And they do.
10. Discussion with a
Volunteer Coordinator
Me: What kinds of things do you consider when designing
the learning experiences?
Volunteer Coordinator: The students’ background
knowledge is the biggest factor. Some of these kids do
not have the language skills necessary to be truly
successful. Nor do they have the experiences more
fortunate kids are provided. We try our best to catch
them up and expose them to all that we can. We want to
prepare them for the future and give them the tools
necessary to succeed.
11. Discussion with a
Volunteer Coordinator
Me: How do these learning experiences incorporate
strengths that the learner brings with them?
Volunteer Coordinator: We have group sessions where all
the kids talk about their experiences and share what they
can. We want to incorporate every child’s background.
Just like you share your experiences with cousins or your
spouse, we share our experiences. Many of these
students have experienced similar situations, and sharing
their pasts and current experiences helps them bond and
form a family here.
12. Discussion with a
Volunteer Coordinator
Me: How does the background knowledge of the students'’
relate to the mission and vision of the organization?
Volunteer Coordinator: Boys Hope Girls Hope helps at risk
children to meet their full potential. Our vision is that they
become women and men for others. We support them through
family-like homes, a variety of opportunities, and a quality
education from middle school through college. In order for
them to be successful, the kids need to feel that they are
valued and important. Their individual backgrounds are so
important. We value their backgrounds, their families, and
their experiences. We stay in contact with their families and
support them through visits and different opportunities to grow
and become all they can be.
13. Discussion with a
Volunteer Coordinator
Me: What are some of the ways that you think that the
learning experience of the children might be enhanced
with deliberate planning from an asset perspective?
Volunteer Coordinator: Everything we do is planned
deliberately. From the counselors, to the meals, we plan
to help these kids the best we can. We want them to be
successful and to feel our care and support. The
students learn and grow academically, however, they
grow emotionally as well. We focus on the emotional side
just as much as we focus on the educational side.
14. My Reflection
When I first heard about this program, I was shocked. I
attended Regis Jesuit High school and had no idea that my high
school supported such an amazing program. Because of my high
school experience, I am well versed in all that Regis Jesuit High
School has to offer both academically and socially. Outside of
academics, Regis is like a family. It is an experience that these
students would otherwise not be fortunate enough to enjoy. Boys
Hope Girls Hope allows students privileges that would be
unattainable due to their family’s status.
Throughout this course, I have mentioned how many
students are not allotted opportunities comparable to their privileged
peers’ experiences. This program gives students the ability to
succeed. The learners are provided a safe and comfortable place to
live where their basic needs are met. They receive support from
middle school through college, both emotionally and financially, and
are consistently encouraged to reach their fullest potential. I wish
that more students in our country were provided such opportunities.
Boys Hope Girls Hope is making our communities and country a
better place by helping young people in need.
