November 2017 issue

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I S S U E 2 6 | N OVEM B ER 2 017

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Where I Belong

Motivate. Activate. Celebrate.

F E AT U R E

Where I Belong

Index: Feature..................................................2 Editorial Calendar...............................3 Music and Literature..........................5 Art..........................................................6 Dance....................................................7 Poems....................................................9 Places...................................................12 Fiction.................................................13 Family.................................................14 Society.................................................16 People We Admire............................17 Sport....................................................18 Wellness .............................................20 Parent’s Corner..................................22 Parent’s Corner..................................23 Volunteer opportunity is available for students and adults.

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Dear Readers and Writers,

T

hose who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.”

This quote by Brené Brown, an American scholar, author, and public speaker, summarizes a complex relationship that exists between a sense of belonging and formation of self-identity.

Belonging is a strong feeling that is part of human nature. In essence, it means acceptance as a member or part of a larger entity. Just like the need for food and shelter, a sense of belonging is a must for individual well-being.

A sense of belonging, along with its effects on our physical and emotional well-being, starts in infancy.

Strong emotional engagement with their parents leads to a significant increase in children’s developmental growth and recognition of self.

Feeling that we belong is directly connected with seeing value in life and our own purpose as individuals.

To belong or not to belong can be our own choice or the choices of others. Children have various lives and interests, so not everyone belongs to the same place, group, or thing. Some children find belonging in a sport they love, some

Arina Bokas

Kids’ Standard Editor & Author of Building Powerful Learning Environments: From Schools to Communities

with friends, some with family, and some through reading and the arts.

On the other hand, children, who struggle to find a sense of belonging, experience loneliness and often have difficulties relating to their surroundings.

Both identity and belonging are subjective interpretations. Whereas identity is the collection of our beliefs about who we are, belonging is a sense of inevitable association with groups of other people. In our November issue, young writers share what makes them feel like they belong and how it affects their self-understanding. Read on!

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E D I TO R I A L C A L E N DA R

2017-2018 Editorial Calendar December 2017

Around The World: Lands, Cultures, Traditions

What are the factors that allow each person grow into the best version of him/herself? What do we need to do to develop our minds, nurture our hearts, and achieve the best life for ourselves?

Describe experiences that pushed you to become a better person and discover something important about yourself or others. Research and offer perspectives of psychologists and educators on the process of personal growth. Reflect on what you believe to be the most important growth factor that people need to remember to incorporate in their lives.

February 2018 We live in a big world, but how much do we really know about it? Why is it important to know and understand our planet and all of the variations that exist on it? How does knowledge of geography and other cultures help us understand ourselves and others?

Research oceans, lands, animals, people, and cultures. Offer your perspective on the connections that exist in our world.

Share your travel experiences to other countries and lessons you learned while being abroad. Write about explorers, geographers, and politicians and their impact on the world.

January 2018 Growth Factor

NOVEMBER 2017

Artificial Intelligence

March 2018 Readers’ Circle

We know that it is important to learn how to read and to read a lot. But great reading is more than just sounding out letters and words. It involves thinking.

How do reading and thinking connect?

How does reading help us in everyday life? What and how can we learn when we read? Write stories about your own important reading experiences, alone and with others. Share lessons that you have learned from books. Write a book review. Research authors. Anything and everything related to reading and books is welcome.

April 2018

Everyday Heroes Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the theory and development of computer systems that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages. Some of the most exciting fields are robotics, automotive (self-driving cars), and medical (fast and accurate diagnostics). What benefits and drawbacks does it have? Will this reduce the human work or make human work different? What will humans do once all jobs are gone to AI? What kind of rights AI/robots should have in our Constitution? What new technological development would you like to see?

Tell stories about our live in the future.

Share your point of view of what artificial intelligence means to humankind.

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a hero is a person who is admired for his or her brave acts and other fine qualities. There is a hero inside each of us. We may not realize it, but someone, somewhere, does.

Share a story about your personal hero 3

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2017-2018 Editorial Calendar

or about a well-known hero. Offer a perspective on what qualities make someone a hero. Research events in our history that are recognized as heroic events and share your take on them.

May 2018

The Sound of Music What is music? Why does it have such a great effect on human beings?

There are work songs to make tedious tasks more bearable. How does music influence us? What role does music play in your life? Write about your personal experiences with music, whether it is singing, playing an instrument, composing, or just listening. Research music genres and musicians. Compose a song.

Review songs or any other piece of music.

Summer 2018 (digital only)

The Break!

Most people love breaks, whether it is a break from school, work, or activities. Why is it important to have a break? What do you like about a summer break? Do you think you can learn during summer while having a break? Share your advice and experiences. Offer recommendations on activities that families can do in summer.

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M U S I C A N D L I T E R AT U R E

Books By: Reiss Kain Griffiths, 3rd grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

I

get lost in books a lot. They are my world; they create my favorite places to be. Books are so good! I love reading because it’s interesting. I enjoy any fiction book because I don’t worry about anything. I just get lost in what is happening, especially when characters talk to each other.

When I think of the word ‘reading,’ I think of how much I enjoy my favorite books. Two of the series I like are Garfield and The Last Kids on Earth. I’m reading two of these books right now.

Books are just so fantastic!

Playing Piano By: Sihyeon Jun,

I

2nd grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

was six years old, when I started to play piano. Before that age, I did played piano for a little bit, but it was easy. The fun thing I thought was the songs.

Now, I play more seriously. Playing piano makes me excited, and I work harder to get better at it. Lots of people don’t know how to play piano, and it feels cool because I know how to play. It feels like I am kind of a special person.

When I play piano more and more, it helps me pay attention to what I do. I like playing it every day and I often think about it. I also do recital every year. My favorite song is “Joy to the World.” I am the happiest when I play piano.

This is where I belong!

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A RT

Beach

By: Michael Jang, 2nd grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

Our World

By: Melody Lebert, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

Galaxy

By: William Jang, 2nd grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

Fall Leaf

By: Melody Lebert, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

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DANCE

By: Savannah Long,

I

10th grade, Clarkston High School

n the beginning of the summer of 2016, my mom got an email from the director of the show, which I just finished a few days prior, saying that there would be dancing and singing auditions for a new summer musical. Even though I loved performing and cheerleading, I hadn’t danced in a couple of years and I definitely couldn’t sing. Nonetheless, the idea of dancing again made me feel extremely excited. Dance was what made me start gymnastics and cheer, so my life was what it was because of dance.

Walking through the doors and looking at a crowd of people waiting to check in, stretching, or warming up, I was greeted by a short woman with curly blonde hair.

“Name, age, and auditioning as...” she inquired in a bland tone looking at her laptop.

“Savannah Long, 14, Ensemble Dancer.”

She searched on a long list and turned NOVEMBER 2017

her attention towards me, pointing at a stack of papers. “Fill this out and wait for a casting director to call in the dancers from outside of the main rehearsal room.

Don’t miss your call.”

After handing the clipboard with completed paperwork back to the woman, I made my way into the dressing rooms.

I pulled my long brown hair up into a high, tight ponytail to accompany a clean white tank top, black spandex, and a fresh pair of beige jazz shoes. Then I noticed a group of dancers in leotards with skin-hued tights. Was I supposed to wear a leotard? I didn’t even fit into mine anymore.

Forcing myself to draw my attention away from my attire, I looked around to find a group of my friends stretching against the wall. I ran over and started stretching with them. I was in a backbend, when a tall guy with short brown hair burst out of the audition room door.

“VOCALISTS!” His voice was loud enough to silent the sea of people and

knock me out of my backbend. “Come into the room behind me! DANCERS! You will be in the auditorium.” My legs suddenly became heavy, weighted with my nerves, and I could feel my every step. I was a bundle of my own doubts.

This theater was my second home, but being surrounded by other dancers who wanted exactly what I did was enough to make this home not so sweet anymore.

A shorter woman with long red hair, dressed in an all black outfit, got up to the front of the stage. “My name is Aubree; I am the choreographer of the show. I am going to teach you a combo that you will perform for the casting directors in about 15 minutes. It’s a basic jazz number that you all should have no problem doing.”

With this, she turned and began showing us the moves: all of these turns and kicks that I hadn’t done in years, new parts once or twice, then moving on. I didn’t know who I was. Suddenly, my legs, once heavy, were flying over me; I was blending in with all of the other dancers. No

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DANCE time to think; just dance.

In 15 minutes, the nerves came back.

I was with a big group of a people, and I needed to stand out. I needed to blow judges away. I had only one shot.

I put myself right in the front - no time to think, just dance! As we began, I was flowing through the motions. Step.

Point. Don’t. Mess. Up! Then it was all over.

Crossing and uncrossing my legs and repositioning myself on the arm of the chair, I was waiting in the green room.

People were walking back into the audition room, and some were leaving.

“Can I have Savannah Long in the main rehearsal room?” I heard the voice of the guy who scared me out of my backbend.

My heart stopped. They wanted to see me dance again! I sprang to my feet and almost sprinted into the audition room,

my face beaming with a huge smile. I got right in front and center and danced the same routine, now all by myself.

There were 5 different people watching my every move. I caught a glimpse of a normal expression on their faces right before they stuffed them into their papers again.

I was escorted out by the same scary loud guy, who told me to check for the cast list on the website next day. I spent the night tossing and turning. It took me a while to fall asleep, but I still woke up early. I tried to distract myself and pull myself away from what would happen in the next few hours, but it seemed like everywhere I turned there was something that jolted my memory. That one single audition would determine my plans for the summer and probably for my future in musical theater.

The list was posted at 4 pm.

Desperately, I was searching for my name, skimming through the names of 60 other people. My hope was getting fainter. What did I expect? I hadn’t danced in years. Then I saw it! I had to look twice, not believing my very eyes: the reason I was at the end of the list was because I was one of the lead dancers of the show!

The same feeling I had in the green room took over me; I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was placed in the main dance routine! Only 24 hours ago, I hadn’t done a leap in years, but now I had a role in the biggest show my theater does in the year, and it was a dancing part!

I had no idea how capable I was. I had no idea how much dance really meant to me. Dance was where I belonged. No time to think - just dance!

SOUTE! COUPE! ADAGGIO! By: Nicole Schroeder, 6th grade, Avondale Middle School, Auburn Hills

M

ostly everybody has a “thing.” Sometimes that “thing” is robotics. Other times, that “thing” is scuba diving. Some people’s “thing” is cooking. The list goes on and on. I think that if you went down to the N section of the “thing” list and read my “thing,” it would be art.

Many think of art as drawing or painting. However, art is much more! There are pottery, theater, dancing, knitting, writing, music, and much more that can fall under the art category! I love most art, but my favorite is dancing.

SOUTE! COUPE! ADAGGIO! These are some of the words you might hear in my ballet class. They probably sound like gibberish to anyone not familiar with ballet, but these words have become my third language.

We often see pretty images of ballerinas, twirling with their arms 8

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arched over their heads, while their tutus are framing their “very-easy-tostand-on” pointe shoes. How difficult could this be? Trust me, ballet is NOT for sissies.

Take, for example, a developpe to the side that reaches beyond a 90° angle while the back is still straight up. That is what ballet is. Hard work that becomes effortless beautiful movements of expression. I love ballet very much and enjoy the art of worship class choreography. I feel connected to God through

dancing, and that’s why I never want to give it up. It is fun to have worship music in the house and be able to interpret dance to go along with it.

One day I want to be a dancer or a worship class teacher at the Link School of the Arts, where I am currently attending grade 2 in ballet. I am excited to get my pointe shoes that are not-so-easy-to stand-on and be in an actual ballet of Capella next year. Ballet feeds my soul; it makes me happy and safe; this is where I belong.

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POEMS The restroom lurked in her shadow.

Find what I had lost and make it all better.

I had make a colossal mistake,

However my freedom was stolen when my grandmother prevented me;

It caused anxiety for what felt like hours,

Losing My Brother

It was a gruesome decision that was ruefully regretted,

She said I’d just make it worse if I were to leave, So I remained, Waiting eagerly.

By: Audrey Brancheau,

I was incompetent to complete a virtually effortless task,

8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

It caused him to be in potential peril,

Hoping for someone to pinpoint my brother,

A simply made mistake that ruined our day,

Everyone was looking,

I wandered down the endless hall,

Scouting the store,

Passing by the aisles,

I had committed a crime,

Searching everywhere for his destination,

I’d left him behind,

Resembling hawks looking for prey in a time of famine,

The bathroom, But that I failed to find, So I left him in the dressing room, Which I mistook for the lavatory not realizing until later, Being a young child I ran off to tell my grandmother, Reaching her I told her the inaccurate news of taking my brother to the bathroom, I had thought it was truthful until I glanced behind her and noticed my fatal flaw,

This Is Me

He was missing.

Wondering where was the abandoned boy?

The search had begun,

Moments that felt like hours passed by,

Not much had been accomplished,

A man walked through the hall,

My grandmother asked for help from an employee,

With a crying child on his arm.

They called a code adam, But they just exacerbated the problem,

I processed the news and was overjoyed,

They weren’t too scared,

The boy was my brother!

The problem happened often there,

Happily sprinting towards us,

However, we wouldn’t relinquish.

He gave us an immensely huge hug that should’ve lasted forever,

I wanted to locate my missing brother,

That day I learned to always stay united when going to the store.

The creativity buzzing round and round,

By: Victoria Knieper,

What is it?

9th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

Happiness.

This is me.

The rush of the energy of new ideas, the stories, the suspense, the wonders, it’s intense.

Dear readers, I feel that you must know, how I feel when I make stories for you.

The excitement that aloud, I never show, and how it feels to be my own writing crew.

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As he came into view,

begging me to ignore every other sound.

It is active at random times,

For some it’s sports, math, animals, weather, or maybe science.

Change the question a bit and it says, “What is it for you?”

Creation itself.

The feel that I’ve done something that no one ever has, I feel my heart beating and I never want it to pass.

and it’s beautiful when it comes to rhymes.

The creativity flips my mind like a switch, granting me ideas to develop and pitch.

And I do.

I pitch it like I’ve never pitched before, and I’ve never wanted anything more, than this.

Because, this is me.

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POEMS Change Without Consent

“After this school year we will be moving”

By: Elise Shoytush,

I glanced at my dad, uncertainty laid out plainly on my face

8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

Not quite understanding I traipsed into the heavily lighted living room, my sister in toe

The carpet no longer held out the cold of the floor below I was leaving Leaving my friends, my house, and my school

Or maybe just not wanting to “We will be moving…” My mom’s voice faded

Outside the windows the trees which once stood tall and proud

“Moving to Michigan.”

My parents were positioned on the couch, opposite to where I stood

Now they swayed in the breeze with a subdued rhythm

The world stopped

Their faces were blank, masked by the information they held

Minutes turned to hours, and hours into eternity

My eyes met both of my parents gazes and held them

Perched next to them sat my two dogs

My heart crashed to the floor and shattered into fragments all around me

My mom inhaled deeply

All jumbled, a puzzle that would remain unfinished

My feet fell heavily onto the wood floor, and my heart lay even heavier in my chest

My dad sat next to her with false excitement etched into the lines of his face

They were pleading for me to understand For me to say that everything would be okay That I would be okay

My fear of what would come out of their mouths wrapped around me Like a snake, closing in on it’s prey Even on this warm spring day I felt cold The silence was broken with words I did not want to hear “There are going to be some changes in this family...” My mom trailed off The knot in my throat grew as the tension tightened in the room “We..” my mom stammered And for a brief second her eyes met mine Then they flitted to the worn rug on the floor I leaned forward waiting for her to continue, then stopped I didn’t want to hear I wanted everything to stay the same I didn’t want anything to change I didn’t want to change I fiddled with the edge of my shirt, not sure what to do My mom’s voice brought me instantly back to attention

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Just like my life here in New York Incomplete, taken away from me before I could place the last few pieces Moving

For a brief moment I felt hope Then I came crashing back down to reality

The word settled deep inside of me

My shock and sadness morphed into anger

It repeated in my head until it was worn to the root

This would not be okay

This piece didn’t fit My throat closed up

I clenched my fists and stayed silent Then turned around and walked away

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POEMS Final Goodbyes By: Maddy Toeppner, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

Felt like hours.

In bitter silence,

I prayed in my head,

I wondered how much longer I would able to see her like this,

¨ please may she be ok, and please may she never forget us”

And soon it was time.

Going through my head a million times

Holding her tight in my embrace,

Casey´s face was expressionless,

I breathed in my dog’s scent,

With eyes blank as paper.

Feeling her soft black fluffy fur against my skin for the last time.

Her heart was racing,

before my mom had to take her to the vet to get put down was,

She seemed so scared, as if she knew what was going to happen.

“I love you, Casey”

I squeezed her tighter, Knowing this would be the final time I could hold her.

I could tell she was in blissful pain because

I finally let her go

I tried to hold them back,

Her body was shaking, and she was panting heavily.

But I could taste salty tears run down my cheeks

She was too weak.

No matter how many times I said goodbye

My tears streamed down harder.

It would never be enough to forget her.

She couldn’t even lay down,

And onto her fur.

The seconds she was in my arms

NOVEMBER 2017

The dog who’s been with me my entire life, I loved her unconditionally and she loved me back

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P L AC E S

Auburn Hills By: Emily Hockman, 3rd grade, Deerfield Elementary, Rochester Hills

I

belong to Auburn Hills, Michigan. This is where I live.

At one time, however, there was only one person living in Auburn Hills. This man was Aaron Webster.

Aaron Webster was born on August 28, 1775 in Hartford, CT. Prior to coming to Michigan, he lived in Auburn, New York. He was the first permanent settler in Auburn Hills, and he named this city “Auburn” after his old town.

“Auburn” name changed a lot!

First it became Auburn Heights.

Then, in 1983, Pontiac Township merged with Auburn Heights to become Auburn Hills.

Aaron Webster died on August 17, 1823 after catching typhoid. He was buried in the Aaron Webster Cemetery that exists to this day as public burial ground.

California By: Emory Carter, 5th grade, Herrington Elementary, Pontiac

I

belong to California! I know this in my heart as I always feel a strong pull to go there. I think being in California would allow me to be free and whole. I believe California, with its

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beautiful, bright, sunny skies and warm temperatures, will put me at ease and peace.

I want to experience the Golden Gate Bridge. The city of San Francisco, with its hills and scenic views, is an amazing place that I want to visit as well. I imagine the stadiums and arenas that exist there, and I want to see them for myself.

I want to be a part of the Warriors, when

they win a game, and all of the excitement that goes along with that. The people are “pumped” with the feeling of winning, and I want to belong and be a part of it.

California, to me, symbolizes many things. It is a place of sunny weather, cultural diversity, many excursions, and the promise of a multitude of great things. It is my happy place.

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FICTION

The MIND OF A SKUNK CABBAGE By: Nicole Schroeder, 6th grade, Avondale Middle School, Auburn Hills

W

ho would ever think that an average green plant could smell like a slippery, slimy, adorable little animal known as the skunk? Who would ever think that an average green plant would be the low point of a flower’s day? No one, that is until Sir Skunk Cabbage was planted on the side of Clinton River Trail.

Hello, my name is Sir Skunk Cabbage. I am a leafy green plant and live on Clinton River Trail. I don’t feel I belong here though. I have ten yellow flowers that live next door, and unfortunately, I also live by deer, a.k.a., the death of me.

“Why?” you might ask, “Do you hate the deer so much?” First of all, hate is a strong word, so thank you for using it.

Second of all, would you like someone if they thought you were horrid? For every single time a deer walks by and eats my stalk, it looks me straight in the eye, tongue hanging out of its mouth and screams, “YOU ARE HORRID!” If you would feel like you belong when somebody says you are horrid, bless your heart. For if I had a mouth, I would tell those deer that they are horrid, too, for eating my greenest stalk that I worked so hard to grow.

The ten lovely yellow flowers that live next door are plotting to move out! All I have ever been is kind to them (which is an accomplishment for I do not have much kindness left), and all they say is, “You’re too STINKY!” I don’t even know what “stinky” means, and I have quite

NOVEMBER 2017

a gargantuan vocabulary (gargantuan is a fancy word for large, if you weren’t sure). I was thinking of some of the other words I know that sound similar to “stinky,” like pinky and dinky. However, no “stinky” came to mind. Only words with no meaning can express the loss of ten yellow flowers, I presume. I guess we just don’t belong together.

Those black fluffy creatures with the black and white tails stroll along every once in awhile. They give me an air high five. I think it is because we can relate in some ways. We both are left out as well as are told that we stink and are horrid.

I cannot wait until the day when we all go to the S.S.R. (Secret Skunk Runaway) together; maybe this place is where I belong.

Now night time has come, and I can finally relax. Well, not completely, as deer come out at dusk. However, the moon looks like the smart smile of a skunk, the stars glitter and gleam like a nearby stream, and peace starts to fall on Michigan’s much famous, confusing weather. I start to drift off into dreams

of the S.S.R., and peach fullness fills my pint-sized skunk cabbage soul.

1 month AND 14 DAYS later. . .

Sir Skunk Cabbage got picked by somebody, smelt, and dropped into the middle of Clinton River Trail. He felt alone, despised… Would anyone ever love him? Would he ever love anybody?

A squirrel came and picked him up and journeyed of into the woods. The squirrel dropped Sir Skunk Cabbage and left him alone…again.

Sir Skunk Cabbage was lying alone, having no hope he would ever find love, when a skunk cabbage with biological limbs came waltzing by examining the ground below. This peculiar skunk cabbage picked up Sir Skunk Cabbage and took him to H.F.H.S.C. (Home for Hurting Skunk Cabbages). There, safe and supported by others, Sir Skunk Cabbage went through therapy and ended up falling in love with Miss Stink.

They were wedded at S.S.C., where they made their home.

And this is how Sir Skunk Cabbage found where he belonged!

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FAMILY

Grandpa

By: Gianna Woita, 4th grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

M

y grandpa made me feel like I was important. He made me feel

like I was the only one in the whole wide world. He treated me like I was Royal. When I got home from school, he would make me do my homework, and then, when I was done, let me play. He also ran a tight ship while he was babysitting, just like my dad. We liked to tease each other and do puzzles together.

My grandpa made me feel like I belonged.

Today he is no longer with us.

The day we lost him was a very sad day. My mom was at work when she got the news that her dad wasn’t doing well and she needed to fly to Florida. The day my mother got there was the last day in my grandpa’s life. He left us that night.

Even though he is gone, we still have him in our hearts. We share memories with each other. In my memories, Grandpa makes me feel very special; he makes me feel that I belong.

Special Place By: Justin Sykes, 5th grade, Herrington Elementary, Pontiac

W

hat it means to “belong” is to feel something somewhere that you have never felt anywhere else: this place is for you. My special place is my house at 1172 Eckman Avenue. My home makes me who I am because of the people who live there. I feel this way about my house because it is a special place with special moments. Many of the things here have sentimental value and are very important to me and my family.

What makes us belong somewhere is how we benefit and help others benefit. My parents help me flourish by helping me with sports and homework. My parents push me to be the best I can be, so I can grow up to be a successful human being. In return, I help them by sharing my ideas and helping out wherever I can.

Where I belong is in a home with lots of love and strong family values. I know this is my place because I feel safe, secure, and able to flourish in all I aspire to do.

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FAMILY

I Belong Where My Heart Is By: Sophia Catella, 7th grade, Sashabaw Middle School, Clarkston

T

he day had finally come. My parents were going to tell me why I looked nothing like them.

Their dark skin and vivid blue eyes didn’t match my pale complexion and bland brown eyes. My friends had been suggesting that I was adopted. I refused to believe them. I would always reply with “Then why do I love them so much?” That was true: I loved my parents more than anything in the world.

It wasn’t possible that they were not my parents.

Mom and Dad walked into my room while I was pondering my dilemma.

“We know you are confused by the difference in our appearances,” my Mom began the conversation.

I nodded my head, showing I wanted her explanation.

“We’re sorry we didn’t tell you sooner...”

“We didn’t think it would matter, but we were wrong.” My Dad interrupted.

“We weren’t sure how long we should keep this from you. We didn’t know how you would react.”

“What we are trying to say,” Mom continued, “is that we are not your biological parents. We’ve been fostering you since you were three months old. Your birth parents decided that they were not

My Family By: Dayonnia Buck,

5th grade, Herrington Elementary, Pontiac

I

belong home where I feel safe. I feel special at home because my family is at home. We do a lot of

NOVEMBER 2017

ready to take care of you. My friend told me about a baby girl who was beautiful and gentle. We knew you were perfect for us, but we didn’t want to adopt you right then. We thought that you should have a say in this decision, when you were old enough. Then we just fell in love with you. The closer we grew to you the more we worried that you wouldn’t want us to adopt you...”

I couldn’t think or breathe. This was worse than I had imagined. The fact that my whole life I had been living with people who weren’t my biological or even adopted parents was unreal. I was a foster child. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the truth.

“Are you serious? You are not my real parents?” I heard my trembling voice as the truth was overtaking my limp body.

“I’m afraid it’s true, Sweetheart. We are sorry it took us this long to tell you. We were...scared to lose you.” My Mom’s expression of sorrow was now spreading across her entire face.

Not knowing how to respond, I blurted out the first thought that had come to my aching mind, “Do you know who my

real parents are?”

I regretted it immediately. The faces of the two people I loved the most were covered with utter sadness and pain. I didn’t want them to think I was leaving them.

“I’m just curious,” I added quickly.

“You don’t have to tell me.” “ No,” my Mom replied, fighting back her tears. “We’ve kept enough from you. Your biological parents’ names are Gavin and Jennifer Jones. They live in Detroit. We understand if you don’t want to live with us anymore. It wasn’t right for us to keep the truth from you for this long.”

I felt wet warmth and tingling in my eyes - the tears of pain, gratitude, and deep realization that it was only because my parents loved me so very much that they didn’t want to tell me they weren’t my birth parents. They were scared that I would leave them. My heart was overflowing.

“No,” I said. “I’m not leaving. It doesn’t matter that you are not my real parents. I love you. Here is where I belong.”

things that make me feel happy. I feel special at home because my mom is nice to me, I don’t get hurt, and I can be myself.

Home is my favorite place to be when I am sad, mad, happy, or want to be alone. My favorite spot in the house is my closet, when I need some alone time.

Every day when I get home from school, I go upstairs to my room and chill and relax.

That is where I belong. I belong at home with my family, watching T.V., and feeling safe and secure with people who really love and care about me.

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SOCIETY

Boys & Girls Clubs

My Friends By: Jadin Moore, Deerfield Elementary, Rochester Hills

D

o you know that feeling of belonging to some place or with someone? For me, this feeling comes when I am with my friends.

The first reason I love to be with my friends is because they are kind!

Everyone needs someone friendly to be there when he or she gets a D on a very 16

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By: Noah Kim, 7th grade, Avondale Middle School,

Auburn Hills

H

ave you ever been an “at risk child?” Let me tell you, it isn’t very enjoyable. All kids need to have a place where they feel like they belong. That is why there are safe places for kids: Boys and Girls Clubs.

important test. I sure do! Everyone needs kind people around; I do, for sure, since I can be really emotional. The point is that my friends are where I belong, forever and ever.

The second reason is that my friends make me laugh. If I just got shoved around or teased, they still make me smile and laugh. When I am feeling down, I call on my friends! Even if I’ve had a rough day, they’ll make me laugh - another reason why I belong with them (and not my brother.)

Finally, NOBODY CAN LIVE WITHOUT SLEEPOVERS!!!! This is the best reason there is! Who doesn’t love to stay up all night with a friend (or two!), play “Truth or Dare,” eat sweets, and put each other’s underwear in the

The founders of this club were three women, Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, and Elizabeth Hammersley, who started the first Boys Club in 1860 in Connecticut.

Believing that boys on the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the first Club. Character development was the purpose of the experience.

Now, Boys & Girls Clubs help millions of kids develop various skills, build relationships, have fun, and feel like they belong.

Boys & Girls Clubs offer a safe environment. They provide a safe shelter for children dealing with family dangers or whose parents are not home until late.

Kids can come here after school and during the summer. You can spend long hours at the club for a very small fee ($50 per year).

This club always creates new activities to make kids happy. Kids here are not going to play video games all day; they would rather play 3 on 3 basketball or kickball! There are many programs to choose from: the arts, education, health and wellness, and more!

All in all, every year the members of the Boys & Girls Clubs make this club a place to belong for kids who have family problems. This is a great place to be!

freezer?! I love to have “prank wars” and other goofy stuff, but the thing I love most is hanging out with my friends. It’s where I belong.

Everyone needs a friend, no matter what. Especially me, for I have anger issues and can get really mad (I mean it!}.

However, I have to be nice to my friends and help them out. I try to make them feel the best they can, and in return they make me feel awesome!

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PEOPLE WE ADMIRE

My Blessing By: Andrew Bratton, 6th grade, Sashabaw Middle School, Clarkston

M

any people believe that having a special needs brother is a burden. To me, however, it is a blessing in disguise. My eight-years-old brother, Jonathan, has a rare genetic disorder called 18p-.

This condition, caused by a terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 18, interferes with his ability to do many everyday things that most people take for granted. Jon does not speak, he is legally blind, and he has moderate thinking impairment, which prevents him from clothing, feeding, or bathing himself. While this might sound scary, Jon is able to enjoy

NOVEMBER 2017

his life and make a positive impact on those around him.

Jon is a blessing to me because he makes me feel important. He lets me hug and hold onto him much more than he lets mom or dad. He follows me around and copies what I do when I am playing at home. Sometimes, he passes a ball with me, but more often, he likes to take the toy I am playing with or the seat I am taking. When I come home from school, Jon is always there to greet me.

His expression of love for me makes me feel special.

Jon has also helped me mature faster than most kids. Since the time he was born, I had to learn to be responsible. My dad taught me how to watch over Jon and report any health issues he might have. I used to watch him in his crib at night to make sure he rested. Now that Jon is older, I help with feeding him. Jon really enjoys pudding and ice cream, and it is funny to watch him giggle as he eats. There have been times when I had to miss out on an event or getting a toy

I wanted, because we had to be careful with money, but it never really bothered me. As I am now getting older, I really appreciate the chance to help with Jon as he is growing up, too.

Finally, Jon shows me how to be unselfish. He never gets mad at anyone.

He may become upset when he does not feel well or when he is hungry or tired, but he is never mad at a person, just the circumstances. He does not yell or take my games or toys. Even when he is really hurting after one of his surgeries, he rarely cries. He usually just lays still and whimpers. Jon never holds a grudge when I go away for a week to our church camp or to hike with the scouts, and he is always happy to see me come home.

Jon and I belong together. He makes me a better person, and I feel happy to help him enjoy his life just a little more.

If you ever see us out at the park or at the soccer field, feel free to come over and meet Jon. I bet he will become a blessing to you, too.

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S P O RT

Basketball By: Andrew Bae, 5th grade, Woodland Elementary, Troy

I

feel basketball is the right sport for me, even though I’m not good at it yet. The reason I like basketball is because the moves in this game are so cool that it makes me want to play it more and more.

When I was just starting to learn the game, two friends taught me some tricks. One taught me Crossover and the other taught me Pass Back. Crossover is a move in which a player dribbles the

ball quickly from one hand to the other.

Pass Back means a player passes the to his or her other hand on the back. This is tough.

At first, when I tried Pass Back, I kept missing and missing, and I got so frustrated that I even threw the ball away! I got very sad, and I thought I was a lost case.

Then when I was about to cry, my friends came and cheered me up! After a few more practices, I finally got the hang of it. Then I scored. I was really proud of myself.

Gymnastics By: Jaleyna Alexander,

4th grade, Deerfield Elementary, Rochester Hills

I

love doing gymnastics at GTC - Gymnastics Training Center. When I’m at GTC, I feel I am myself. I have many friends, who are all kind and funny, and awesome encouraging coaches there.

I started gymnastics because I was inspired by examples of many great athletes. It just looked so fun on the television! I watched my first Olympics and the amazing gymnastics when I was only eighteen months old, but I started gymnastics because of it. My favorite gold-medal-winning gymnast is Gabby Douglas; she is amazing.

I feel gymnastics is challenging, and that’s why I love gymnastics. When I mess up or fail to perform a skill, I always feel like I want to give up. My coach understands this and encourages me to do better. She always gives me a second chance.

My favorite thing to do at gymnastics is the bars because I enjoy doing many cool flips. My second favorite thing is the beam. I love to walk on the beam and do cartwheels on it.

All in all, gymnastics makes me feel special, powerful, and welcome. That’s why it is where I belong.

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www.KidsStandard.org

S P O RT

Karate By: Sophia Le, 4th grade, Deerfield Elementary, Rochester Hills

K

arate! That is where I belong. I love karate for many reasons, but the most important reason

NOVEMBER 2017

is that karate allows me to be who I am.

Karate is where I belong because I don’t have to fit in. I love that I can be who I am and not to think that I have to be like everybody else. This allows me to be creative and to inspire other people to be themselves.

I love karate because I gives me confidence. I feel open and not scared to make a mistake. I feel I can say what I believe is right and not to agree to everything.

This is important to me because I can be

too shy.

Finally, I like karate because people I meet there are very kind. The instructors are very supportive and always happy to help. Additionally, I have made many friends who share my passion for this sport.

Karate is a great sport that teaches many important lessons. It helps us understand our minds and bodies. It builds our character. It gives us confidence to be who we are.

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WELLNESS

Healthy Eating Tips and Tricks for Thanksgiving Nuview Nutrition

N

ovember means holiday parties that fill up our weekends and bellies. It’s time to spend like we have endless amounts of money and freedom to eat whatever we see. We always have January to clean up our holiday messes, right? Wrong.

We’re all guilty of it, and we regret it the minute January rolls around and we have to work so hard to get that weight off before Spring Break. While it’s easy to put on, it’s harder to lose and weight is the least of our worries. While I might not have any inspiring words for the excessive spending the holidays bring, I do have a strong message for overindulging on those holiday meals and treats: It’s not worth it.

The candies, pies, cakes, cookies, fudge, stuffing, and cheesy potatoes are not worth the bloat that brings on that muffin top over your favorite pair of pants. It’s not worth it when you stand in front of your closet and have nothing to wear. It’s not worth the sugar crash, moodiness, and fatigue.

Although they’re fun, holiday parties can be frightening. You might feel helpless to make healthy decisions, but you are not.

At Nuview Nutrition, I’ve learned how to avoid the trouble foods and you can, too. Follow these helpful tips and you won’t feel like you’re missing out, especially when you leave feeling so good.

Don’t skip that healthy breakfast or you’ll binge eat later. It’s harder to make better decisions when you’re starving. For an appetizer, nibble on veggies and proteins. If you’re unsure that they’ll be there, simple: bring them! Step away from the food table and go mingle. Busy your mouth with chatter! When dinner is served, leave room to see your plate. Avoid starchy foods like potatoes, rolls, stuffing, and pastas, or just pick one. Finally, for dessert, fruit always gives me that sweet satisfaction. However, if you insist, choose one sliver of your favorite pie. There’s more pie in your future—you don’t need every kind of pie in one night just because it’s there.

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Remember how you felt last January. Think back to when you were exhausted and struggling to get those ten pounds off.

Was that candy worth it? That second helping of stuffing, did it make you feel good? I promise: You’re stronger than food. Use this holiday season to prove it.

YOUNG ATHLETES: Peak performance requires the right fuel intake for your body!

MOM: Let us make it happen with a Healthy Nutrition Program!

Call Nuview Nutrition today to ask about our Fuel for Performance Program.

Let our team of experts design a program that will enhance your athletic performance!

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in empowering kids to become independent learners: To donate, go to http://kidsstandard.org Make a difference for kids, sponsor us! http://kidsstandard/sponsor Sign up to volunteer: http://kidsstandard.org/Volunteer

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The Patio By: Julee Lo, First Grade Teacher, Carpenter Elementary

I

School, Lake Orion

n the 1960’s, a patio was a musthave, do-it-yourself home improvement project. Armed with shovels, a wheelbarrow, and a few bags of cement, my dad and uncles turned a sandy bit of yard into a space, which over the years became my special place - a place where I learned about my family’s history.

On Sunday afternoons in the summer, my grandparents, uncles, and cousins would gather with my family, sitting out on the patio with glasses of iced tea for the grown-ups and Kool-Aid for the kids and reminiscing about their younger years. Hearing their stories allowed me to make personal and emotional connections to their lives.

Studies show that family stories help a child form a strong sense of identity.

By being exposed to family storytelling, children learn family values. I, for example, learned that in spite of having little money, my grandparents provided food for their large family by doing farm chores while also working at jobs

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outside of their home. Through years of hard work and thriftiness, they became financially secure.

Experts claim that teenagers, whose families talk about their histories, have better coping skills and are more resilient in difficult situations. As the story goes, while my grandpa was making deliveries on his dairy route, the horse bolted. After a wild ride, the wagon ended up on top of my grandpa. He survived, but was left with two severely broken legs. For the rest of his 90 years, he walked with an exaggerated limp as a proof of his resilience.

Hearing family stories helped me learn that people could laugh at themselves.

My aunt, after much searching, couldn’t

find her car in the mall parking lot. She called the police to report it stolen. When she located her car a few minutes later, with much embarrassment, she quickly drove off before the police could arrive.

No matter how many times she told us the story, we laughed together every time.

Stories are also told to preserve the memory of family heroes, no matter how big or small. Growing up without indoor plumbing, my mom and her younger sister would have to trek to the outhouse when nature called. At night, they would get their older brother to go along. He would bravely walk out with a broom in hand and bang it all around inside the pitch black outhouse to make sure that it was free of any critters or other occupants. Such acts of bravery elicited a sense of family pride.

Knowing about his or her family’s history gives a child a higher self-esteem and a sense of belonging. It is my hope that young families todays keep this important tradition to help their children discover where they belong. As for my own grown children, I hope that they, too, have gained a sense of identity, self-esteem, and resiliency by learning about our family history throughout the years.

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PA R E N T ’ S C O R N E R

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU BELONG?

Maggie Razdar Publisher/Founder

T

he place you come from is a significant part of who you are. Whether it’s a big city, a small town, or even another country, it establishes your foundation, and it’s the beginning of your identity.

No matter where you’re from, you probably have some beliefs that are similar to those of the people you grew up around, but you may have some different ones, too. And it’s entirely possible that you might find that you have plenty in common with people who seem very different from you.

If your experiences are anything like mine, you see that as much as we are all the same, we’re still unique. We hold our own personal philosophies and behaviors, and we have our own places that we feel we belong to.

My family moved from New York in 2010. Anyone with teenagers could understand how devastating that can be. My children thought it was the end of their world. They felt as though they not only were losing friends but cutting the connection they had to places they belonged to; places that were part of the fabric of who they were.

Fortunately, my children soon found themselves surrounded by people and friends who made them felt they belonged, that they were part of a community of caring people. We had an NOVEMBER 2017

awesome superintendent, Dr. Rock, who was adamant about how children felt about their surroundings and made every effort to make them feel included and an important part of school. The confidence and the relationship Dr. Rock built with my boys helped to alleviate worries about their belonging in the community. Soon they became more involved and influential in their school, and then later they took that same confidence with them to college. They had benefitted by expanding their sense of community.

If you’ve ever lived in different places or you were someone who always was different from others, you probably can identify with the experience my boys went through.

On the other hand, many of you live in a place where everyone has known you since you were born, they have a good idea of how you will react in any situation, and they’ll likely let your family know if you mess up. Whether you want it or not, supervision and guidance, both positive and negative, surround you in every direction. Pulling away socially is almost impossible because everyone knows you so well. You cannot opt out of belonging.

Belonging and being part of a community is important for your success.

Here are a few different ways to build that sense of belonging, both for you and for others around you. To make others feel a sense of belonging requires active

effort and practice on your part.

1. Find Similarities

Increase your sense of belonging by looking for ways you are similar to others instead of focusing on ways you are different. You can learn from those who are older than you. Listen to the stories they tell; you may find their experiences enriching. You can contribute your own strengths, whether that’s being helpful or trying to make a difference in your community. Even accepting someone for being who he or she is can be a strength that you bring to your community. It’s not necessary to agree with another person to accept them for who they are.

2. Practice Acceptance

By learning how to accept others for who they are – and where they have come from – you begin to build your own sense of belonging as well as theirs.

Acceptance comes from listening to another person without passing judgment.

It is based on the idea that every person is valuable because of their experiences, both the unique and the similar.

3. Validate Other People

One of the best ways to communicate acceptance and build a strong sense of community is through validation. When you validate another person, you help that person build confidence. Together you build community. The rapport you have created allows for a sense of belonging even though you may disagree with each other.

When you validate someone, you show that you understand where they’re coming from. There’s no judgment, only a stronger relationship between the two of you. It’s this kind of relationship that creates belonging and builds community, regardless of where you’re from.

Create belonging in your community . . . and Enjoy 23

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