Over the past week, what deposits did you make in the bank accounts of your Link freshmen, transfer students, leaders, family, and friends? Please detail who you made the deposits with and the outcome. How did you feel? How did they feel? Please complete this blog response by 7:30a.m. on September 15th, 2011.
Over this weekend, I made a deposit in the relationship bank account by spending more time with the part of my family who I don't spend enough time with. Some of the family I spent time with lives within a mile from us while others live several hundred miles away. While we were all visiting together, I made a large effort to catch up with everyone and find out what is going on in their lives; this encouraged better relations as I attempted to close the gap the distance left us. I felt very good that the gap had been bridged through my efforts, and my family members also expressed happiness as it was obvious they were happy as well that the gap had been bridged.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend, I spent time with friends that I do not usually spend time with on a normal basis! It was so much fun, and very rewarding to catch up! We laughed for a good portion of the conversation, it taught me that it is important to spend some time with people who you don't normally see, and value the time that you have with them! Also, the tailgate on Friday was an excellent way to reconnect with my link kids! I saw three of my freshmen, we chatted and took pictures! It was a blast!
ReplyDeleteSaturday I called my brother, and had a really good conversation with him. For a while he's been in and out of jail, doing drugs, etc., and I haven't really done my role to help him. So Saturday I called him and yelled at him for not coming to something I invited him too that was really important to me. I did this because I wanted him to know how I felt, instead of just ignoring it. After we were done arguing I told him over and over again that I am always here for him if he ever needs to talk about anything. He said he missed playing music with me and how much he wishes he could've been there for me after our dad died. I feel really confident about that conversation. And I'm going to keep calling him and checking in to ensure him that I'm not leaving and I'll fight with him. And I believe he felt better after it also, just knowing that if no one else is gonna yell at him for his mistakes, that I will.
ReplyDeleteJust the other day, I made a deposit into my relationship bank account with one of my Link Crew kids in particular. He had just told me that his grandpa past away the day we had been talking. I reassured him that if he needs anything or anyone to talk to that his Link Crew Leaders were there to hold him up. He thanked me, which put a smile on my face. It was very rewarding letting someone know that you are there for them.
ReplyDeleteOver the past week I have been making strides to make as many deposits as I can into others bank accounts. Last Friday at the tailgate I sat down and had a conversation with one of my link kids. All I did was listen to him and find out was going on in his life. I learned a lot about him and found out he did some really cool things in the community. I thought that our relationship became stronger after that conversation. Also, I have been trying to do small acts of kindness around the house. Last Sunday I took out the trash and mowed the lawn for my dad because I knew he had other work to do. I have also been trying to be more helpful with friends and putting their needs ahead of mine in certain situations. Overall, making deposits this week have made me feel good and proud of myself because I know I am making others happy because of the few simple acts I have done.
ReplyDeleteThis week I made a deposit into my relationship bank account with one of my LINK freshman. He was a little flustered about homecoming and what he needed to do to prepare for it. Because of his anxiousness, he really seemed to need some help to relax and calm down. He was truly afraid that the girl he was going to ask to homecoming was going to say no. So, I sat down to lunch with him and listened to what he had to say. Because of my reassurance and attentiveness, by the end of our conversation, he was visibly more relaxed and was now confident that he had a chance with this girl. I learned more about him during this conversation as well, not just about his worries of homecoming, but about who he is and what he likes to do. Our conversation made both of us more comfortable around each other and even made him want to have lunch with me again. I felt good about my deposit because not only did I see he enjoyed our lunch but so did I.
ReplyDeleteThis week I tried to make deposits in my relationship with my sister. Our conversation Thursday made me realize that I had been neglecting this really important relationship. I made a special effort to spend time with her and really listen to what she was going through. (She's in middle school, a notoriously difficult time). It was the best conversation that I've had with her in weeks and made me feel closer to her and strengthen our relationship. I've also been trying to make deposits with my freshman. One in particular stands out to me. During orientation day I thought this girl was particularly shy and would be hard to get to know. It turns out to be just the opposite, she is such a wonderful girl. I made sure to stop and talk to her at lunch and I even was introduced to her friends. I spent a bit of time with her at the tailgate and really got to hear how she was genuinely doing and feeling. It was amazing how much I learned about her. These simple things have really helped me to appreciate the relationships that I have and see how I can strengthen others.
ReplyDeleteThis week I made deposit into my relationship bank account by talking to old friends that I hadn’t spoken to in two years. Keeping friendships with people from middle school into high school can be difficult. Relationships need communication and semester of not communicating with a friend certainly hinders the friendship. Just the other day I had a meaningful conversation with one of my old friends. Knowing that they has remained the same person I knew years ago made me happy and I’m planning on renewing my friendship with them.
ReplyDeleteMaking deposits into some of the RBA's I have has been such a great feeling. The main relationship I focused of was with my mom. I tend to be very private and not share to much information with her; however, this week my dad was out of town which helped us grow closer. We went out to dinner and the whole time we just talked and I told her about some things that she did not know was going on in my life. I am sure she was very happy because she always wants to know what is going on in my life, and she finally found out. Also I was more patient with her this week. I tend to get frustrated easily but I took time to calm down and not get mad at her either which felt great. It was a great feeling because I felt close to her and I plan to keep up with these deposits. Another deposit I made this week was with one of my freshman. I was really stressed out on Monday so I was in a bad mood and I forgot it was my partners birthday when I saw her. I wasn't very nice to her but it wasn't personal I was just to stressed to talk. The next day I started to talk to him and he told me that she thought I was mad at her. I felt so bad, and I told him I wasn't I was just stressed. I really didn't want to tell him my issues because I am supposed to be the one helping him, but he was very persistent that I tell him and he made me know that he cared. He made me feel really comfortable and let me just talk about what I was feeling and it made me feel so much better. I couldn't believe that my freshman was so nice and I was so thankful to have built a strong relationship with him. Even though I didn't make the deposit that time into our RBA and he did I felt that it still built up trust and communication in our relationship. This past week has really helped me understand how to create positive relationships and I know that this is what I will strive to do in the future.
ReplyDeleteI made deposits in my Relationship Bank Account this weekend by hanging out with friends who I have not seen in a long time and met new ones. This weekend I went to the soccer game and saw friends who I have not seen in a while. I rarely hang out with these kids because our friends, unfortunately, do not get along. I decided that it doesn't matter what my friends think and sat with them durning the game and after and had a really fun time. This made me feel exceptional because lately things have not been going well for the person and by letting them know I am there for them and reassured them that somebody cared about them. This experience not only deposited in my relationship bank, but it taught me a lesson. That lesson is to not always do what your friends want. You don’t have to hang out with the “cool kids”, because who you “hang out with” does not define who you are. Emerson once said “ To be great is to be misunderstood” and I think this quote means to not always go with the flow, but go outside your comfort zone and dare to be different.
ReplyDeleteWill Okazaki
Mr. Trotter's lecture last thursday really made me think about what is important and who is important to me. While it inspired me to make multiple deposits into RBAs of my freshman, it also inspired me to talk to someone whom with things haven't quite been up to par with. While I was trying to approach them, they were in a conversation with someone, so I waited for a later time. However, while I was playing ukulele for some freshman who wanted me to play for them, the person came up to me. We had both been thinking the same thing. We had both made withdrawals, and it was time we made deposits to make up for it. After this happened, I felt better than I had in a long time. This idea of a relationship bank account has changed the way I approach people all together.
ReplyDeleteDuring the week, I made deposits to the Relationship Bank Account I have with one of the freshmen in my Link group. Since orientation day I hadn’t really talked to this individual other than just saying “hi” and asking what class they were going to. I felt like I needed to talk to them more in order to strengthen the relationship by having more conversations and less small talk. She is a pretty shy person, and I wanted to kind of get her to open up to me. At the Varsity Tailgate event I was really able to connect with this person and I was excited to hear what she had to say and she seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. Ever since then we have seen and talked to each other in the halls and she seems to be more open with me when we talk about school and classes and anything else that comes up. I plan to continue to make deposits in this Relationship Bank Account throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteDuring the past week I've had plenty of time to make deposits and keep relationships going. One that I'd like to reflect on is with one of my LINK kids from last year. I could tell he was in need of the link crew program and I paid attention to him and I helped him acclimate. I got him into Ultimate Frisbee, talked to him all the time about his hunting, and still say hi whenever I see him. Our RBA never closed and is stronger than it was last year because I was able to find out more about him in the last year. It is something I am proud of and glad I can look back and reflect on it.
ReplyDeleteJust today I made a new friend. For about a week now there has been a new kid in my history class.I noticed he was really quiet and didn't really talk to anyone. Just until the other day I did not know what his name was. But today I saw him in the hallway and said Hi and had a small conversation in between classes. Later in the day we had History and we talked and sat together. I felt really proud of myself that I reached out to him. He seems like a really nice kid and I'm glad I talked to him. He smiled a lot today and it made me smile. It's a great feeling!I started a new RBA today and I am going to keep the cash flowin!
ReplyDeleteThis past week the most significant deposit into my relationship bank account was with my mom. We both have busy schedules and sometimes don’t get the time together that we should. On Sunday we decided to set aside some time just to talk. I left me phone alone and she turned off her emails. We turned off the TV and just chatted for almost two hours. There was nothing predetermined to talk about, we just talked in the direction the conversation travelled. I learned some things about her that I didn’t know and she helped me figure out some issues I was having. My mom and I are very close because most nights we at least plan to sit and eat dinner together, even if that is the only time we have together during the day. Because we talk so much, I feel like we can talk about anything without it seeming like a big deal. I felt like it was a good bonding time. I felt good afterwards because I felt closer to my mom. She talked to me about college and that really helped me as I go through my junior year. She also felt good because it was comforting for her to know that her teenage daughter still wants to talk to her mom and come to her for advice.
ReplyDeleteToday after a hard swim practice, instead of doing our normal push-ups and running for dryland we got to do yoga. At the end as I lay on my back in corpse pose I got to thinking about everything in my life. Really I was supposed to only be focusing on my breathing but it is so much easier to just think. I thought about my parents and my friends and my teachers. Monday was my dad’s birthday and instead of going and watching T.V. by myself in the basement I watched the Bronco game with him. Maybe I felt pressured to do it because it was his birthday or because on my to-do list I had written “<3 dad.” Whether I did it for the right reason or the wrong reason I did it and I think he appreciated it. We were able to catch up and I told him about school and swimming and what was going well. He told me about his new project at work and how he may have already read the book I got him as a present. I think we both really enjoyed it. I would call that a deposit. This whole week my locker partner has been really sick. She is on four different kinds of antibiotics. She texted me and asked me to bring her her math book. I brought her the book as well as a goody bag with a magazine and tea and “emergen-c” and probiotics. Then I sat with her for a while because I could tell she was lonely. I think she really appreciated it and said she would have given me a hug but she didn’t want to infect me. Instead of just bringing her the book I did something that made her feel better. I feel like making these deposits in my RBA made me happier and made the people whom it affected happier as well.
ReplyDeleteDuring this past week, I experienced a sort of rough start to the relationship between my sister and I. However, I quickly turned that around by investing my relationship with her by spending time with her and taking time to listen to her. Through this, we developed a stronger faith and trust in each other that helped us connect and allowed her to open up to me for advice that I was extremely happy to give. It made me feel very needed and important in her life and I was happy to be bestowed with this responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI have come to understand the importance of connecting with my freshmen. One of my freshmen texted me and they were saying things that concerned me. I assured him that we could always talk and he could vent to be about anything when he needed it. We scheduled a time to meet and I listened to all he had to say. I did not know how to respond but it seems that he now feels that he can trust me. By following up with this student, I have been contributing to the Relationship Bank and have been able to bond with him and be an outlet for him. I am grateful for the tools I have been taught to build and strengthen relationships.
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