The month of November has been very chaotic and exciting. I’ve made big progress with raising awareness for domestic violence and am proud that I was actually educating people from my own community. It made me feel like I was actually making at least 1% of change in the world by educating my community on what domestic violence really is. I think it was my aha moment because I felt like I was doing something. It made me feel like someone as small as me can do something like this to help her own people out in the world. But as for mentoring I don’t feel as though I’m making much progress with my mentees. To be honest I was scared at first because I don’t always communicate in the best way and am a bit shy so having to go out and be like a role model to someone younger scared me. So in a way it’s helping me push myself and be more open with people and at first I did think I was making some  with my first mentee but then it started going downhill but I still believe she can improve her behavior. As far as my second mentee I haven’t really talked with her much but I’m really hoping that with my menteeprogresss being best friends it will help with trying to improve their behavior in class. I think that if I can get one to behave a little better than the other mentee will follow and behave better as well. But as of right now I want to focus more on controlling their temper which I know is going to be difficult because I was exactly like them at that age but know it can still be possible. I want to try some breathing activities and strategies to do when they feel they're being to get upset so they can control it and not take it out on the teacher and adults but also so they won’t be arguing as much in school and learn that sometimes just staying quiet and letting the other person cause a distraction is better not only for them but for the very one. So once they get back to school that is how we are going to start of the week maybe some meditating or doing some activities they even enjoy or bring to the table would help and help build our relationship as well so they know that even if they do get in trouble or cause something that I’m here to firstly hear them out on what happened, and then talk it out and explain that maybe they could’ve go about it in a different matter or hopefully if they do the right thing congratulate them on being the bigger person.

Although this year has gone by very fast there has been a lot of pros and cons that came with it. I feel like this month I didn't do all that I could’ve. I should’ve pushed myself more and put more effort into my studies, but my mentality was not there. Next month I want to change that. I want to put more action into my capstone and improve more. As far as mentoring is going I feel as if there's not much progress happening anymore. The girls just don't seem to care about anything and having to say the same thing over and over to them feels exhausting. I just wish they would show some good things to show that this isn't all for nothing, that I am their mentor and we are seeing some kind of change. I don't think I really handled the whole situation as best as possible. I feel as if they just see us as they are friends who are the same age and grade as them. But that is something I have to work on. I have to set some more boundaries. I love that they see me as a friend and they are comfortable with talking about anything with me but I still need them to know that there are situations where I am the adult and they need to listen more. So that is what we will be working on. As far as them showing any improvements they have been doing some more of their work but they aren't turning in as much work as I wish they were. This month was what I describe as a slow month for me because I was dealing with things out of school along with things in school as well, and I didn't do all I could have been doing. Although I know I think as an adult, this month I was acting like a teenager and not taking all the advantages I should have been taking and after sitting back and reflecting on that I realized that sometimes I have to put my personal issues aside and act like an adult. I was too focused on me and didn't focus on my capstone nor my mentees the way I should have been. But next month I am going to do better, because in order to move along with both of my capstones I have to put my focus and all into it. I wouldn't say this was my best month but I will not say it was the worst either because I have moved along with my mentees a little more than last month. Although we still have to work on their behavior, they aren't skipping as much as they used to do before, they have improved a little more with doing and turning in their work, and are improving some of their attitude towards their adults. I don't think that these girls are the worst as everyone seems to think of them. I just think they are misheard and I understand how they are feeling because we have all been in their shoes. Whether we act like that at home or in school but everyone has felt how they are at least once in their lives. I think they just need someone to hear them out and they need to know that the whole world isn't against them, that they have someone in their corner to hear them out about what is going on and direct them in the right direction. Although our responses aren't always what they want to hear, they understand where we are coming from and can at least acknowledge when they are the ones in the wrong and why.