(Week 2)

  Today the class activity was to photograph five emotions.




   
    I was hoping that I could participate more in the activity. I was allocated to accompany four girls to the toilets as this is where they chose to take their photos.

  After the mornings talk with Jo I was a little more than apprehensive about being with them. Two of the girls were a bit more outgoing than the others and seemed to push the boundaries a little. I wasn't particularly confident with them.

  I ended being with the two outgoing girls. I stood at the entrance of the toilet door as they giggled in the mirror whilst applying their makeup. One girl proceeded to apply an ear extender in her ear. What is my role here? I stood there lightly prompting them to take photos. Not at all liking the situation I felt powerless just standing at the toilet door. Eventually they took photos giggling and then deleting them...

   On our walk back to the classroom a teacher stopped to make some light hearted jokes to one of the girls. She commented that she liked this teacher and then lengthened the conversation to tell me about her family. I listened and smiled giving her my full attention. I was pleased she had initiated a conversation with me and had shared a little of herself .

  Back in the classroom the students were working in their visual diaries planning out their personal flags. The two girls I had just spent the last hour with were now winding tape around their hands together. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of this.

  I shared my visual diary with two of the girls I had talked with last week and they shared their thoughts on 'If I were...' I feel like I have made a small connection with these girls, they were very comfortable in sharing with me and I was at ease with them. The girls asked if I would go outside and take some photos of their facial emotions.

A poem in a Visual Diary

  We shared some laughs and then suddenly things turned sombre. One of the girls revealed she had low self esteem because she didn't have a boyfriend. Inside myself I panicked. For the girls I nodded and listened. Are they confiding in me or are they testing me? Do I avoid these conversations or let them talk? I let them talk, though I did feel sick in the pit of my stomach. I feel like they are talking to me like a big sister. I am not sure I am comfortable with this. I have an open mind but Jo's words were floating around in my head. I took in every word they said but looked for an opportunity to change the subject effortlessly.

  The day was disappointingly short, although as I walked to my car feeling overwhelmed, however questioning how I express my own feelings and thoughts. It dawned on me I don't show any emotions other than happiness...

What counts to these teenagers

What is important to this student