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So. This is my 2nd time going to ASCA Conference. This year it was in Beantown. Boston was actually a more diverse city than I expected. A lot of pride support (small businesses/big business district), Muslim and Asian residents were very prevalent. It was not on the level of Los Angeles, but hey, I Love LA…We Love It. I will get to my thoughts of the conference in a moment. Some things to try when you go to Boston:
So all in all, I enjoyed Boston, I was out of my shell a little more. Got more confirmation in my goals and how I want to expand my toolbox as well as becoming an even better PSCOC. Hope to see you all next year.
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So. you may ask who this guy is in the picture? Well, that is my dad. M.Sgt. (ret.) Roger Vicks. This was taken in around 1992-94 when he was home on PTO from the Marines in California. Hard guy to read sometimes, sharp, dry humor (I can se that; I get it from him), sneakily supportive, sarcastic, to the point, etc. and served our citizens for 22 years in the Marines. I lost my dad on Feb. 13 to a heart attack in his sleep. I can talk about all the bad times, good times, heartbreaking times, confusing times, but I'm going to give you only a couple.
Football Season 1994 Location: TCHS I was Drum major at Tri-Cities and my dad was stationed in California finishing his time out. I never would have thought he would ever come see me march in the band, but he used some time off to visit and actually made it to a game. Can't remember the one game, but it was a great thing to see him there. My mom worked crazy hours and she could only make it to a couple. Same expression. He would always tell me, "whenever you do something (job, band, etc.), you do it until they fire you, you never quit, make them fire you. I was like ok, sure..another story in a bit..Just seeing him there in the stadium was a highlight for me. Football Season 1998/2001 Location: The Fort Valley State University So, remember that part about my dad said to never quit...Well, I didn't take his advice in '98. I was DM at FVSU in 1998, but after 4 games, I quit, selfish reasons looking back on it and it was one of my biggest regrets to date. e was not mad, more disappointed in my decision. Always with the wit, "so you're gonna be DM again right"? I shrugged it off and kept moving forward. fast forward to '01, I had opportunity to be DM again at FVSU. He told me, " you should've never quit the first time." I Know, I said. I am making the best of my second chance I received. He came to every home game (including homecoming where my mom and dad cooked. this was the Red velvet cake gate two people tried to re-enac the Cosby Show episode where Cliff and Olivia stuffed the cake with paper towels to sneak a couple slices. I will keep those names anonymous for now. That year I did sprain my ankle during a game, he was there to check on me, CAU did show out one game, but that year was vindication because I heeded my dad's words. Always Forward, always. March 2008 location: Atlanta Medical Center So my dad was at work and some dude came in and shot him 5 times, Stuck in ICU for almost a week. This was going into to be it I thought. Seeing him non-responsive, but he made it through, Despite the different ailments, health scares tied into it, he made it. This changed him drastically from the person he was to someone who we wanted. May 2016 Location: Liberty Univ. I was graduating with my Masters in School Counseling from Liberty. All the times I had to travel to Va. for class, he would be the one to drop me off and pick me up at the Amtrak train station. Always encouraging me. But that week I was about to graduate, he told me he was so proud of me that I completed my M.Ed. "Now, when you getting your Doctorate and your own school?'. SMH is all I did. "Dad, let me get good at my job first"...lol..Always forward, always. 2/16/19 Location: Mom's house So it has been three days and some hours since he died. Still don't feel real, almost feels like when my best friend Toure died in 2010 and Reggie passed in July 2018. Not real, no way, only 63. Died in his sleep, heart attack. I didn't even wanna stay in ATL. I just wanted to run away from this. I was mad, hurt, angry, engulfed with rage and inconsolable pessimism. I didn't get to say goodbye, anything. My dad was a little cold, but if you don't know his past from being mistreated and neglected as a child from his biological mother. To having his first born son die 4 days after his birth to me barely hanging on for months and had to give me up to his mother in law while you and mom were stationed in Az. because of my health ailments, to always being stationed far away from us (Korea, Japan, California). I have taken time to mourn, look at pictures, take some reflective time to myself, use work as an excuse to grieve my own way. I can't look at my mom's house the same now without you walking down the hall with your white t-shirt and basketball shorts, and XXXL cup of kool-aid in hand. You leaving the house to play cash 3, cash 4, and whatever mega millions night it was. These days have been tough. But one thing he has taught me. Always forward, always. Thoughts on my #ASCA2018 trip to LA. LA is a great city. Wouldn’t mind living there. Didnt have to deal with discrimination or racist under/over tones like the south has. Ride sharing is the move. Don’t rent a car unless you need to go outside LA. I went with Yolande, my wife, and we also took in The Broad (museum with free admission in advance). Great pieces of art that was on display. We also went to Grand Central Market. Various restaurants with different styles like Philippino cuisine, Asian fusion, etc. There are vegan options available. Another positive was the progressiveness in tech (Apple/Samsung Pay).
The actual conference. First time to the conference so I was apprehensive throughout because of the amount of people, but a good experience. What I did notice was the lack of female and male PSC of color and that is something that will need to be addressed within the next 10 years. There is an opportunity to raise these numbers and have a bigger voice in ASCA And having true diversity. A lot of the subjects covered it doesn’t affect me now, but they will in the furure (diversity, HS, etc.). A lot of support with mental health, mindsets, and self care. I didn’t attend those sessions because I can research for myself and we will have a mental health clinic this year at my school. The main focus for me in the sessions I selected was to advocate and promote my counseling program and leadership. Those were helpful, insightful, and great to view other PSC’s perspective in regard to their programs. I met a few counselors and shared our experiences with caseloads, duties, and various ideas. I am working on some things to become a more efficient counselor. What I will take away from this experience is the fact that we got on a plane and went. I am appreciative of the opportunity to go to ASCA this year and working on attending next year. Well, well, well. I have completed my second year as a counselor. My learning curb for this year was a little more difficult than expected but it is part of the job. A few more responsibilities dropped on me, more trust in my ability to complete tasks. I also assisted in starting an Advisory Council for us to get ready to RAMP at Appling Middle School. I can say I handled the adjustment well. This upcoming school year we have some changes in the building and I hope that we will continue the growth with our students.
This summer has been different for me. I am teaching in the Summer Opportunity Program for Eighth graders who did not meet the requirements for the Georgia Milestones. Trying to help the rising ninth graders to get to high school. It is also an opportunity to make some extra money for another event, which I will get to later. It was a little difficult meshing three different schools in one class (BHMS, AMS, and MMS). Four hundred plus students at our location and everyone is working hard to get them ready for their home high schools for the 2018-19 school year. We only have 8 days left to get them ready and salvage the rest of my summer break. One thing I have learned from summer school is that we have to teach our kids to advocate for themselves as well as teach parents how to advocate for their students. Parents are not going to know how to advocate because they may not know the terminology or the proper channels to execute it. Students also have to learn how to speak up for themselves in their educational journey, in which they will be properly trained and prepared. Well, that other thing I mentioned earlier. My district is financing me to go to the American School Counselor Conference in Los Angeles in July. I am excited about attending this year and I am ready to recharge and refresh some ideas for my counseling program as well as a break from Georgia with my wife before school starts back for me on July 25. Well, enjoy this summer, it always goes by quickly. |