Summer vacation is finally here...time to worry about my kids who have no where to go.

Hi all....SoulfulSurvivor and Fledgling....sorry I have been away....was a hectic last few months...end of the school year..and all the drama that goes with that...kids not graduating, kids close to graduating, and those who will....and the kids realizing that for many...it is a final goodbye to their best friends.
Well...the girl I was working with...she barely graduated, still not talking to me, but if I saw her, she would smile and say hi, maybe srike up a small conversation....but that was all. I gave to another counselor a small graduation gift to give to my girl. The counselor said that the girl was stunned, speechless, got a bit choked up, but she never did say anything to me..even at the graduation, she just walked past me..oh well....
And for my other girl, who at first didnt like me...well..she became my success story....I worked so hard with her...took her from one who will "never, ever graduate, she is just a loser," to one who graduated, and was not even close to being held back....seems a few kind words, a place to be accepted, someone who believes in you...those little things work wonders.... Both were rape/assault victims...the first girl, calm, sweet, caring, nurturing...became one of the leaders of a fairly violent gang....while she didnt do the fighting...she would get others to do it for her....and the second girl....raised violent, been stabbed, been gang beaten, and she was the leader of another gang...well..she came to me...saying she wanted out...wanted to get her life back in order...so she was jumped out .....yet was still friends with those people. I will never forget the parent conference I had with mom....All I did was praise, and I told mom that she should be proud for raising such a wonderful daughter....her daughter was helpful to kids in need (Special Ed students), was a great role model to them and that as a graduation present, I was going to pay for her ticket for Grad night. Mom just sat their stunned, waiting for negative, something bad had to be said...I laughed and said nope, I just wanted to introduce myself and to say thank you...mom and daughter spoke just a bit...when the girl talked about plans for high school and then...out of nowhere, said she dreams of going to college....mom just sat there....I and an assistant smiled and said of course....It seems this has been a deep dark dream/fantasy for her and this is the first time she dared say it...
This mom....is one who blames everything bad on the girl....tells the husband do not speak to the girl...she is a useless slut....just ignore her...My kids understand why I dont really like parents....but others...mostly friends of mine...they dont get it...
Just want you to know that you never know when you will change someones life....and the ones you least expect, they may become your shining star...For me....this year has been hard....so many abuse and rape cases....some that were so far over my ability, and even with warmth and caring...nothing I could do....While I know I can't save them all...it hurts when I see some fall away....or get pulled out because a parent just wants to forget and feels that the best thing to do is make the child not deal with it...nor discuss the issues....
I am frequently asked why I dont work in a school where there is less violence, kids have a higher standard of living...I really dont have an answer...must be my calling, karma, dharma..