Day 1.

Day 1 of internship. (and what a day it was)

Today was interesting. I started my day by riding the bus at 7:16 in the morning in order to make it to my internship on time. Despite traffic delays I made it to the southwest Riverside county courthouse at exactly 9:10. not entirely sure how i managed that, but I did. 

After fighting my way through security, my day truly began. After gathering paperwork and heading down to Courtroom S102 I was able to watch many eye opening and quite frankly devastating hearings on Child Abuse.

My stomach was turning. Luckily for the beautiful courtroom floor, it had nothing in it. I knew I was always interested in Human rights, and more specifically Children Rights but hearing what these kids have to face every day only makes me only want to fight harder.

As I sat next to Ms. Galvan learning about the different cases and approaches to them I was privy to horrific information on what neglectful parents can do to a child. 

Later after lunch she had me fill out report summaries on the case-files cheat sheets persae on what was in the case file. I read about molestation of a 13 year old girl. I read about a 5 year old boy whose mother's girlfriend beat him until he was black and blue. I read about a 10 year old boy that was likely to suffer seizures and a mother who failed to provide him with the proper medication. I read about a 16 year old boy whose mother was deceased whose father was stealing his social security and was living with his dying Aunt and alcoholic uncle. 

After reading about tragedies and hearing victories, no matter how small; it made me realize how much I want to help. 



        I discussed with Ms. Galvan the perils of the foster care system and how children who are abused are put into the system and forgotten about until age 18, where they are either kicked out or stumble blindly out onto their own. These teenagers are likely to fall into the same degrading circle of destruction as their parents or one similar to it. Homelessness and drug abuse is rampant among such people.

I want to help. I don't know if I can make a big difference, or any difference at all but that is my goal. I intend to organize a Gala event for Teenagers  Changing Their Tomorrow or (TCTT). This event will be a fundraising event for community members, attorneys, foster parents, (politicians perhaps) and any one else who wants to make a difference. It will raise money in order to create a halfway house for foster teens about to break free from the system.  In this halfway house they will learn life skills such as applying to college, managing money, getting a job and other such useful skills. 

My project is still in it's developing form as it is ambitious I doubt I will be able to complete it in three weeks but perhaps I can finalize the details.

If tomorrow is as exciting and as eye-opening as today was then I am sure that this internship will be a great experience. 


                                          I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.