I must say my placement in Bridges Project has given me a real taste of social exclusion which young people face. I have been reading a lot about the huge potential which they can offer to society and now
I have real picture in front of me!! Most of the youngsters are very nice. They are interested in many different things such as music sport, art; good at knowledge quizzes and so on. A good thing is that they are really keen to develop themselves as a person!!! However, most of them have real barriers!!!!! Nearly every time it is noticeable that their personal beliefs prevent them from seeing further opportunities. For example, people around them always treat them as being nothing and without any interests just because they were born in a certain kind of environment.
During this placement I have noticed that quite often people can’t see what qualities they have, and they mostly concentrate on the negatives. It was very interesting to find out how gifted people such as Beethoven or Newton had been told that they never are going to achieve anything in their lives!! It shows how people can put others down and classify them in a non- achiever category. This is why I am really pleased places like the Bridges Project exist!! They concentrate on the young person, and they really put an effort to build them up and support them!!!
Yes, I think it's hard to imagine just how we would feel if we had been given all these negative messages from the rest of society - and perhaps especially from school - all our lives. I, too, have been surprised - blown away!! - by just how resourceful and resilient and BRIGHT almost everyone I've met from that kind of background is. And agree, they have SO much to give, but have just never been given a proper chance up till now.
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