The more I work at the juvenile center the more I like being there. The youth are very needy, and once you start to develop a relationship with them, you want to see how they are doing and holding up within their personal programs and goals. You watch them grow and then have relapses back into old behaviors. What seems like really childish behavior usually has a hidden reason behind it. Most of the time it is a matter of a family issue. The youth don’t always have the emotional capacity to open up about their problems, and that is why they act out with irrational behavior. It is not until they calm down and realize that their behavior was very child-like, that they open up to you. Then you get a true look into their character, because they are at their most vulnerable state. It is amazing to watch, because you get to see them admit their faults, and move from an immature or adolescent state of mind, into a more mature and adult-like mind. It is wonderful to see when they realize that you really do care for their well-being and emotional development.
