Now that we've been exploring Dylan's journey on the streets through Theories of Relativity, consider the day-to-day reality and hope(?) possible for those on the streets.
1.) How do people change their situation?
2.) What do they need? What organizations? What types of support?
3.) Do you think that change is possible for those that are on the street? Why or why not? Explain your ideas.
Remember, when commenting, respond in complete sentences to all 3 questions. Please edit. This is a public forum, what you say, and how you say it matter!
1) To change the situation that you're in you have you have to change a couple things about yourself first. After all its your own bad habits/choices that got you to where you are now in the first place.
ReplyDelete2) Well, there is always some kind of support system out there that can help you with your problems. Counselling, Rehab, (that is if its needed), youth centers etc.. the list is endless. And most people think that you have to have tons of money to get this help, and to get this special treatment but you don't. There are a lot of free support places where you can go if you really need the help. I would know because i went to a few when I was in trouble last year. After all, you can't just change like that alone.
3)Everyone deserves a second chance at whatever it is. Sometimes life gets hard and throws you a curve ball but its never something that you can't over come. If you really want to make the change then its possible but its all up to you and how you feel. If you refuse the help then you will never succeed and you wont get very far with your life.
I applaud the positivity in your response. Clearly you think nothing is impossible
Delete1. I think for people to change their situation, they have to retrace their steps and attempt to re-do all the bad choices they made, if possible. If that's not possible, the person will be in the situation they're in for a long time since they already messed it up for themselves.
ReplyDelete2. There are a lot of things that homeless people can do/go to. They can go to a rehab or youth centers. There are a lot more things then this but these may be some of the main things. What homeless people think is that it's too late to go to these things and they can get away with everything by doing drugs.
3. I don't think change is possible for those that have been on the streets for over 6 months because they have already been on the streets for far too long and they've probably taken drugs and have gotten addicted to them. If they try to change their habits, they can't because the life they have been living at the moment will always be their life form now on.
Interesting timeline Tejvir. I agree that the longer you're on the streets the harder it is, but 6 months seems a bit fatalistic.
Delete1. In order for these people to change their situations, they must first change themselves. It's more than likely that they are on the streets because of their own mistakes and even if not, depending on how long they've been there they may have picked up some ugly habits that they need to correct before starting clean. After this, they will have to look for others for support and help.
ReplyDelete2. No one will be able to change on their own, so organizations and support are required. Like Taylor says, conselling, rehab, and youth centers are all excellent help options that don't require much money. Even if the homeless have not taken the first step to get back on their feet and are ready to belive in themselves, having the support of others might be just the push that they need.
3. The chances of people on the street being able to change their situations are very slim in my opinion. Even if they have support and determination, that sometimes isn't enough. It's a big gamble to try to drastically change your life from rock bottom to normal and too many of them have already given into addicting drugs which can hold them back. The reason some of them are on the streets in the first place and why we are not is luck. If they are serious about changing and if enough opportunities and lucky breaks arrive to greet them on the way, then they will have a shot at getting off the street. Change is possible, but unfortunately not very likely.
It's true lucky breaks can help, but overall changing one's situation once they've ended up on the streets, with all of its complex challenges, is less likely.
DeleteDo you think that there should be support for mental illness? What factor do you think emotional and mental illness plays in ending up on the streets?
1) For people to change their situation, they will have to be willing to commit to the change and not just give up if it gets too hard for them. Also, getting help to change is always beneficial. It gives you more motivation not to give up.
ReplyDelete2) There are many organizations that help with many different situations. There are shelters that homeless people can go to for a place to stay and some help. There are rehabilitation centres for people that are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Or it can just be a friend or family member that can walk you through the process. They can be there for motivation and support. Not everyone needs an organization to help them out through change but it is always nice to have.
3) I believe that change is possible for homeless people, it is always possible, but it is highly unlikely. Many homeless people don't want help and they already are addicted to drugs and alcohol. And others want help but they just don't know where to go, so they are just stuck on the streets. Then there are the few people that make the change happen. They seek help and change their whole lifestyle for the better. It would be great for more homeless people to get off the streets but it's just one of those things that will only work if they want to be helped.
It's interesting that you mention their friends and family. Consider Dylan's situation or Twitch's. Their friends are those they make on the street, or Jenna, who's running away from her family.
DeleteBut your point of their whole lifestyle needing change, and support for that change, is accurate. As we've seen in our novel, even caring for oneself, let alone shelter, food and job opportunities become almost insurmountable challenges.
1. For people to change their situation they need to realize what they have to change about themselves and understand it's going to be hard. Support from others also helps a lot, especially if the person is heavily addicted or has low willpower, and ends up giving up.
ReplyDelete2. Support from family and friends can go a long way, working a lot better than if it were total strangers. They have a connection with the person and if they truly care, they will try hard to get them back on track. They will have to stay away from drugs, obviously. They should attend a program where they can talk about their problems and relate with others. Fellow patients can be a support for them too, because they also know how hard it is to fix their situation.
3.It is only possible for people on the streets to change if someone cares and helps them. The influence of drugs on the streets is strong so they can't do it alone. If someone can forcefully push them away from the influence they may have a small chance. Other ways someone on the streets could prevent/stop the influence of drugs in their lives is if they can realize not to start or when to stop. Someone who can do this must be a strong person though. It's hard to stay strong on the streets, they will eventually need someone's help too.
Your continual reference the necessity of help is significant. It can't be done alone. People need second (and third and fourth and fifth and....) chances. But as you and many have pointed out, there;s an internal strength and intrinsic motivation that is needed. Without the two, change may be out of reach for many, if not all.
Delete1) For people to change their situation they should try and change themselves first. They could start getting an education or find another family member to help and support them, or try and quit drugs. They should find a way to get back to their life and think about the path they took and what they can do to change it.
ReplyDelete2) I think the number one thing they need is support, not from strangers but from family and friends (like Andrea said), without it they won't have the confidence to do anything. There are many organizations like youth centers that can help people get an education and then find a good job. They also need somewhere safe to stay because (for example) a lot of them have already become involved in drugs and so it's is scary for them because obviously the person they bought drugs from is going to try and find them and make them buy more drugs, making them even more addicted.
3) I think that change is possible if you have confidence in yourself and a lot of support. If they are involved with drugs the first thing they should do is quit or go to a rehab center to help them quit. They should also try and get an education. But the most important thing they can do is find a family member and talk to them about it. A person's life mostly depends on his family and friends. Anyone can change their situation if they really put their mind to it and if they have the right support.
Parveen you say that a person's "life mostly depends on his (or her) family and friends," but what if they have no friends to turn to, and their family is the reason they fled? For example, our novel implies that Jenna ran away from abuse, which is none of the largest deciding factors of youth who turn to the streets. What can they do? Who can they turn to? What do they need? What are their chances?
DeleteIn our novel Dylan's friends offer him sleep in an abandoned warehouse (Twitch or Amber) and his family closes the door on him, but it's Glen (a stranger) that offers him the bus ticket and a job, and it's Ainsley that offer him food and shelter at the youth centre. Food for thought.
For people to change their situation they first have to change themselves. For homeless people, they may have to look a little deeper and work a little harder, but they do have the ability to change their position in life.
ReplyDeleteNo one can change on their own. They need support systems, motivation, and encouragement. There are many government programs out there that are willing to help them, for example: shelters that homeless people can go to, counseling, youth centers, and rehab. It doesn’t necessarily have to be some kind of place; it can be a family member or a friend that can help you. And as Tejvir mentioned that homeless people think that it’s too late to go and seek for help."It’s never too late to change your life."
I firmly believe that change is possible if you are determined and passionate, you “can” change your life and lead life the way you want. The only thing you need is SUPPORT. “Nothing is impossible” the word itself says “I’m possible!”
Do you think society is as optimistic and supportive of change as you, and your peers have been? Are there enough support systems, or is it too little supply for the demand of need.
ReplyDelete