Exhibit:                      Watching Nolan Every Saturday

Benchmark:               Personal Management
 

Skill:                           P102: Demonstrate safety and self-control requiring minimum direction and supervision.

Starting my freshman year my dad had to pick up a second job on the weekends, which is when my mother usually works.  Now that both of them work on weekends it is my responsibility to watch my little brother Nolan.  My little brother has Autism and now on the weekend it is my job to make sure he behaves himself, he eats and he gets all of his work done.  Where most teenagers go out and have fun Saturday nights I stay home and make sure my little brother gets some exercise and gets to bed on time.

 

My eighth grade year we lost our family business of over thirty years and times were tough, after my dad became unemployed.  When freshman year came around and he finally found another job he was not making nearly as much as he used to, so he got a second job on the weekends.  My mom has been working twelve hour days every weekend since she began her career.  These conflicting schedules caused me to become the responsible party on the weekends.  Every Saturday when my little brother wakes up I make him breakfast and I make sure he takes care of his dishes.  I let him watch some T.V. or do something for an hour or two and then I have to have him take a shower and do some of the reading he needs for school.  While he does that I straighten up the house and do whatever homework I have to do for the weekend.  As we go into the afternoon I make him lunch and then I have him go outside and get some exercise while I take a shower and finish up whatever needs to be done around the house.  In the evening I make him dinner and when my mom gets home she eats then goes straight to bed.  After we relax a little after dinner I make sure he gets to bed at a reasonable time and I put all of our animals away for the night.  Every Saturday has turned into a way for me to (P102) demonstrate safety and self-control requiring minimum direction and supervision.
 

The ability to be responsible when no one is watching takes a lot of control.  It is a skill that should be learned, because it allows someone to get things done without having to be supervised.  As an Art Director I will have to work as a leader, so I will have to do all my work without someone standing over my shoulder telling me to get it done.  I have to make myself work without getting distracted, which takes a lot of self-control.  Right now in my life everything I do, I do because I make myself I am the only one telling to me to do it.  I am completely responsible for myself and I have not done anything dangerous, and I am completely safe and healthy.