This week, I spent a lot of my time logging data for different ADAMH-funded summer day camps in Columbus. Each camp that is funded by the ADAMH board must have their campers complete AOD-V baseline and follow-up surveys. All of the camps must turn in all of their surveys to CND so we can enter in all of the answers to one excel sheet. That task has been assigned to me. The purpose of the surveys is to measure how well the camps are doing at educating their campers on AOD-V, as requested by ADAMH.

The surveys consist of 3 short answer questions and 12 YES/NO questions. The short answer questions are meant to help the children identify characteristics about themselves and people they can go to for support. The first two YES/NO questions are meant to gauge where the child comes from. The rest of the YES/NO questions are quiz questions to test their knowledge on drugs, alcohol, and violence.

I have learned a lot just from reading and copying the answers these children put down for these questions. I have learned that about 90% of the population plays videogames, specifically Fortnite and 2k19. I have also learned what a gacha edit is (something little girls are up to these days). Some of the answers these kids write down are also very entertaining. I had a 3rd grader answer that one of the things he likes about himself is “his waves are bussing.” That made me laugh for about 5 minutes.

Something else I draw from these surveys is that a lot of kids do not feel safe in their own neighborhood and they do not feel they have anyone who supports them. This absolutely breaks my heart and it has made me want to keep doing what I am doing. It is such a blessing for me everyday to have children come to me and tell me I am their favorite teacher because I know that they have at least one person they can go to for support.

I came into this fellowship as an Arts Manager with a goal of showing kids that art can be an outlet for them. I am now 2 weeks into camp and I have been contemplating getting an MSW just so I can keep doing this kind of work. In school, I always said I was more interested in indirect practice, working in advocacy or policy. Now I am realizing that I am fulfilled when working to directly solve immediate issues in our community. I have a lot to consider when looking for full-time work in the coming months!