Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Why running is like social work
Why run? It hurts. Every time I go out, the first two miles of a run I swear, spit and sweat a lot. My face gets red and I ask, why am I making myself suffer like this? A few reasons came to me after I'd passed the three mile mark on Sunday's run.
Here is what I came up with:
It started with my Dad. Sweaty track intervals.
Then came Miss Garvin. Inspiring, listening to "baby we were born to run," long runs up Carter Hill. I was captain of our team, really I was.
Then I went to Montana and ran to fit into my best jeans and so I could stay upright on my skis.
In Ecuador, I ran with Ank and Stacy while car loads of men hung out the windows whistling and we... ran faster.
In Vermont, I ran pushing my babies up our dirt road with my wobbly baby jogger.
Now, I run so my kids will be motivated to stay active, so when Matt's friends say, "do you mountain bike, MC?" I can say, "no....but I RUN!"
Along the way, while I was running, I became a social worker. Now, I aspire to teach college students to become change makers, socially conscious community members, culturally sensitive beings, future social workers. Everyday, I talk to my students about working with underrepresented, impoverished people. They always ask me to tell them, "what will it be like when a client is crying in our office, terribly alone? How will we know what to do?"
And I tell them, "it's like running. It's hard, your face gets red and you wonder, why am I doing this? How will I ever be able to make a difference or know what to say?"
But, like my life of running you keep moving ahead. You get better, the hills get easier, your heart rate goes up, you get yelled at out the window, you learn to cheer more for your children and less for yourself, you hate it some days, but love it more days.
Being a social worker requires lots of guts, sweat and a solid core. Running feeds that, at least for me. And the best part? Your jeans will look good too.
Please give. We need your help.
Here is what I came up with:
It started with my Dad. Sweaty track intervals.
Then came Miss Garvin. Inspiring, listening to "baby we were born to run," long runs up Carter Hill. I was captain of our team, really I was.
Then I went to Montana and ran to fit into my best jeans and so I could stay upright on my skis.
In Ecuador, I ran with Ank and Stacy while car loads of men hung out the windows whistling and we... ran faster.
In Vermont, I ran pushing my babies up our dirt road with my wobbly baby jogger.
Now, I run so my kids will be motivated to stay active, so when Matt's friends say, "do you mountain bike, MC?" I can say, "no....but I RUN!"
Along the way, while I was running, I became a social worker. Now, I aspire to teach college students to become change makers, socially conscious community members, culturally sensitive beings, future social workers. Everyday, I talk to my students about working with underrepresented, impoverished people. They always ask me to tell them, "what will it be like when a client is crying in our office, terribly alone? How will we know what to do?"
And I tell them, "it's like running. It's hard, your face gets red and you wonder, why am I doing this? How will I ever be able to make a difference or know what to say?"
But, like my life of running you keep moving ahead. You get better, the hills get easier, your heart rate goes up, you get yelled at out the window, you learn to cheer more for your children and less for yourself, you hate it some days, but love it more days.
Being a social worker requires lots of guts, sweat and a solid core. Running feeds that, at least for me. And the best part? Your jeans will look good too.
Please give. We need your help.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Little History
JMU Be the Change Profile: Matt Trybus
A heart for Hondurans
When Matt Trybus visited Honduras as a learning partner for JMU's Community Services Learning program, he saw first hand the cycle of poverty that has plagued the nation for generations. He also met people working to change a country where children often are forced to choose work over education. "During my first trip to Progreso," Matt says, "we spent the week with a founder of Organization for Youth Empowerment. We became fast friends as we have much in common, particularly that we want to leave the world a better place than when we entered it. OYE aims to build a larger youth movement, where young people have a space to speak and listen to each other. Through financial and individual support, students experience academic success, as well as self-sufficiency through programs that focus on education, health, economic development, sports, art and culture. The goal is to create youth leaders who are agents of positive change in Honduras." OYE is changing lives.
In Matt's day job, he's an access specialist with JMU's Office of Disability services. He and his colleagues work to change the culture for those with disabilities. He wants to do the same for Hondurans. Last year, Matt joined the board of OYE. His commitment, though, is hardly perfunctory. In addition to working directly with OYE, Matt and his wife Mary Clay, a social work professor at Mary Baldwin, are also using their passion for running to raise funds for OYE by running in the Richmond half-marathon. Matt adds, "And there will be many more trips to Honduras!"
"Change is a force, but not an end, that allows us countless possibilities to grow, to open our minds and our hearts, to see opportunity and hope, and to overcome the limitations we create for ourselves and those around us."
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Our Chip-in Widgit is up!
Hi Everyone!
We just wanted to let you know that our Chip-In Widgit is up, which means we can finally start collecting donations for the Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE). Thanks for your support as we continue to train for race day. Remember, no amount is too little...except zero. Zero is too little.
Lots of love from Matt and Mary Clay
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