Karolina

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

I'm just letting you all know I offered Karolina a choice today and she took me up on it. She's going to be allowed to use her self-defense class period to meet with Haller. I'm not an idiot and I will be checking in with him to make sure she a) shows up, b) uses the time constructively with him rather than sitting there sullenly. I've also told her as much. I don't want anyone tagging her for truancy if she's in transit to his office during that class period. I've also agreed to give her class credit for every day she does meet with him and she has the option to, of course, bail and go back to failing class by sitting in the back doing nothing. I thought maybe taking her out of her least liked class and giving her something else to do with the time that may benefit her with someone who is least likely to make her feel judged or looked down on could be the first step in the right direction for her. We'll see if it works, I suppose.

Comments

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the new arrangement will have a positive effect on her. Like you said, a first step in the right direction. Good idea, cookie.

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm hoping so too. I think she greatly suspects I'm up to something devious but hopefully after a few days with Haller she'll realize I'm not. I'm hardly her favorite staff member, after all. Actually, she asked me why I was doing it since I hated her. Ouch.

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

I think being suspicious of authority figures goes hand in hand with being a teenager, in the majority of cases. I wouldn't let your pretty blue feelings be hurt over it.

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

It wasn't the suspicion I cared, but the fact she seemed to genuinely have convinced herself that I hate her.

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

Don't teenagers genuinely think everyone hates them? Okay okay, so I'm being trite. The important thing is that you've proven her wrong and started her on what will hopefully be a path to self-improvement and personal enlightenment to make her a more productive and happy member of society.

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

You're aiming to high. I'm going for not completely miserable and not taking off without her school-issued cell on her for starters.

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

That is an excellent idea. Well done.

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

If it helps, I can vouch for the fact she did make an appearance -- even talked. I think she might be a little suspicious of me too, but to be honest I tend to see that as the appropriate initial response to "adult whose job it is to get into your head and also happens to have telepathy".

The thing is, Adrienne is sort of right about the "typical teenaged mindset" thing -- I get the sense that for Karolina the situation is less about being at Xavier's in particular and more about not being at home with her family. Considering the circumstances a lot of the students and staff have come from, it's not too hard to underestimate how potent homesickness can be. Especially after something like what happened in Manhattan, which really did shake her up pretty badly.

I'll work with her. She does feel a little persecuted, but I think she's still too close to the situation to differentiate the frustration of not being able to do anything for her from actual dislike. Hopefully we'll be able to reach a little perspective there, though.

But for the moment I'll settle for her keeping her cell on her, too.

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

It's all about one step at a time for me, but you do make some very good points. Especially with the homesickness thing as I'm one of those people who don't come from a background which makes me very understanding. I think she's a good kid but I think she's got a lot of Stuff (capitalization intentional) going on and she needs to work it out before she can move on. I think she was receptive to the idea of being a catalyst of change when I told her she could air her concerns with you and you would then take them to the rest of the staff and we would change things as needed if they were valid points. I, personally, get very frustrated with her at times. I admitted as much to her today.

I think you'll do her a lot of good and I got the feeling she was willing to put some effort forth which, I think, is the hardest part. No one can be helped if they don't want to be, after all. My hope is that eventually she will not only just not be miserable but also enjoy being here and see it as an opportunity for a variety of reasons. That, however, is a hope and there are a lot of steps to get to before that. If it does her any good at all I'll be happy.

Also, if there ever comes a point where you two have accomplished all you can with her I am willing to renegotiate my terms with her. No reason to reward good behavior with going back to flunking the girl.

I'm glad she showed up, though. I put her on the honor system today and told her if she violated my trust she'd never have it again. I think giving her that inch to make or break herself helped a bit, made it less of a jail and more a place where she would reap what she'd sown, which is what this school ought to be for the kids, I think. It's encouraging that she showed up and talked. I'm a bit more calm about the decision to give her the option now.

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Let's just hope it does her some good. (Who cares if it bites me in the ass, honestly, but it doesn't look like it will.)

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

I was being melodramatic. Perceptive much? Like you said, one step at a time. I very much get that.