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“You want me to do WHAT?” Work supervisors at Advent Home hear these words so often! Perhaps it’s when a new student is asked to shovel gravel, vacuum his room or weed a flowerbed. Although some of Advent Home’s ADHD students arrive with a good work ethic, most have little or no work skills…and even less motivation. However, when they leave, one of the things they are most grateful for is the fact that they have learned how to work. Take Brian* for instance. When he came to Advent Home, he showed very little interest in his future, acting indifferent to staff’s attempts to help him develop his skills. During the recent work bees to frame staff homes, he worked side by side with skilled builders. At the end of the day, looking back on what he had helped to accomplish, he said, “You know, I think I could do this kind of work!” For the first time in his life, Brian is enthusiastic and motivated about his future! Work is a blessing to us, appointed at creation as a part of a healthy, balanced life. Advent Home’s work education program aims to recreate this attitude in ADHD boys, who are so often in need of vision and a sense of purpose. Our ‘practical classroom’ includes tasks in the greenhouse, garden and tree nursery, in addition to construction, repairs, landscaping and general household chores. As boys participate in physical labor on a daily basis, they learn valuable life lessons: Work trains for life. The wide variety of work environments at Advent Home teaches different skills, making students more aware of their talents and of vocations that might suit them. Work teaches entrepreneurship. When students are involved in productive tasks, they see how careful management of resources brings financial gain. For example, by planting and tending seeds in the greenhouse, they learn how value increases as each plant grows. Work develops character. Work builds valuable character traits, such as patience, diligence, responsibility, teamwork, respect for others and pride in a job well done. Work develops practical wisdom. Hands-on work experience encourages close observation and independent thought. These are important building blocks for developing common sense, something that many ADHD children struggle with. Work provides exercise. Useful physical labor is the cheapest way to keep fit! It also provides access to other health benefits like sunshine and fresh air. Work develops spirituality. Working outdoors puts students in contact with God, our Creator, who nourishes and sustains life. Being productively employed also means there is less time or energy to get caught up in negative behaviors, such as drinking, smoking, computer addiction or sexual experimentation. Over the years we have seen countless examples of how important work is as a means of therapy. We are constantly planning new ways to reach our students through our work education program. Automotive skills and harvesting hay are two areas we plan to develop next. We believe that these changes will make a significant impact in the lives of our students, both now and they graduate from Advent Home. *Brian is a pseudonym | ||||
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