What is a family?

Editor Note: During the March program meetings, Journey into Womanhood was proud to partner with Girls Inc. for a two-part discussion on relationships and communication. Listed below is a recap of the conversation from JIW Jazmine R.


What is a family? A family is a group of people who cares and love for each other. What defines a family? It means to love, trust, communicate, be together, and listen to each other. What makes a family? A family could be anything from a mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle, or even a close friend. What makes a family stay together is that they all understand each other and what the meaning of family really means to one another. In a family each person should play a role which should affect the whole family.

On March 12, 2012 Girls Inc. joined JIW at a meeting and we talked about various topics. The most important thing we talked about was families. We learned that families are important because they support us, guide us, and love us unconditionally. Sometimes we may not like or get along with them but they are always there no matter what. Family will stick with you through thin and thick. Family may do things we don’t like but it doesn’t matter. If we have a problem we can always run to them because they’re the ones who know us best. We should respect them because they will be there until the end.

Every family is unique in various ways so no person should sit around and say “Oh. I wish my family was like that." As long family is there and in someone’s life, people should appreciate it and cherish it. If there is ever a problem you should run to your family first before someone else outside of the family circle. Sometimes family doesn’t have to be the people you were born to but it can be someone you’ve known for a long time or someone they can run to when times are rough. But no one should ever turn their back on blood family because anything could happen and that may be the time they’ll need them the most. The best way to keep a family strong is communication. Talking things out is the best solution to a strong and healthy family. Everyone should pay attention to what one is thinking and feeling because the solution could become serious and dangerous. It is important because each member expresses their needs, wants, and concerns to each other and one wouldn’t be curious about why the member is acting that way. Each family communicates differently but it takes time and effort to get it right. Each family should be able to communicate without fear or judgment. Communication shouldn’t just be between adults it should be children also so as they get older they can communicate the same if they have a family in the future.

Problems in the family can affect the child the most. If a child sees their family falling apart they may think it’s their fault which could lead to low self esteem, low grades, or even drugs. The child may feel unloved, unheard, or misunderstood. Parents should talk to their kids daily to make sure their child gets at much attention as possible no matter what. When kids feel heard they are less angry, stressed, and more open to solving problems. Children will develop trust and start caring for their family more. One thing people should realize is you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. That’s just something to think about before anyone decides to give up on them because blood is thick and they are there for a reason.

A look back at the JIW Banquet

I am in a program called JIW (Journey Into Womanhood). It is a program for girls ages 9-17. It starts in the fall around the start of school and ends in the beginning of the summer every year. The sessions are every other Saturday from 10am-2pm not including our few field trips and community service ventures (including the Honor Rows Jaguars game, college tours, and serving for the Mayor’s Holiday Ball). During each session, we do workshops and lectures are given on the core topics. These include drug and alcohol prevention, abstinence, STD prevention, self worth, the concepts of beauty, savings/investment skills, health and fitness, relationship skills, food and nutrition, employment and career skills, the important of giving back to the community, etc. These lectures are very helpful towards the girls of JIW and we take so much from our time with the volunteers.

This program brings so many wonderful opportunities to the participants. Mrs. Elexia, our leader, lovely organizer and mother away from home, works hard to find as many prospects as possible for us in the community. When any of the volunteers find out about any new program or community service opportunity for teenagers, guess who they tell first. Us JIW’s. I am in a few programs, most of which I found out about through JIW. For example, I volunteer at the court house every Monday in a program called Teen Court. I act as an attorney (either prosecution or defense) for teenagers in my county who have gotten in trouble. I found out about this program and others through JIW. Not only does JIW teach the girls about the essentials in life, it also gets us involved in the community.

Every year at the end of the program, JIW holds a banquet to celebrate the girls and their growth throughout the year. The banquet consists of lunch, two speeches, a talent section and an awards portion. Our mistress of ceremonies this year was Angela Spears. Miss Spears spent eleven years as an anchor/reporter for First Coast News NBC 12/ ABC 25. She is now the Public Information Officer for the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. Our two speakers were Eboni Baugh, Ph.D and William CJ Charlton. Miss Baugh is an assistant Professor of Family Life in the Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences at the University of Florida. She was an inspirational speaker and I loved hearing from her. Mister Charlton is a first officer in the Boeing 757/767 fleet for Continental Airlines. He is also the National Director of the OBAP Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies as well as the Director of the Jacksonville ACE Academy. His speech was one of the funniest, inspirational and wonderful speeches I have ever listened to. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Read on to learn more about the Empowerment Resources Banquet: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6080356-jiw-journey-into-womanhoo

Written By: Ashley I.

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