A Lupus Story

Alright, so I was told to document my progress with this. Although I really don't have one, so I will basically explain what happened with this.

When I first started this website, I intended to be working with someone on it, and then due to a change of plans, and being unable to meet up with them, I had to do it on my own, and find other people to help me with information.

What I did first was think of the design. First, that I have to make it usable, and readable. The text is increasable, the logo is visible, you know where you are. I am using the symbol of lupus: the blue butterfly. There are drop-down links for the menu, and the titles of the pages are the same. I also opted for a clean and calm look (blue being the best choice).

Then came the CSS-ing. A pain as always, to get right in both firefox and IE. But it's all worth it in the end.

Now with the content, I was a bit discouraged, since I didn't have my "stories" to post. But I kept going anyway, and got my technical details done. I asked pretty much everyone I knew if they knew someone who had Lupus, I posted in message boards, I did what I could. Finally I did get one story, and I guess that's a start! But I wish I knew how to make people more comfortable with sending me information. Thats one thing that I should have thought about more.

I showed my website to the one person who submitted their story, and their relative who is attained by Lupus was in tears. I think I did my job pretty well, and hopefully everyone will be moved, and made aware by it.

Bouncing around

I was with two guys this week, with the first we were just looking at music on a website (which I didn't even know had songs to listen to!), and discussed hip hop and R&B stuff. We didn't really do any projects. With the second, he was looking at pictures for a tattoo, of the grim reaper? Many of the kids don't use their own creativity to design their tattoos, it's too bad. But I guess they are still getting used to self expression and art and all that.

Not much for today

We were working on our personal projects since not too many kids were there.

November 13th

Missed this one

For November 6th

I was sitting with the two girls who go there all the time. One of them was doing a montage in photoshop, with images from their trip somewhere. And the other was looking at images of anarchy sayings, not sure what it was for though. It's fun working with them, and one of them already knows photoshop pretty well, so more of a chance to get creative!

Abstract landscapes

I was with one of the guys I was with a week or two ago. He was much more enthusiastic, and he had a better idea of what he wanted to do, which I was happy for. So we did two printed posters, using landscapes, fantasy symbols, dragons, etc. I showed him how to use the polygonal lasso tool (and he was pretty ok with it!), as well as the other options like the eraser, regular lasso. He was very happy with the final result too. I think he will get more into it as time goes.

last week stuff + today's

for October 9th:

I was with another girl who pretty much knew what she was doing, we did a collage with pictures of her, and we applied different effects on the images. Apparently she was very calm with me, and that she is usually hyper. She loves singing and usually does music, and of course she was looking up some tunes during class as well.

Today:

Visited the center! I was very impressed. I mean, it's no luxury place, but it has everything and then some, food, showers, a music room loaded with guitars, an art room, computer room, class, sortation place with clothes and items, right down to pet food! I mean, who would think of it? They also had lockers, a nurse, and intervention office. It all felt like a mini-high school/elementary school. It feels like the youth are so vulnerable and not at the adult point of maturity yet...

In class, I was showing this guy how to work with flash, we did a stick people animation thing. Really basic, reallyyyy. Also, I tried started a photoshop collage with him. But we mostly watched youtube videos, "tete a claques" and "Salad Fingers". He seemed pretty quiet. I have a hard time imagining these kids in bad situations sometimes, makes you see that everyone has some good in them, no matter what they've done?

week 4

Today I helped a girl do another Photoshop collage/t-shirt design, which was pretty alright. Although she left while I went on break, maybe I shouldn't have left then? Or maybe it just didn't have to do with anything, who knows.

As for the website, another change of plans...gonna gather various sources, and focus on the site design.

Class 3

Today didn't go as well in my eyes, however I've been told the first guy I tutored really appreciated my help:) We did a Photoshop collage yet again, but with dark characters...I was a little iffy about using other people's art, but hey, it's just for learning! I had to do some of the stuff, but he did some too. Wasn't as quick as the one I was with last week, but everyone's got different skills. I'm glad he got something out of it.

Second guy I tutored today is really good with music. This one track he made me listen to was so incredibly detailed and well made, like wow, if they have the willpower to do that stuff, why can't people who are better off do it too? Yeah, thats my two cents for today.

I should be starting my Lupus site soon.

First time with the crew

Wow.
I think this class will not only be good for them, but for me also! I still can't believe I taught someone photoshop. I mean it sounds simple enough, but its rewarding to see it happen, honestly. I was with this girl, and she learned how to use the eraser tool, lasso, selection, copy/paste and save files. I didn't do an inch of work on her collage, she did it all by herself! I guess who knows, she may have done this stuff before, but its still pretty cool. It's hard to believe these people have had such hard lives, they seem so calm and/or smiley. I think I have a whole new respect for people who have less than I do. We're all human, and it's quite fascinating...

On another note, I've decided I will create a Lupus information website, I have a friend who has the disease, so I will be working on it with her help.

Excited

I think we get to meet the kids next week! I think teaching others will not only help them, but help myself too. I just hope I don't say anything that will hurt them. But I think I have some experience with sensitivity. Here goes nothing!