Program Analysis

1. Effectiveness of Program

This program involves adolescents and parents of multicultural families and helps them form bond of empathy. This way, the parents could better understand their children who are going through adolescence. Through the course on conversation methods, participants could learn how to engage in smooth communications with one another. The letter-writing session also allowed them to convey their feelings of gratitude to one another, which they could not express so often. The shower of compliments helps participants to discover their own strengths. This also helps them to increase their self-esteem to more effectively navigate school life, as well as their place in society.

2) Self-assessment

It was a pity that some of the families who really should have participated in this program could not participate due to parent-child conflicts. However, those who participated said they thought this program was important. One of the participants said that it was worth participating in because he could realize that the child’s problem was the parent’s problem. A parent of many children greatly appreciated the chance to communicate with each of her children by bringing them in one by one each year. A participant who had no time to communicate with his father after entering adolescence, said he and his father came to understand each other by spending time together for two-days and one-night. Also, there was a participant who came to think once again about the dreams and future of young people after listening to the actual case of a person who succeeded through overcoming difficulties.

3)Achievements

Many students opened up their hearts and minds through the individual interview held after the evening program. In most cases, the problems held by the students were the problems held by the parents. I also provided them with legal information and consultation and arranged for individuals and families to solve their legal issues, when necessary.

4) Impressions

<Parents>

- Thank you for preparing this program. The contents of the lectures matched perfectly with our family situation. I realized that the problems my child face are not her problem alone. By the standard symptoms of adolescence, I guess my child is quite normal. I have thought that when my child entered adolescence and started rebelling against me, she would want to leave home, so I have tried to give her time to think alone. Although adolescence is a symptom worth congratulating, since it is a process of developing self-reliance as our children grow up, I also felt somewhat sad to see my child, who used to be so cute, change. As for me, my own mother did not show empathy or listen to me during my adolescence. Therefore, I want to create a good relationship with my child, so I will try harder to understand her.

There was much to learn in this program, including the importance of empathy and compliments, as well as how to set a detailed goal and to verbalize it, etc. I will show my husband the videos I recorded during the program, and set a vision for our family’s future so I can shout it out and live happily as I raise my children.

- I often find it really difficult to have serious conversations with our children. But I think I got the idea after attending the conversation program. I must show more interest and invest more effort toward better communication. I can’t even remember when I had a good conversation with my spouse, children or family. This course is truly beneficial to our daily life. It was an honor to learn from such a talented teacher. I think it will help us a lot if there were more advanced courses. I think more people should participate in this program.

- Through this Adolescents Program with Mom and Dad, I was able to look back at myself and think about my shortcomings and work on it. I could look at my daughter from a viewpoint closer to her viewpoint. I came to understand how to guide my daughter as a parent. Moreover, I learned how family members could give courage and hope to one another through compliments. I found a way to show my child a reflection of a respectable father. 

<Children>

- I was not so interested when my mother asked me to attend in this 2-day camp with her. But once I came, I felt good because it was like having the chance to get closer to my mother. Through the lectures, I learned the importance of human relations. I also realized the importance of hold the mind to fulfill my goals through my life course. It also touched my heart to hear directly from the lecturer who worked hard and succeeded in life. It’s now time to go home, but I will not forget what I learned today. I will work hard to achieve my goals.

- I usually don’t spend much time with my father, but through this ‘Adolescents Program,’ I felt like we got closer to each other. Also, this program gave me the chance to reconsider my future. Actually, I didn’t have any real hopes or dreams for my future; but this workshop made me think about it, and I am grateful for that.