What do you believe(values)

 When I think about my values I realize they shape almost every part of my life the choices I make, the way I treat people, and even the goals I set for myself. Some of the values that stand out to me the most are honesty, kindness, responsibility, fairness, growth, family, and respect.

Honesty matters because trust is built when people can beleive what you say. Kindness is important to me because even small acts of compassion can change someones day. Responsibility means owning up to my actions and following through on my commitments. Fairness matters because I believe everyone deserves a chance and should be treated equally. Growth is a big one for me I always want to keep learning and improving. Family gives me love and support, and respect means treating others the way I would want to be treated.

My connection to the real world is a article I red it talks about the personal values act like a compass they guide your decisions, influence your relationships, and shape the kind of life you want to live. It also points out that knowing your values can actually make decision making easier and improve your overall well being.

 Two ideas felt especially new to me. First, the authors stress that youth work always happens in a context. Policy, organizations, community setting, and even funding shape what's possible. It reminded me that no matter how good intentions are, environment and systems matter.

Second, they introduce the idea of challenging oppression as a skill, not just a nice add-on. Youth work isn't just support its also about structures that create inequality, whether that's racism, classism, or gender bias.

Words that mattered to me were Reflective practice: looking back at what you did and why, so you can do better next time. Another one was Participatory practice: making sure young people are truly involved in planning and decision making. And the last one was anti oppressive practice: recognizing inequality and intentionally working against it in your role.

My real world connection was while I was reading I found myself thinking about how this connects to actual youth organizing today. I came across this podcast called " how youth organizing builds power" it talks about young people in under resourced communities who are organizing around issues like policing. housing, and education.

What struck me is how much it mirrors this reading and its ideas. These young organizers aren't waiting for change to be handed to them they have actively creating it. The podcast shows youth as leaders and decision makers, exactly in line with participatory practice. It also highlights how context laws, policies, funding shapes their work, just as the book describes.

Mckamey and Restler

 When I was younger, I participated in a summer gymnastics camp held at a college, which became a formative part of my out-of-school experience. It was more than just training it was a space where I pushed myself physically and mentally, made new friends, and learned what it felt like to be apart of a focused, motivated community. The adults who spent time with us were usually college level coaches, former gymnasts, and camp counselors. They weren't just there to drill routines they taught us about discipline, confidence, and how to support each other. Some of them became my role models, especially because they were often students or young adults who had been exactly where we were a few years earlier. Looking back, that camp gave me more than just gymnastics skills, it gave me a taste of independence, a deeper passion for the sport, and a glimpse into college life. It was both fun and challenging, and I remember the long training sessions, the shared dorm rooms, and the excitement of performing routines we had worked hard on.

This connects to the real world because Aly Raisman, the multi time US Olympic gymnastics medalist has a connection to summer gymnastics camps. In a summer camp yearbook, Aly famously predicted she would become an Olympic gymnast that was incredibly accurate and came true by 2012. More recently, she returned to camp Woodward, the gymnastics environment she once attended, this time as the gymnast program designer. She described scooping ice cream for campers, riding go karts, and rediscovering the joy of gymnastics. The camp for her represented healing and reconnection with the pure fun of the sport.

https://time.com/4448190/rio-2016-olympics-aly-raisman-summer-camp/

 Hi, my name is Payton. I am someone who loves staying active and spending time doing the things that make me feel energized and happy. Gymnastics has always been one of my passions, and I also enjoy working out to challenge myself and stay fit. When I am not being active, you can usually find me shopping or relaxing at the beach it is one of my favorite places to be. Altogether, I would describe myself as motivated, fun, and always looking for balance between hard work and enjoying life:)