CTI/Final Warning

On Friday night, after I went home from "work", I was enjoying the leftover supper by myself while Cheryl/Zach/Stephen were helping with the sheperd's pie for Saturday night's dinner (Cheryl and Mike are the house managers, but because Mike is entirely undependalbe, Cheryl got Stephen and Zach to help her out instead). So anyways everyone was chatting, and somehow Mike came up into the conversation (I think it's because Zach or me were mentioning the fact that Mike should be there making the Shepherd's Pie with Cheryl). More talking, and it led to Stephen spilling a "secret" that I didn't know about - Mike got a final warning last week.

For those of you that dod not know about Katimavik punishments, there are 3 forms (if I remember correctly):
CTI - commitment to improve - it's given by PLs, and reasons can range from bad hygiene which affected everyone's well-being, to exclusive relationships or failure to commitment to activities. Mike has already gotten at least one, if not more for not cleaning his section of the room (his mess pretty much spills to Zach/Stephen/Charles's stuff). The thing with CTI is that it's actually not a huge deal to get a CTI, because once you move to another region for your next trimester, that cancels off. Although getting a couple of CTI will lead to final warning, if I am correct.
Final warning - that's given by the PC under the suggestion of PL. A final warning is, of course, a serious matter because not only is it for something serious (one kid in Sault Ste. Marie got a final warning for getting fired in his job) but it stays with you and acts as a hindrance. If someone does something wrong again after a final warning, he/she is pretty much kicked out of the program.
Being booted out - Need me to explain that?

Anyways apparently Emilie got very fed up with us bitching about him in front of him to him (weird phrasing) in our group meetings, whether with him not helping out with chores, with his rude comments, and other things. She decided to call Cara and ask her to actually give him 2 final warnings: one for lack of respect to group living, and another for his job. Apparently his work supervisor is very unsatisfied with Mike's performance (I don't blame him, because how is it possible to take one whole day to shovel a driveway?) and it's getting to a point where he may close off Mike's job placement in the hospital permanently (there are 3 in the hospital, and I am not sure whether all job placements will be closed off because of that). That's a big deal. But Cara decided to give him one final warning for lack of respect instead. She personally came from Sudbury to Blind River (a 2 hour drive) to see Mike and discuss to him about the final warning. What puzzles me about this whole situation is Mike's reaction (or his reaction to anyone criticizing him, for that matter). He just seems so nonchalant and unmoved about the situation. Throughout the week, he just acted like nothing happened to him, as if everything is "same old same old". That is why I was shocked when I heard that Mike got a final warning..."What, did you just say Mike got a final warning?" Stephen: "Oh shit"). It always amazes me that people can say things that sometimes borders on being mean, and he would not seem upset/angry/hur. This can be summarized with Stephen's thought on Mike: He is unaware/has no self-awareness. I don't know about you, but if I get a final warning I would definitely start freaking out, because I am prett much close to going hime. And that's what everyone in the
group is predicting will happen, when Mike is in Quebec (man Mike + Quebec = interesting...)

I think I have explained the story enough. Here's my thought on this. When I found out about Mike's final warning, I kind of led everyone into a debate, with me feeling sorry for him and Zach saying he deserved what he got and he is dragging down everyone's development whether individually or as a group (I agree). The reason I feel sympathetic towards Mike is simply because he can't help it. To me, Mike is like a child that doesn't know better (as least that's how he presents himself). Everyone pretty much agrees that he has some sort of mental illness that we don't know about (perhaps not even himself). And when that happens, isn't it a good enough excuse for his behaviour? To me, it's like an adult yelling at a boy for not tying his shoes properly when the boy never even learnt how to tie his shoes. As well, Mike is not a bad hearted person...he is probably the only one in the group that does not put things to his heart if someone is mean to him (Zach and Mike) and I am absolutely the type that wants underdogs to succeed. Despite everything I don't think a "nice" person like him deserves to get sent home. But on the other hand I see what Zach is saying; having Mike here is pretty much a deadweight to the group, because he is not on par with rest of the world and it's pretty unfair for the group dynamics and development. Besides, if he can't do simple tasks such as keeping his room clean or wash dishes, then is Katimavik right for him? Which leads me to a pet peeve of mine that I have developed in these 2 years: Parents should never ever send their kids to certain organizations (i.e. Katimavik, military) to get disciplined or whatever, just because the parents cannot raise their kids properly. Because it freaking backfires, like Mike's situation.

Anyways I think I am done with this topic. The only thing I want to add is that although Zach has his points in our "argument", it just scares me that he can seem so cold with the way he sees things. This came up when he said "well if Mike is gone, the room definitely will be cleaner and there will be an extra space for us to put things"...it's like he merely associate Mike as a being that takes up space rather than a person that he experienced things with. Now in his defense, I know this is not what he means, but...I don't know...yeah...(slightly confused).

I do hope Mike pulls through, despite the fact that he is driving everyone insane.

This week I am house-managing with Stephanie. So far it's pretty good. I have so many entries of blogs that I want to write, and I hope they will be done before I leave for Quebec (next wednesday!). Add oil!