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Jasmin  Santiago,  Mark  Yanoschik,  Cody  Phillips  

Transcripts  

Interview  with  Dana*  

C-­‐  Cody  

J-­‐  Jasmin  

M-­‐  Mark  

D-­‐  Dana  (Christina)  

Cody:  So  our  first  questions,  a,  is  simply,  What  do  you  think  about  throughout  a  

normal  day?  

Dana:  what  do  I  think  about,  out,  a  normal  day  [umm]  going  to  work  [aaa]  you  know  

[aaa]  

C:  where  do  you  work  at?  

D:  McDonalds  on  airport  thruway  

C:  ok  

D:  [mmhmm]  [umm]  [Jasmin  mumbles  something  inaudible]  I  just  got  my  

apartment  again  [cody  says  “ok”]  so  just  all  in  the  day  trying  to  get  things  like  

situated,  you  know,    get,  you  know,  things  for  my  apartment,  get  the  help  that  I  need  

as  far  as  the  resources  that’s  out  here  for  me.  [umm]  and  then  going  home  and  going  

to  sleep.  [laughs  heavily]  after  a  long  day  of  the  work.  

C:  [laughs]  Haha,  ok.  Sounds  like  what  I  think  about  all  the  time.  Going  to  sleep.  

[Dana  laughes]  [umm]  whats  the  highest  level  of  education  that  you  have  received?  

D:  [umm]  I  did  finish  highschool  [umm]  and  I  did  go  to  Columbus  Tech  for  about  a  

year  and  a  half,  I  had  about  three  m-­‐m-­‐months  left  but  my  dad  ended  up  getting  

married,  but  I  have  a  car,  so  I  had  to  choose  between  work  and  school  [Cody  says  

“ok”]  and  so  I  had  to  quit.  

C:  ok,  what  were  you  going  to  Columbus  tech  for?  

D:  Columbus…    I  mean  commute…  computer…  computer  Technology  

C:  Computer  Technology?  Ok.  What  did  you  uhh…  what  kind  of  job  did  you  expect  to  

get  with  that?  

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:06 AMComment [1]: repeating  

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:06 AMComment [2]: What  does  sleep  mean  to  her?  Is  it  highly  valued.  Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 11:43 AMComment [3]: Laughing  maybe  helps  her  cope  with  her  situation  Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 11:44 AMComment [4]: Must  have  not  been  too  determined  to  finish,  maybe  family  matters  took  priority  

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D:  [umm]  office  job,  anything  behind  a  desk,  you  know,  you  know,  software  [aaa]  

cause  I  did  the  whole  PowerPoint  situation  or  whatever.  Anything  you  know  with  a  

[Cody  says  “ok”]  computer  basically  was  good  for  me.  

C:  ok,  umm.  How  would  you  say  you  value  knowledge?  

D:  how  do  I  value  knowledge?  [umm]  I  do  value  it  to  a  great  level  [Cody  says  

“mmhmm”]  [umm]  because  [umm]  it  can  take  you  far,  you  know,  in  life  [umm]  …  

C:  uhh,  some  people  say  that  knowledge  is  power  do  you  agree  with  that?  

D:  Yeah  I  do!  

C:  Ok  

Jasmin:  when  you  say  that  like  you  value  it  great,  like,  how  would  you  define  great?  

D:  [umm]…  

J:  Like  what  is  it  to  you?  

D:  [umm]  well  I  mean  you  can  have  [umm]  I  mean  knowledge  can  be  in  so  different  

many  different  many  levels  in  different  ways  or  whatever.  So…  how  will  I  define  

knowledge?  [umm]  I  guess  its  in  all  the  individual  individuality  of  the  person  I  guess  

how  they  would  use  it,  but  me  personally  [umm]  I  take  it  a  great  deal,  I  mean,  

because,  I  mean  its  every  day  life  [Cody  says  “yeah”]  you  can  use  it  everyday  life  any  

type  of  way  or  whatever,  and  you  may  not  use  it  every  day  but  eventually  some  type  

of  way  of  living  might  come  across  a  situation  and  you  might  have  to  so.  

C:  [umm]  and  I  think  that  kind  of  goes  along  with  out  next  question  which  is  [uhh]  

how  would  you  define  education?  Is  it  just  what  you  know  like  booksmart  or  is  it  

also  what  you  know,  what  you’ve  gained  like  from  maybe  people  on  the  streets,  you  

know,  what  they  learn  out  there.  

D:  [umm]  I  mean  you  can  go  to  a  library  and  get  a  lot  of  books  and  read  them  and  

whatever,  I  mean,  [umm]  now  what  was  the  question  one  more  time?  [laughs]  

C:  How  do  you  define  education?  

D:  Ok,  well  as  far  as  education  I  value  it  greatly    because  with  my  child  I  have  two  of  

them.  

C:Ok  

D:  I  have  a  seven  year  old  and  a  15  month  year  old.  So  when  he  started  school,  he  

did  the  head  start  thing  then  he  went  to  pre  k  and  the  lady  on  the  phone  told  me  that  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 11:47 AMComment [5]: She  says  far  here,  but  says  earlier  that  she  expect  to  just  get  an  office  job.  What  does  she  consider  far?  Just  stability?    

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:39 AMComment [6]: Repetition  of  ums.  Lose  of  words  and  trying  to  be  politically  correct  in  her  answers.  Always  ums  before  a  major  answer.  Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:25 AMComment [7]: Uniqueness    Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:06 AMComment [8]: Is  she  telling  us  what  she  really  thinks?  Or  is  she  just  trying  to  tell  us  what  we  want  to  hear?  

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:06 AMComment [9]: She’s  concerned  about  the  education  of  her  children?  Maybe  because  she  doesn’t  want  them  to  go  down  the  same  path  that  she  has?  Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 11:51 AMComment [10]: She  put  her  child  in    head-­‐start  program,  so  maybe  she  know  s  she  needs  to  give  her  children  every  advantage  he  can  get.  

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[um]  you  know  pre-­‐k  is  for  the  [mumbles]  well  maybe  not  to  you  its  not,  but  to  my  

its  very  very  important  

C:  uh-­‐hmmm  

D:  [ummm]  Now  I  loved  school  when  I  was  in  school  so.  [ummm]  [pause]  

J:  What  do  you  miss  most  about  it?    

D:  Hmmm?  

J:What  do  you  miss  about  being  in  school?  

D:  I  miss  going  to  school  and  socializing  with  my  friends.  Getting  off  the  bus  ,  

socializing,  All  of  the  [ugh]  I  was  in  [ugh]  not  the  PTA  [um]  it  was,  it  was  two  of  the  

clubs  [pause]  oh  god,  I  forgot  what  they  were  called.  Oh  god  

C:  What  did  they  do?  What  did  those  clubs  do?  

D:  [pause]  [um]  Oh  my  god,  what  were  those  two  groups  called?  

J:  It’s  okay!  If  you  can’t  remember  then  we  can  just  get  back  to  it.  

D:  I  was  in  two  social  clubs  when  I  was  in  school  and  I  did  enjoy  them  very  well.  

[um]  I  took  a  sewing  class  [um]  I  did  the  cheerleading,  yeah  I  did  the  color  guard  or  

whatever  

J:  Yeah  

D:  So  I  went  to  all  the  games  [um]  Carver  games  so  I  enjoyed  school  [pause]  how  

you’re  able  to  socialize  with  your  friends  and  you’re  able  to  [um]  get  social  groups  

you  know,  with  your  peers  and  able  to  get  in  contact.  You  know,  you  know  that  thing  

as  well  

J:  Ok  

D:  [Um]  [pause]  

C:  [Um]  Kind  of  going  in  a  different  direction,  how  would  you  define  ignorance?  

D:  Oh  god  [laughs]  [mumbles]  Ignorance    is  [pause]  let  me  see  [pause]  [um]  [pause]  

I  guess  [pause]  probably  saying  something  stupid  or  you  know,    doing  something.  

Ignorance  is  something  that  you  know  is  already  wrong  and  you  do  it  anyway  [um]  

Ignorance  can  be  clearly  coming  out  of  your  mouth  saying  something  crazy.  You  

know?  Why  would  you  say  it,  what  was  ignorant,  crazy,  or  whatever.  Ignorance  can  

be  like  [uh],  “you  keep  playing  with  me”  

C:  [uh  hmm]  

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:06 AMComment [11]: She  seemed  to  act  stressed  at  this  point,  maybe  it  was  just  concern  for  her  children’s  future?  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 11:56 AMComment [12]: It  seems  she  misses    

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:06 AMComment [13]: She  misses  the  social  the  social  aspect  of  school    

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 11:58 AMComment [14]: How  involved  was  she  really  if  she  couldn’t  remember  the  names  of  these  clubs  she  was  in?  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:01 PMComment [15]: These  two  things  tend  to  go  on  at  the  same  time,  not  sure  how  truthful  she  was  being  about  how  really  involved  she  actually  was  

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D:  You  know  like.  Why,  why  You  keep  doing  it.  Ignorance  is  basically  kind  of  says  

that  if  you  keep  doing  something  that  you  know  is  not  right  then  you’re  going  to  do  

it  anyway.  It’s  ignorant.  Why  would  you  do  that?  [laughs]  

C:  [um]  How  did  you  value  education  growing  up?  

D:  [um]  I  loved  going  to  school.  I  did  [um].  Math  was  my  favorite  subject  [um]    Going  

to  school,  you  know  like  going  from  kindergarten  all  the  way  up  to  twelfth  grade.  

You  know  a  lot  of  times  you  didn’t  want  to  get  up  

J:  [laughs]  

D:  You  know,  you  know  when  you  got  there  it  was  all  good.  I  liked  my  teachers  [um]  

Alright,  I  liked  music.  I  was  in  band.  I  was  a  majorette  

J:  Oh  

D:  Mhmmm,  I  played  the  flute    

C:  You  were  into  everything  

D:  Yes  I  was    

J:  [laughs]  

D:  [ugh]  I  did  track  when  I  was  in  seventh  grade  so  My  most  part  [pause]  I  liked  you  

know  math  was,  I  just  hated  math,  I  still  hate  math  [  laugh]  

J:  [laugh]  

D:  I  wish  math  would  just  go  away    

J:  [Yeah]  

D:  You  know,  change,  x,  and  y  that  theyd  all  just  go  away.  [laugh]  

J;  [laugh]  

C:  [laugh]    

D:  I  don’t  see  the  point  but  it  do,  in  the  medical  field,  I’ve  done  occupations  with  all  

that.    [um]  but  its  like  I  said  you  socialize  you  get  into  certain  things  in  school  so  it  

makes  it  more  interesting  to  you  know,  be  there  

C:  [umm]  how  would  you  say  your  perspective  on  education  has  changed  through  

experiencing  homelessness?  

D:  [umm]  because  I  still  have  like,  I  still  have  that  certain  things  that  I  can  go  back  to  

like  you  know  its  like  the  C  and  A  or  [umm]  the  phlebotomy  or  whatever  I  still  can  

go  back  to  certain  things  that  I  have  already  did  or  whatever,  but  as  far  as  being  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:03 PMComment [16]: Seemed  to  not  really  be  sure  what  she  was  trying  to  say,  maybe  she  was  just  trying  to  tell  us  what  she  thought  we  wanted  to  hear.  Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:05 PMComment [17]: Earlier  she  talked  about  how  much  she  hated  math…  kind  of  confusing  Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:07 PMComment [18]: She  talked  about  how  much  she  loves  school,  but  here  seems  to  contradict  that  by  saying  that  she  really  didn’t  want  to  go.  Maybe  seems  like  friends  and  socializing  were  really  the  only  reason  she  went?  Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:07 AMComment [19]: Is  she  starting  to  lie  to  us  about  how  involved  she  was?  We  have  cheerleading,  color-­‐guard,  FBLA,  FFA,  Band,  Track…  seems  like  a  stretch.  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:09 PMComment [20]: Just  said  she  loved  math…  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:09 PMComment [21]: Adds  to  she  only  liked  school  for  the  social  aspect  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:11 PMComment [22]: Does  realize  the  importance  of  the  academic  aspect  of  school,  but  seemed  to  only  want  to  go  for  the  socialization.    

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homeless  [umm,  smacks  lips]  oh  my  God,  I  guess  it  brings  a  tore  down  on  you,  you  

know  I  guess  cause  you  know,  you  know  you  feel  like  you  know  I  have  all  this  

education,  but  im  still  in  this  situation,  and  how  did  I  get  here?  [Cody  says  “yeah”]  

but,    at  the  end  of  the  day  that’s  life,  so…  [Cody  says  “uhh”]  takes  you  to  different  

situations.  

C:  What  do  you  do,  to  even  continue  your  education  now,  even,  like  even  though  

you’re  not  in  school,  do  you  still  try  to  learn?  

D:  [um…]  I  might  pick  up  a  book  every  now  and  then  [giggles,  um,]  I  said  I  was  

gonna  go  to  like  Barnes  and  Nobles  and  I  was  gonna  get  an  algebra  book  or  

something  like  that,  ya  know  to  learn,  do  the  algebra  and  [uh  um]  the  other  stuff,  the  

other  math  and  because,  just  because  you  don’t  know  it  don’t  mean  you  can’t  learn  

it.  

C:  yea  

D:  so  [um],  just  ya  know  I  mean  it’s  all  in,  it’s  all  individual  what  you  wanna  do,  I  

mean  [mumble],  is  like  I  can’t  do  that  I  can’t.  No  I  don’t  do  the  can’t  word.  

C:  yea  

D:  It’s  not  what  you,  you  can  do  whatever  you  wanna  do,  you  just  gotta  push  

yourself  and  believe  in  yourself  and  that  you  can  do  it.  So  […]  you  know  […]  and  I,  I  

forward  that  on  my  children,  ya  know  that  I  have  children  now  ya  know  my  my  

myse[…],  obviously  they  do  homework  we  [mumbles]  be  like,  ‘ugh  momma  I  can’t.’  

no  mmm  no  we  don’t  do  the  can’t  word.  Can’t  is  not  [C  giggles]  in  the  vocabulary  

[C/J/M  giggle]  get  that  out  the  word.  You  can  do  whatever  you  wanna  do  just  focus.  

So  a  lot  of  times  I  be  in  school  I  just  get,  ya  know  just  frustrated  with  a  certain  

subject  that  

C:  yea  

D:  I  be  in  and  I  be  like  oh  god  so  irritating  but  ya  know,  through  tutoring  and  just  

through  other  folks  that  made  new,  a  little  bit  better  than  I  did,  ya  know  you  get  

help,  you  just  have  to  not  be  prideful  you  have  to  be  able  to  ask  for  help,  cause  

closed  mouths  don’t  get  fed.  

C:  true,  very  true[…]  [um]  […]  what  opportunities  have  you  found  to  improve  your  

status  while  being  homeless?  

Columbus State Un…, 10/21/14 12:12 PMComment [23]: Regrets  only  focusing  on  the  social  aspect  of  school  and  neglecting  the  academics  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:25 AMComment [24]: Not  a  priority  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:37 AMComment [25]: Repetition  of  the  ‘can’t  word’.  Education  means  to  her  means  for  a  better  future  for  her  children.  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:32 AMComment [26]: Lack  of  motivation  for  school.  Inner  frustration  with  the  classes  and  system?  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:36 AMComment [27]: Lost  of  pride  and  identity  when  homeless.  Have  to  give  up  certain  rights  to  survive.  

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D:  [Ummm]  evaluate  my  situation,  um,  looking  over  what  I  did,  and  what  situation  

was  and  the  people  that  [mumble]  in  my  life,  and  promise  myself  that  are  the  people  

that  I  may,  ya  know  I  may  be  around  some  people  and  I  just  kinda,  I’m  a  very  

observant  person,  so  I  observe  you  and  if  my  vibe  does  not  mix  well  with  you,  I  

kinda,  just,  frame  myself  from  you,  because  I’m  not  trying  to  get  back  in  that  same  

situation  because  people  can  put  on  a  great  face-­‐  

C:  yea  

D:  -­‐all  day,  and  say  all  kinda  great  things,  but  at  the  end  of  the  day,  somewhere  in  the  

back  of  that,  they  gotta,  they  got,  they  got  some  bad  things  behind  them  and  

eventually  if  you  get  too  close  to  that  person,  eventually  those  bad  things  will  come,  

ya  know  [eh]  to  the  surface.  So,  they  turn  into  some,  ya  know  they  turn  into  some  

snakes.  

C:  [laughs]  

D:  mmm  [mumbles]  be  ready  to  bite  ya.  

 C:  [um]  

J:  And  you  said  you  found  a  job,  [an  apartment?]  

D:  I  did!  When  I  [um]  when  I,  when  I  got  into  my  situation,  I  basically  when  I  got  to  

where  I’m  at  now,  [um]  bout  two  weeks  after  that  I,  I  got  hired  at  mcdonalds,  and  

then  prob  like  a  month  or  two  after  that  I  found  my  apartment,  ya  know,  and  that,  

that  came  from  getting  up  and  actually  wanting,  wanting  to  do  that  for  myself,  ya  

know,  [um]  not  feeling  sorry  for  my  situation  not  saying  oh  god  I’m  here  and  I  can’t  

do  this,  I  can’t  do  that,  no,  mmm    

C:  Is  that  what  you  feel  like  a  lot  of  people  who  are  stuck  in  this  situation  [do?]  

D:  They  do,  they  think  they  blame,  they  blame  they  situations,  instead  of  saying  okay  

I’m  in  a  situation,  instead  of  being  the  situation  make  it,  what  can  I  do  to  make  that  

situation  better?  Or  what  can  I  make,  what  can  I  do  to  not  ever  go  back  to  that  

situation,  cause  a  lot  of  people  tend  to  go  back,  instead  of  going  forward.  And  I  tend  

not  to  go  back,  I  tend  to  keep  going  forward,  cause  I  have  kids,  so  I  have  to  be  an  

example  for  them  as  well.    

C:  [uh]  going  along  with  that,  actually  that  goes  along  perfectly  with  our  next  

question,  where  do  you  see  yourself  in  the  future?  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:50 AMComment [28]: Big  deal.  Almost  like  making  a  vow.  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:48 AMComment [29]: Bad  experiences  with  other  people,  that  may  have  brought  her  down  brought  her  to  her  current  situation.  Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:07 AMComment [30]: Referred  those  people  to  snakes,  reference  to  Adam  and  Eve.  The  bible  and  how  they  are  the  devil  bringing  her  down.  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:52 AMComment [31]: She  thinks  she’s  better  than  her  situation  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:53 AMComment [32]: Repetition  of  ‘they’,  she’s  separating  herself  from  the  rest  of  the  homeless  community  and  thinks  she’s  an  exception  to  everyone  else.  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:54 AMComment [33]: Her  kids  are  what  drives  her  to  better  herself.  Pattern  with  younger  guy  interview.  

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D:  Where  do  I  see  myself  in  the  future  I  see  myself  being  a  phlebotomist  [um]  

making  that  career  for  myself,  and  retiring,  about  65.  

C:  Do  you  ever  plan  on  going  back  to  school?  

Dana:  [um]  well,  yea  I  do,  I  actually  was  gonna  go  to  Miller[mumbles]  

C:  okay  

D:  for  [um]  a  few  [um]  medical  assistant  

C:  okay  

D:  [um]  but  [um]  [coughs]  not  to  throw  them  under  the  bus  or  anything  but  [um]  

they  financial  aid,  mmm,  they  got  too  many  people  messing  up  in  financial  aid.  I  

choose  not  to  go  with  them  and  I  don’t  feel  like,  a  a  real  college  to  me,  I  feel  like  they  

just  something  to  get  into  and  like  you  know  maybe  Columbus  tech  or  ya’ll  

whatever,  that’s  more  like  a  real  college  to  me.    Ya’ll  are  like  everywhere  [laughs  

while  talking]  time,  everytime  I  get  on  a  bus.  

C:  Exactly,  especially  downtown  now  

D;  Yes!  

J:  So  would  you  say  that  education  is  vital  for  you,  for  your  future  [mumbles]?  

D:  It  is.  Yea  it  is  [um]  it  ya  know  people  don’t  think  it  is,  people  just  wanna  graduate  

high  school  and  they  just  wanna  say  forget  about,  ed,  education  or  whatever.  But  I  

mean  some  different  types  of  form  of,  you  might  get  a  job.  And  they  might  ask  you  

how  many  years  of  college  you  had  or  you  know  stuff  like  that.  A  lot  of,  a  lot  of,  a  lot  

of  jobs  ask  that  now  they  want  you  to  have  so  many  years  of  college  [mumbles]  

degree  in  something.  

C:  mhmm  

D:  So  yea,  it  is  important  to  go  to  school  not  just  for  this  that  situation  but  just  for  

yourself,  it  plays  a  big  part  of  life.  

C:  [mumbles]  

D:  Ya  know,  and  then  it  keeps  your  mind,  your  setting  your  mind  stopping  from,  it  

keeps  your  mind  keep  [mumbles]  your  mind  going,  you  may  run  into  a  word  or  

something  that  you  don’t  know  but  it  opens  up  your  vocabulary  and  Spanish  and  in  

all  that.  

J:  yea  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:38 AMComment [34]: Very  hopeful  and  high  expectations  for  her  future.  

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:07 AMComment [35]: Grouped  our  interview  team  as  “CSU”  in  the  phrase  of  “ya’ll”  going  back  to  the  reason  why  she  may  be  trying  to  impress  us  and  be  politically  correct  in  her  answers.  

Columbus State Univ…, 2/27/15 1:07 AMComment [36]: Stuttering  may  just  be  a  speech  impediment  or  twitch  to  overthinking  of  how  she  wants  to  phrase  and  what  she’s  going  to  say  next.  

Columbus State Un…, 10/23/14 11:45 AMComment [37]: Reiterates  it’s  important  to  need  education  to  succeed.  

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Dana:  And  then  it’s  the  new  people  that  you  may  meet,  you  know,  and  it  makes  it  

easier  than  you  can  get  into  something  in  school  or  whatever-­‐  

J:  yea  

D:  -­‐ya  know,  a  club  or  whatever  as  well  

J:  mhmm  

D:  FBLA,  that’s  what  it  was!  

C:  Okay  

D:  FBLA  and  F..  FHA  that  what  it  was!  

C:  Okay,  I  was  in  FBLA  at  at  my  school.  

D:  [laughs]  

J:  [mumbles]  

D:  [laughs]  I  got  it!  

J:  yep  there  you  go!  

D:  Whew!  

J:  She  was  in  everything!    

C;  I  think  you’ve  covered  the  rest  of  our  questions  already.  

J:  yea  

C:  What,  what  do  you,  do  you  have  anything  to  add?  

J:  No  I  just  wanted  to  ask  the  last  question  I  just  asked,  but  you’ve  pretty  much  

answered  everyone,  everything.  

D:  Okay!