Personal Growth
6/3/14 (12:00pm-4:00pm)-My task was to put clothes that had been sorted and tagged onto the racks where they belonged for customers. I also managed the clothing area and made sure clothes were not on the floor and everything looked neat and organized. I didn't go into this experience with any expectations. I honestly was tired from work and school and just wanted to get my required hours. I didn't have much interaction with anyone for most of my time there. The employees were working at the check-out counter so I worked alone most of the time. Towards the end of my time, I met a young 18 y/o girl doing required community service hours. I did not get the details of why she was required to do the time, but she had heard me talking to a gentleman that asked my about my volunteering talk about nursing and she chimed in to say she wanted to go to nursing school. I was able to share with her and give her some advice. The gentleman that was asking me about my volunteering was there to supervise some young ladies with down syndrome that were there to work. My task during this service learning was more of a behind the scenes type of work. I did not interact with any of the customers, but I may have been put there to encourage that young lady to stay out of trouble and work on her studies towards being a nurse so that she can help others.
6/17/14 (12:00pm-4:00pm)-This volunteer time was also spent managing the clothing area and putting clothes on racks and keeping the area neat and organized. I really had difficulty getting motivated to go volunteer this time. I was extremely tired and overwhelmed with school assignments along with dealing with some personal challenges. In my car, I prayed and asked God for strength and endurance to get through it with the right attitude and to be a blessing and be able to interact with others in a way the was pleasing to Him. What made this experience even more difficult was that it was 79 degrees in the store the whole time I was there. I felt fatigued and unmotivated. For the first 3 hours I worked with Elizabeth, an employee who shared she was from the Philippines. I was able to share with her about my trip to the Philippines to visit my uncle who was a missionary there and also how I had an opportunity to serve the people there through medical missions with the christian life foundation. I got a sense that she was really blessed by what I shared with her and she opened up and shared about her life there before she came to the states. I also had an opportunity to assist a few costumers and help them with pricing along with some short wholesome conversation. It was refreshing to be disconnected from electronics and look people in the eye and share a laugh and a smile. One lady asked me if the store had luggage for sale and she didn't see any in the area that it would be kept in. It just so happened that right before I walked into the store to start my service learning, I had donated a 3 piece luggage set that was in good condition. I asked one of the employees to check to see if she would be able to purchase it and she could. She was thankful and said she was going to El Salvador to visit her parents. I donate on a regular basis but never got to witness my blessings from God actually blessing others needs. It was a blessing to me to witness that and that God had it all work out perfectly with timing. When I first walked in, I actually saw a woman purchasing a dress that I had previously donated which I thought was really neat! The woman didn't look like she needed to shop at a thrift shop (I shouldn't assume), but her purchasing that dress with bless others in need. I'd like to think she shops there so that she can purchase things to bless those in need:). I also had interaction with one of the higher functioning down syndrome girls and she shared with me her love of the colors pink and red, of which I also really like. She was excited to tell me that she likes baseball and football and shared with me her favorite teams. It was nice to see that this population in my community has a place to go to work and function normal in society. Towards the end of my time I worked with the young lady from the last time and had more opportunities to encourage her in her journey. I shared stories of my journey and how I had gotten off track and back on, but to never give up and to keep moving forward and don't quit! I hope she will take my advice and dream big and achieve her goals. Looking back, I hope that I was a blessing to those I came in contact with and that God uses those interactions to grow me and grow each of them towards Him. When we take the time for others God opens the door to His beauty and glory.
It seems my second experience was better than the first. It reminded me of how all things that I do seem to go better when I ask God for His help.
Civic Learning-
I found an article that talks about the value of service learning and how it enhances learning socially, personally, and cognitively. Yorio & Feifei, (2012) state:
Students who participate in a service learning
experience generally demonstrate a more
positive understanding of social issues, alter their
personal insight, and experience gains in cognitive
development. Through this effort, we were also
able to highlight some of the variations in service learning
process and design that impact student
learning.
Regis University, (2014) asks students to ask themselves "How ought we to live?" I think this is a profound statement. It makes you think, analyze, and reflect on what really matters in life and what is my purpose and how will I fulfill that purpose?
My understanding of service learning is to enhance my learning experience by engaging in my community and to open my mind to a better understanding of the needs around me and how I can utilize the gifts God has given me to make an impact in society.
References
Regis University, (2014). History & Mision. Retrieved from http://www.regis.edu/About-Regis-University/History-and-Mission.aspx.
Yorio, P. L., & Feifei, Y. (2012). A Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Service-Learning on the Social, Personal, and Cognitive Outcomes of Learning. Academy Of Management Learning & Education, 11(1), 9-27. doi:10.5465/amle.2010.0072.
Academic Enhancement-This experience has prepared me to be open and to listen to others. When we are quick to listen and slow to speak there is always a way to help or be a blessing and personal growth comes from that. I am pursuing my MSN in education and management. I need to learn good leadership skills, good listening skills, and to be open minded and to see all angles, opinions, and perspectives. Personal growth will come naturally through serving others with the right heart, love, and compassion will in turn shape me into a role model for others. I've always have had more respect for the leadership in my life that have life experiences and that have had ups and downs in life that shape them into vessels that God can use. Walk the walk, talk the talk so to speak. My hope is that God uses me as His vessel and to bring light and hope to others that I come into contact with.
I discovered through service learning that each of the people at the agency where there for different reasons and we come from all walks of life. Some where there b/c it was how they make a living, some were there because the were required by the state/county because of wrong doing, some were there for an opportunity to work and fit into society even though they have disabilities, and of course I was there to fulfill my service learning requirement and to enhance my learning experience. I learned that in order to be used by God, I need to listen sincerely be open to new ideas and perspectives with a non-judgmental attitude. I need to strive to always put others needs first and have a caring and compassionate heart regardless of the situation or how I feel. The Regis mission is right on point for reflecting this experience. How do I want people to perceive me? Will they see Jesus in me? How can I fulfill God's mission for my life? Does my life have significant meaning and purpose and how can I use my gifts and talents to help others become better? I wouldn't change anything about this experience. I would only hope that me being there helped at least one person gain a new perspective and personal growth for good. Regardless of how I was feeling, I put on a smile and portrayed a good attitude and did the work that was asked of me and did my best to be helpful.
Question #4:
-What is the personal impact/responsibility of providing service in the community?
Learning to put others and their needs first. I am very busy between balancing life, marriage, two jobs, and school and have a million other things that I could have been doing. I learned to take a step back and give unselfishly of my time. I am reminded of the many blessings that God has provided for me and not to take them for granted and to be thankful daily.
-What is the responsibility of the larger community to the undeserved?
I think this a matter of opinion based on what the community believes is right and what they believe is deserved based on resources available, viewed norms, and shared values. A simple task is for people of the community to donated the unused clothing, etc. to the organization.
-How are you meeting social justice needs of the community?
The Good Shepherd Alliance is a Christian non-profit organization providing help and hope for the homeless and those in need through emergency and transitional housing and outreach services leading to self-sufficiency and self-worth. Their guests and outreach clients can receive free vouchers to shop for necessities, and proceeds from the sale of items support their three shelters.
