What? So What? Now What?
How can you educate others or raise awareness about this group or social issue?
I feel that the best way to educate others about a group/social issue is to have a some sort of class or meeting related to specifically educating people on that certain topic and how they should approach the situation and how to proceed. Another way to raise awareness could be to set up a booth at a local fair and try to summarize what your organization is about and then offer times when the group meets.
Do you see benefits of doing community work? Why or Why not?
I do see benefits in doing community work. Working in your community really allows you to get to know more about it and you are able to see the varying parts that make up your community.
What institutional structures are in place at your site or in the community? How do they affect the people you work with?
Back in Bristol, VA, I was a part of Bristol Youth Council, which was dedicated to improving the town of Bristol and teaching high school students about local government and service. We were all very close with each other and had a lot of fun at our meetings and service sites. I would also say that the church I attended works a lot with the community. They run a food pantry and often help the community when there is an issue. At my high school, there is a club dedicated to providing students with service opportunities.
What did you do that seemed to be effective or ineffective in the community?
Through BYC, I was able to do a lot of service in the community. I'd say that most of what we did was very effective with little being ineffective. For example, every summer Bristol has a festival called Rhythm & Roots and BYC usually volunteers for children's day. We dress up as kids characters (Scooby, Captain America, etc.), take pictures with the kids and their parents, had out popsicles, and do crafts with the kids. An ineffective service I participated in was helping with parking for R & R. I was partly in charge of supervising the private parking lot for volunteers, but people were rude and parked even if they were not volunteering. I think volunteering at Children's Day shows the community how much we really care about children.
What are the most difficult or satisfying parts of your work? Why?
I would say that the most satisfying part of doing community service is seeing the reactions we get when we finish serving for that day. Usually, the people we serve are so grateful and thankful for the work we did and then seeing them being so inspired that they continue to work. A difficult part is putting in so much hard work and realizing that you can only do so much before the day ends. Or, helping a person out, and then seeing them not finish the project is very difficult to watch. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
How are your values expressed through your community work?
I believe that my purpose in life is to serve. When I'm doing service, I feel good. My heart feels full and I have this all around good feeling. I also think that when participating in service, you need to go into it with wanting to be there and wanting to see results or progress of work. If nothing is happening, I feel discouraged. Its also a good idea to go into the service with a selfless attitude. Its very easy to get caught up in ourselves and want to turn the service into the wrong type of personal gain (e.g. doing service because it's required).
Complete this sentence: Because of my service-learning, I am....
Becoming more knowledgeable about myself and understanding why I want to serve; I'm becoming more knowledgeable about my community and I get to see what all is happening around town and get involved with what is going on; I'm becoming more knowledgeable about my friends, getting to know them more and learn why they want to serve and what drives them to do service.
I feel that the best way to educate others about a group/social issue is to have a some sort of class or meeting related to specifically educating people on that certain topic and how they should approach the situation and how to proceed. Another way to raise awareness could be to set up a booth at a local fair and try to summarize what your organization is about and then offer times when the group meets.
Do you see benefits of doing community work? Why or Why not?
I do see benefits in doing community work. Working in your community really allows you to get to know more about it and you are able to see the varying parts that make up your community.
What institutional structures are in place at your site or in the community? How do they affect the people you work with?
Back in Bristol, VA, I was a part of Bristol Youth Council, which was dedicated to improving the town of Bristol and teaching high school students about local government and service. We were all very close with each other and had a lot of fun at our meetings and service sites. I would also say that the church I attended works a lot with the community. They run a food pantry and often help the community when there is an issue. At my high school, there is a club dedicated to providing students with service opportunities.
What did you do that seemed to be effective or ineffective in the community?
Through BYC, I was able to do a lot of service in the community. I'd say that most of what we did was very effective with little being ineffective. For example, every summer Bristol has a festival called Rhythm & Roots and BYC usually volunteers for children's day. We dress up as kids characters (Scooby, Captain America, etc.), take pictures with the kids and their parents, had out popsicles, and do crafts with the kids. An ineffective service I participated in was helping with parking for R & R. I was partly in charge of supervising the private parking lot for volunteers, but people were rude and parked even if they were not volunteering. I think volunteering at Children's Day shows the community how much we really care about children.
What are the most difficult or satisfying parts of your work? Why?
I would say that the most satisfying part of doing community service is seeing the reactions we get when we finish serving for that day. Usually, the people we serve are so grateful and thankful for the work we did and then seeing them being so inspired that they continue to work. A difficult part is putting in so much hard work and realizing that you can only do so much before the day ends. Or, helping a person out, and then seeing them not finish the project is very difficult to watch. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
How are your values expressed through your community work?
I believe that my purpose in life is to serve. When I'm doing service, I feel good. My heart feels full and I have this all around good feeling. I also think that when participating in service, you need to go into it with wanting to be there and wanting to see results or progress of work. If nothing is happening, I feel discouraged. Its also a good idea to go into the service with a selfless attitude. Its very easy to get caught up in ourselves and want to turn the service into the wrong type of personal gain (e.g. doing service because it's required).
Complete this sentence: Because of my service-learning, I am....
Becoming more knowledgeable about myself and understanding why I want to serve; I'm becoming more knowledgeable about my community and I get to see what all is happening around town and get involved with what is going on; I'm becoming more knowledgeable about my friends, getting to know them more and learn why they want to serve and what drives them to do service.