Service Learning Wrap Up

Looking back on my service experience at Cocky's Reading Express, I enjoyed going to Hand Middle School the most and seeing the kids picking up their books.  They were so excited to see Cocky, and seeing their smiles was really rewarding.  Going on this small trip made the other days of volunteering seem better because on the other days, all we did was put stickers in books or hung up flyers.  At the beginning, this work seemed kind of pointless and boring, but it was definitely worth it all to see the kids so excited about reading.  I plan to volunteer next semester, possibly at Cocky's Reading Express, or I was thinking about volunteering at a Family Homless shelter.  I found out about this when I attended the Homeless for the Homeless event through my church.  The flyer said the shelter needs help decorating for holidays, celebrating birthdays, painting, and doing yardwork.  I feel that this opportunity will also be very rewarding, and if I have time in my schedule next semester, hopefully I can participate in this and Cocky's Reading Express.

Personal Challenge

My personal challenge for this semester was participating in a Homeless for the Homeless event.  I attended this overnight event through my church, Midtown at Columbia.  The night began by splitting everyone into groups, and walking through a series of stations where they played videos of real homeless people explaining their situation and how difficult life was for them.  After that, our group sat down with a homeless man in person and heard his story.  We could ask him questions, and his story was so touching that we all gave him hugs afterward.  We also received a lot of information about volunteering at homeless shelters here in Columbia.  That night, everyone slept outside on the grass or pavement at the building we were at...but the program had picked the coldest weekend ever to do this event!!! It got down to 28 degrees!! (I didn't get much sleep, if any!)  In the morning, we got up, set up, and served breakfast to homeless people who came to the site.  We also sat down and talked to them and connected with them.  This was somewhat hard for me; growing up, my mom always saw homeless people as dangerous drug addicts, would lock the car doors when we drove past them, etc.  It was hard for me to get over my previous ideas, but now I know that not all homeless people are drug addicts--especially because of the economy today-- and that it's definitely worth talking to them, getting to know them, and helping them!!