Reflective Essay On Service Learning

A Service Learning project is one of the project requirements to complete the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through Ferris State University (FSU). My Service Learning experience was completed at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in November, 2014. This paper includes details of the facility along with the contact information for the coordinator of the project. A description of my role as a volunteer, critical reflection of my experience, and a synthesis of the Service Learning are also included.

From day one my mom taught me that you will get more satisfaction giving to and helping others than you ever will by just doing things for yourself. I truly believe this. Volunteering to teach swimming lessons, organizing recycled items, and visiting the nursing home are all things I have been involved in and doing each of those I have learned more and more about how important service is. Just recently my classmates and I helped an elderly woman move all of her belongings out of her home and into the 4H building for an auction. The 4H building is on the fairgrounds where I have volunteered to clean up every spring for the last 3 years. Service is very important but also very rewarding. I look toward to doing more service projects in the

Service Learning is an educational strategy set in place to enlighten students with instruction and experience, in addition to improve learning , teach responsibility, and support the community. Service learning is vital to the development of the student, given that it intertwines academic and personal development together. It is aimed to enhance a student’s learning in all aspects of life.

Participating in this service learning writing assignment, Dortha Bare, Jordan Felver, my partner, and I all seemed excited but also nervous of meeting each other. Jordan and I had prepared our questions and assignment thoroughly. Our motivations seemed confident and well prepared in retrieving answers and getting to know Dortha that day. Incentive approaches to motivation are theories suggesting that motivation stems from the desire to attain external rewards, known as incentives (Feldman, 289). For example, grades, money, affection, and food are incentives. I believe this is the method that we used to obtain a new friendship with Dortha and to receive a college grade. Intrinsic motivation causes us to participate in an activity for our own

For the Service Learning Assignment, I decided to volunteer at Northwind Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. The first expectation I have for my service experience is that it is going to take me out of my element. I know that I am going to be exposed to situations that I typically do not see on a daily basis. I believe that the agency/organization and staff would be pleasant to work with. The last couple of months, I visited a few nursing home/rehab centers and everyone always has been pleasant. After reading the responsibilities for this service experience, the task does not seem overwhelming or complicated. It would be like spending time with a family member and making them feel comfortable. The patient may be a little challenging depending

For my Reflective Service Learning Project, I volunteered at Westminster Shores Community Living. Westminster Shores is a community living center, with independent living and assisted living. They hold many events for the residents that lives there, as well as involve the volunteers in discussion groups. In addition, on of the main goals of the volunteer program is to create a connection between the students that volunteer and the residents who Live at Westminster Shores. As a volunteer, I participated in discussion groups, Saturday morning activities, and a “Day of Friendship”. Originally, being introduced to this volunteer opportunity, I though I was going to be sitting and talking to residents while playing games and doing puzzles. Although I love those activities, I was very pleased when I learned that I was going to be involved in discussion groups and projects. One of the main goals of the volunteering program is to connect students with the residents, so being involved in communicating with the residents creates a connection. I was able to connect one on one with some residents, as well as chat in bigger groups. In addition, I participated in the set-up of the Holiday Market, which is held annually, and I met several female residents with tables, selling homemade items. I enjoyed and learned about them talking to them through set-up. Furthermore, during the “Day of Friendship”, I spent the day with one resident and am still in contact with him and his wife. Through

My service learning experience with the non-profit organization, Off the Front has contributed to my professional development and prepared me more for the business would by enhancing my leadership and communication skills. At every bike repair location, I enhanced my leadership skills by leading other volunteers on what they should work on depending on their level of skills on bike repairs and if they wanted to learn something new, and I knew how to do a repair on the bike, I would gladly teach them. It also enhanced my communication skills by knowing how to communicate to other volunteers and that each individual may require a different communication style and leadership style. It also helped me improve my writing and analysis skills. My writing skills has enhanced by being able to write my service learning marketing plan with my group and making smooth transitions since we got different part. Using my analysis skills to evaluate four years of Off the Front financials through Forms 990 and created balance sheets for years 2013-2016 and broke down the salaries amount by each staff.

1. Looking back over the times you have volunteered at BIC , what did you find most surprising? Describe it in some detail. Why were you surprised?

Service learning projects can be life changing for students. They learn empathy for others, and may even get the real life experience they need which will inspire them to find a career. Through helping others students may find that they want to go into the human services field or even go more global by joining the Peace

All in all, service learning is an effective type of learning. My service-learning experience elaborated what I learned in class. It was a good opportunity for me to interact

Finding an organization for service learning is not hard. There are more than a handful in the Wichita area, the hard part is deciding which one to get involved with. I decided to do my service learning in my hometown of Belle Plaine at the annual Tulip Time Festival.

I chose to attend the touring session because I had a class from 11:00 am to 12:15 Pm. It was my first time leading a tour, and it was a good experience for me as a first-year college student because from that event I have learned how to lead a group and give a good information about the building/places we been together with the high school students as a group. That even also made me to consider the places I hadn’t been before, but I heard about them. Participating in that event was a very amazing because I was able to make a connection with the high school students. During the event, I felt like I am getting connected with the community I am living in because

This semester has been full of blessings within each of my service learning placements with my church, First Baptist Broken Arrow and as a peer tutor for the special Ed students during fifth hour. I have developed relationships with the people around me, and relationships that mean something. My peer partner, Hefzi and I, have already engaged in conversations regarding coming back after we graduate to see the students again. They have developed a special place in our hearts. It is one thing to meet new people, but it is another to help them grow as a person. It is amazing to think that not that long ago I was sitting down gazing at a piece of paper wondering which class to take my senior year, and chose this other service learning unsure

For my service learning aspect of this course, I volunteered at Lawrence Catholic Academy. There I worked one-on-one with a fourth grade boy who was struggling in all of his subjects. His grades were not very high and he needed a lot of extra help. One reason as to why he wasn’t doing well in school was because he rarely ever did his homework and therefore he always fell behind in class. Another thing that I had found out just a couple of weeks ago is that he was very sick last year and he had to miss half a year of school. Since he wasn’t in school for half of the year, he didn’t learn the material that he needs to know and therefore he is even further behind compared to the rest of his peers. I would always try my best to help him understand

In the time since my last journal, not much has changed in my service learning project, and not much is different about my responsibilities or activities. I am still a Student Support Coach working with Mrs. Young at West Middle School on Clinkscales Road. However, I have learned a bit more about myself, the community, and WMS.