Thanksgiving Baskets: Distancing Acts Of Service

When I was asked to speak about service, the first thing I had to ponder was what exactly is service. In the world we live in today, there is so many different ways to serve those around you. Whether it is giving back to your school, local community, or even across borders the goal is always the same. Give a little piece of yourself for a greater good while expecting nothing in return.

Service is simply an act of helpful activity and the transferable skills that are gained from service illustrate the importance of being involved. By volunteering in my community and taking part in organizations that are centered on service, I am able to strengthen my understanding of my surroundings, and I am taught more compassion for others. Being involved presents unlimited opportunities to give back to others, and with the skills instilled by service, I am able to make a difference in the lives around me. Experience gained with service creates characteristics in a person that can shape the direction of my life, and I will value that in the future.

Serving others is a down deep way of learning more about yourself and helping others to see past themselves. Our Business and Professional Communication class participated in several service projects, which were interesting and exciting to be involved with helping others. As I am studying the major courses of Early Childhood/Special Education, our group project with the “Big Brothers Big Sister” program was very memorable to me. It was wonderful to have fun and participate in various activities with the kids. The environment was caring due to everyone helping each other accomplish different tasks. It was a great feeling to be able to share our time, talents, and hearts with the kids.

Service brings me great joy, and I continually seek ways that I can help those around me. The day after school gets out, my youth group and I are leaving for Mexico City to serve with an organization, Niños de Mexico, that provides a safe house for orphans and children from broken homes. I also recently committed to volunteering my time each Sunday with the kids at my church. My efforts to serve extend through my daily life as well, for example, when sister has had a rough day, I make her tea or brownies. I take care of my neighbor’s kids for free when they’re having a busy week. None of these tasks feel like work to me, I love to help people as much as possible. I look forward to the new service opportunities National Honor Society will provide.

One deciding to serve their surrounding community in an attempt to better the lives of people living in that community is one of the most selfless actions one individual person can perform. Throughout my time in high school career I committed myself to serving the broader community in order to better society whether it be me serving as Co-President of Life is Delicious or raising money for Special Olympics Connecticut by doing the Penguin Plunge.

To me “Not To be served, but to serve” means to put others needs before your own. Service seems to almost be necessary once someone appreciates all that has been done for them. In my case, I have already begun to give back to community which has already given me so much to me. Three years ago I joined a club called the Jr. Civitans. Junior Civitan is a student-led service organization for middle and high school students. The club has a special focus on helping people with developmental disabilities. Throughout the year, we do multiple fundraisers that benefit the special education students at my high school. Some of these events include a Haunted Forest, a Spaghetti Dinner, and a Prom Dress fashion show. The club really emphasizes the focus

As a National Honors Society student one of the four qualities we are to exhibit is service. I exhibit the quality of service by taking out time to go over and beyond the norm to help others, and the community. I have been helping the community and others ever since I was a child. Being an active member at my church, I remember in my elementary years helping feed the homeless at the City Union Mission. My time spent at the City Union Mission impacted me till this day, and now I prepare meals after church for the men that come to worship service. As a Christian it is important to show humility, and to not take pride in myself. I am taught to not be selfish, hateful, or ungrateful, I use what I am taught by my family, the Bible, church, and

By participating in this service project, I have learned that it is important to take part in activities that benefit

I believe that service should be selfless, it should be done for others and not for yourself. Nothing should be expected in return. Service is giving, not receiving. Each summer, my church hosts an event called “High School Service Week”. You are sorted into numerous groups.

People may think of service as being in a war or being part of our government. While these are very high positions of service there are also many small ways service can make an impact. Some of the service activities I have been included in are: Singing at a senior center, participating in Girl Scouts, adopting and caring for a humane society dog, donating clothes or toys to goodwill, and biking/walking places to save gas. Service is very important to me because it really helps me visualize the difference you can make by doing several small acts of kindness.

Furthermore, I have also done quite a few acts of service to my town and school even though I realize that it is not necessary for me to do so, I believe that by serving others without a reward is the best way to become a better person and leader. As a matter a fact I am a member of Frisco’s Teens4Green and have volunteered to play “Rufus the Recycling Dog” at local elementary schools, which was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. In addition, with my early release periods, rather than go home early most days, I choose to go assist some teachers if needed. By assisting them I can learn more about following in one’s footsteps to achieve a certain goal and how to aid another in a time of need. Since then, I knew that I had to serve my school in different ways rather than just teachers. I wanted to demonstrate to my class that I could be a worthy asset, and that I was there for them in wanting to make our senior year extravagant, yet

Acts of service always created a desire in me to help make people’s lives better. People often put forth their best when

“Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities” (Learn and Serve America National Service-Learning Clearinghouse). This assignment gave students the opportunity to go outside of their comfort zone, which is typically the classroom and see what the “real world” is like. As Gandhi would say “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” (Gandhi). I believe that this project really allowed us to appreciate what we have because many people are not as fortunate. During this service learning project I had certain expectations going into the project, but in the end, my results were not exactly as I expected.

Before, I stood as an individual who considered that I was not able to do anything on my own. I pointed fingers and judged at those organizations that weren’t quick to construct the changing society wanted to see. I failed to realize that organizations take countless effort in having a task done in a particular way, for a specific interval, which is the reason why service learning is a challenge.

Many people don’t understand how important serving is. I have found that at some schools, serving is important and is required to graduate. Service is the action of helping or doing work for someone. Serving can help others learn more about the world and help them position into a mature adult. Although service is required sometimes, people should serve by choice. Service hours are designed to help students grow in a relationship with God as well as discovering new ways to serve and help others.