1. How did your community service work help the community?
I volunteered at the ”Make tracks for turtles” Run for the Wild at the New York Aquarium, I worked at the half way point making sure all the participants in the race went in the right direction.
2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?
I didn’t mind at all as long as it’s something I was interested in or something that wasn’t too boring.
3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?
It was fun I knew what I was doing was for a good cause that I supported and that made it a lot more enjoyable.
4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?
I worked with a father and daughter the whole morning who came out to volunteer and support the cause not because they had to like I did but because they were passionate about the cause and wanted to. I thought that was so great that a seven year old an her father would come out early in the morning for no reason other than to help their community it made me feel as if I should do the same more often.
5. What stands out as the best and/ or most trying experiences that occurred while engaging in your community service project? What did you learn from these experiences?
My job was to stand at the turn around point and lead the runners and walkers in the right direction once they got there. At first it was great seeing all the runners and helping out. But after a while it lost its charm and 45 minutes as the first of the walkers started coming I knew I would be standing there a lot longer waiting for all of them to finish which I was. It forced me to be patient and not to rush them but support them since they as well were there to help the cause.
6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?
It put money towards the New York Aquarium.
7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?
It gave me experience in being a leader in my community by lending a hand.
8. How has your community service experience changed your thinking, attitudes, and actions towards others, yourself, the community, and community service work as a whole?
It has made me want to get involved more in my community in any way, it showed me how good it feels to take time out for others with no anticipation of reward.
9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience?.
That even though it can be inconvenient to my free time and force me to do work when I want to relax it feels a lot better to spend a day taking care and being their for others in need than it does focusing all of my spare time on myself.
10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not?
It was very early in the morning and far away which at the time was frustrating but it was only once and once it was over I was happy I had done.
11. Do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not?
Most definitely I’m currently in the process of becoming a volunteer at New York Animal Care and Control because it is a cause I believe in and something I know I would enjoy doing that will also be allowing me to give back to my community.
12. Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two-sentence headline:
Being able to help out the Aquarium and raise money for creatures in need of care who can’t raise it themselves was very satisfying.
