1) How did your community service work help the community?
– On the day of Thanksgiving I attended a community service event at the Adonai Christian Center, a church in Queens that my family attends regularly. The event entailed collecting, sorting and then distributing canned goods and food in general to those less fortunate in the community.
2) What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?
– At first as with anything that requires me going out of my way to do something for others, I was hesitant and somewhat annoyed. However, the more I thought about how so many people could use a helping hand especially on a holiday the more I was convinced it was the right thing to do.
3) How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?
– It genuinely felt great to help out others. There is a very unique sense of satisfaction that comes with remembering that there are others who find themselves in difficult situations and helping them out.
4) What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?
– I learned that perhaps I’m not as egocentric as I thought I was, that there are good, caring people everywhere around us and that even though I am not personally religious; churches offer good services in communities.
5) What stands out as the best/ or most trying experiences that occured while engaging
in your community service?
– The best experience was physically distributing food to those who needed it and feeling their warm gratitude.
6) How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?
– I am considering pursuing a career in psychology; a career that involves helping individuals out and this was a small glimpse of the satisfaction that comes with helping others. It relates to larger issues in society being that we are currently living in turbulent economic situations and we should begin to consider those who suffer the most because of this.
7) How did your experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?
– I was able to see church leaders actively helping guide everyone to achieve something.
8 ) How has your community service experience changed your attitude, thinking, and
actions towards yourself, others, the community, and community service work as a whole?
– I spend the vast majority of my time thinking and doing things solely for myself and this helped me realize that there are others who have problems that are more important than mine and that it is necessary to help them out. I often forget that there are people in my own community who could really use a helping hand. I am definitely more open to being involved in community service in the future.
9) How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is
the most important thing you learned about yourself through this experience?
– I learned that I can be a helpful and kind person when I really want to be.
10) Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or Why not?
– I was definitely satisfied with the experience; it made celebrating Thanksgiving with my family later on that much more meaningful.
11) Do you see yourself staying involved in community service
during your college and adult years? Why or Why not?
– I definitely see myself becoming more involved in community service in years to come. It feels good to know you are helping to make a difference in a community.
Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two sentence headline.
– Remember that you are not alone in this world and kindly extend your hand to those who need it.
