Community Service Self-Evaluation Assessment
Name: James Yoon (Jae Seung)
Freshman Seminar Course #. fro11fma?
Name of Community Service Organization/Activity: Thanksgiving Warehouse Project

1. How did your community service work help the community? We were stationed in a warehouse where there was food that we labeled, organized and packaged for the homeless and people with low income for Thanksgiving.
2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project? I didn’t really have much thought. Just wanted to get it over with.
3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others? It felt good since I was always the one receiving. 4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site? I didn’t really learn anything new.
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? Just the fact that I was giving back and making an impact.
6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society? Homelessness, and financial problems are looming in today’s country. A number of people in the U.S are suffering from low income finances which forces them to cut back severely on their needs.
7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session? It related because I was in charge of the shipment which was a leadership position.
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 hasn’t totally changed me but I was just more thankful.
9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? It just made me more humble and thankful for what I have in life. What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience? I learned that a person should stay humble and not take things for granted because there are so many people out there suffering.
10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not? Yes It was fun and I got to see old friends.
11. do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not? If time permits, I would not mind.
12. Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two-sentence headline: I had a great experience being a part of this event. The fact that you actually made a difference in somebody’s life is an amazing feeling.

1) How did your community service work help the community?

I went with my family and two friends on Thanksgiving to deliver home cooked thanksgiving meals to the firefighters working in our community.

2) What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

At first i wasnt excited about it at all. I thought it was a nice idea to give the firefighters food because they were working and could not have their own thanksgiving meals with their families, but I did not want to part take, I would rather stay home and spend the day at my own house.

3) How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

Once I was at the fire station and saw the reactions of the firefighters and how grateful they were, I felt great too. I no longer cared that I wasn’t sitting in my own house and felt good about myself to make their job of working during the holiday easier.

4) What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?

I learned that I should not be selfish, and that I enjoy giving my time to others more than I thought i did. I learned that the people i was with, including my siblings and two friends have great hearts and even my ten year old sister enjoys not being selfish. I learned that the firefighters are the least selfish people, because not only do they also spend their time saving others, but they risk their lives for it as well.

5) What stands out as the best/ or most trying experiences that occured while engaging in your community service?

What stands out the most was the reaction of the fire fighters when they saw the food that we brought them, and how thankful they were for our kind gesture.

6) How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

Engaging in this project made me realize how special the firefighters are in our society and how we should appreciate them more.

7) How did your experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

My experience related very much to that session, because the firfighters are the perfect examples of leaders and service. They dedicate their lives to serve as leaders in our community and serve to the people by saving them when they need help.

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?

It changed my attitude and thinking a lot by converting the community service work as a whole from an annoying and time consuming one, into a heart filled and special one. It made me realize that doing community service doesnt only benefit the ones that you are trying to help, but it benefits you as well.

9) How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself through this experience?

It impacted me personally because i felt much better about myself after I participated in this project. I learned that although I may think that i  enjoy being selfish more and worrying about myself, I really enjoyed caring for others and that made me even happier than worrying about myself.

10) Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or Why not?

I was definitely satisfied, and I think that the firefighters were as well.

11) Do you see yourself staying involved in community service during your college and adult years? Why or Why not?

I definitely want to stay involved and will make time for it, because it made me happy and made my day better as well as helping others.

12) Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two sentence headline.

“Being Selfish is overrated: Helping others isn’t.”

 

 

 

a. Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? Exceeded your expectations?

My experience at Baruch College has somewhat lived up to my expectations. Coming from a suburban area I enjoy the atmosphere and the vibe that New York City gives. I am a big fan of basketball in general so I was a little disappointed with the amount of school spirit that the school had. I also don’t like how the administration forces students to par take in classes that the students clearly have no interest in.

b. How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

My first semester at Baruch College did not go as well as I planned. As I started to live away from home I picked up pretty bad sleeping habits and barely studied. But besides that I made new friends and I started to get used to the NY atmosphere.

c. What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

I would use my time more wisely, and just stay up on of everything.

d. How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

I don’t feel like I have really changed since this is only my first semester of school. I feel the same as I have ever been.

A) Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? exceeded your expectations?

My experience at Baruch so far has lived up to my expectations. That is kind of easy for me to say because i didn’t have many expectations coming in. I assumed from what I heard from other Baruch students that it wouldn’t be so hard, I would be in and out all day, and i would hopefully enjoy my classes. I was more excited about moving to the city and living with two of my best friends from High School in an apartment near school. I did enjoy my first semester and made new friends and enjoyed some of the classes, and for the most part were not very hard.

B) How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

I think it went pretty well. considering it was my first semester and I was adjusting to the school and teachers and fulfilling the work requirements at the same time, overall I did a pretty good job, and towards the end of the semester I got more used to it and comfortable here.

C) What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

If i could i would have studied more in the beginning of the semester for Art History and Psych… thats about it, and tried being on time more often..

D) How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

I think I became a little more outgoing and less shy in my classes than i used to be. I used to be afraid to voice my opinion more and speak in front of the class but I got a lot more comfortable doing that since the beginning of the semester.

a. Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? Exceeded your expectations?

I was really disappointed in my experience at Baruch College. At first I put this entirely down to a typical Freshman experience where you can’t pick your classes and your freedom is limited to gen. ed requirements. But after talking to my friends that went to different schools I have realized that this may not have been the case. I didn’t really find any of my classes interesting, or even enjoyable, and I found the professors lazy, obnoxious or self absorbed, with the exception of one who I felt to be a genuinely good educator.

b. How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

Terribly. It was completely not what I expected which left me uninterested. It was also such a big step in my life, moving out of home, dealing with the costs of adulthood and the stress of a busy schedule that I think this took away drastically from the education portion.

c. What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

If I went into it a second time I would be aware of what to expect and I think I would handle it better because I would be less disappointed and more ready to just sort of deal with it.

d. How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

When I started college I was a child, living with my parents, having literally no stress. Now I’m an adult, I feel older as a person but this honestly has very little to do with Baruch.

1. how did your community service work help the community?

For my community service I helped at a program called “Feed five hundred”. We made lunches and walked around New York City and handed them to all of the homeless people.

2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

To be honest, at first I was dreading it. I didn’t want to spend my time doing community service. But once i did it i felt so rewarded to be able to help the unfortunate. It made me feel so great.

3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

It felt so good to be doing something for someone else. It definately wasn’t time wasted I did get a lot out of  it.

4.What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?

What I learned about myself was that once i started getting the hang of it I really started enjoying it. I love the feeling of helping others. From watching the people around me you could pick the people apart from who wanted to be there and who had to be there. I learned that the service site is really helpful to those in need.

5.What stands out as the best and/ or most trying experiences that occured while engaging in your community service project? What did you learn from this experience?

The thing that stands out the most to me was the people’s reactions. When I handed them the lunch bag there faces lit up and it was so rewarding to see them so happy! I learned that just the littlest gestures can make someones day.

6.  How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

This project is trying to help people who are starving. There are so many homeless and hungry people in New York that even just a few hundred kids handing out lunches can makes a dfference.

7.   How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

I think taking part in any community service is being a leader. Taking control of a situation that is in need of some help is definately leadership.

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?

I think seeing all of those people who were starving changed my attitued towards life. I will definately not take life for granted anymore.

9.  How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience?

It made me think of the homeless differently because when we asked about their stories we heard  about everything they went through and how they got to this point. I learned that I am totally capable of helping others.

10.  Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not?

I was satisfied with my experience because it didnt take long and gave me life lessons that I can look back on.

11.  Do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not?

I hope to stay involved in the community for as long as I can because it is such a good feeling to give back.

12.  Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two-sentence headline:

Even the littlest things can brighten someones day.

a) Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? Exceeded your expectations?

Well to be honest I expected a lot of work but I wasn’t sure how  I would be able to handle it. I think i’m handling it pretty well. I could definately manage my time a little better but I think i’m dealing with it fine for now. I think since it’s a commuter school there isn’t much life out of school but living in the dorms definately helps.

b)  How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

I think my first semester went ok. I feel like I could have done better but it took some time to getting used to.

c)  What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

If I could do it all again I would spend more time studying and less time partying. Theres always going to be a time to have fun but  I feel like I need to know the time to have fun and the time to buckle down and study.

d)  How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

I think i’ve been so much more open to meeting people. Going into a new school you have to be open to socializing because you have to realize that everyone is in the same boat as you with not knowing much people so if you just start talking and be friendly people feel open to socialize back.

a. Tell us who you think YOU are!
I am currently a freshman at Baruch College hoping to get the most out of this new experience and endeavor of my life! I live in Queens and commute to school everyday – which I’m a little annoyed about at times because it just increases this very special love-hate relationship that I share with the MTA (seriously, how long have they been “fixing” it for?) I think I’m a pretty adventurous person, I love to travel and learn about different cultures, people and traditions. I also like being outdoors and just enjoy a beautiful day. I absolutely hate public speaking with a burning passion because I get so nervous! So I guess that’s definitely something that I’ll have to work on in college, and hopefully studying in Baruch will strengthen me in that area.

b. Share your top 3 concerns about your freshman year at Baruch College and explain why.
1) My number one concern would HANDS DOWN be the exams! Especially since they carry so much weight. I don’t have the strongest study habits – I tend to procrastinate until I absolutely can’t anymore, and always leave studying/cramming till the night before a test. So I hope I can learn to use my time more efficiently, prioritize, and develop better organizational skills.
2) I have the worst sense of direction so even though school’s started for a while now, I still get lost sometimes. Baruch hallways are seriously designed like a maze and I hope I’ll get used to them soon! So arriving to class in time is definitely a main priority. Also Baruch’s policy on absences is kind of CRAZY, so I need to step it up in that aspect as well and make sure I always show up for class.
3) Developing a genuine interest for each class that I’m taking. Even though I know that every class is useful and relevant to whatever major we decide to do in the future, I find myself having trouble focusing in some of the classes, because I don’t feel as engaged or interested, etc. I have to remind myself to be genuinely motivated and dedicated in each class, because that’s how I learn best, and because I know that each class is beneficial, regardless of the format the teacher employs.

c. So far, what do you think will make your Baruch College experience different from your high school experience?
Probably the fact that it’s not as structured and we don’t have a set schedule like high school. In high school we had to be in school for a full day, whereas now we have gaps in between classes where we can leave the facility, run errands, etc. And also how most of our classes (like Psychology for example) are comprised of a couple hundred students. In high school, all classes are on a much smaller scale, and we don’t get to pick the classes we want to take.

d. How do you think your first year at College will change you?
I think that it will enable me to meet great people that I’ll always be friends with, and better prepare me both academically as well as socially for all the challenges in life.

1. How did your community service work help the community?
I went to the Metropolitan Hospital in Harlem to entertain kids as part of a service event for Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity.

2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?
At first I was a little scared of going to Harlem because it isn’t exactly the safest area, however after we got to meet all the little kids there, I felt really happy to be able to partake in a very meaningful cause. Seeing all their brightly lid faces as we cheered them on, colored with them, and told them stories really made my day.

3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?
It felt great because aside from contributing and being a part of a great cause, I was able to bond with people that I really enjoy spending time with, and we had a blast laughing and chatting with all the adorable little kids.

4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?
I learned that if you truly have the heart to be a part of something, you can always contribute and put in a share of effort on your part regardless of how small it may seem. And of course everyone loves free labor, so why not be a part of something worthwhile and brighten up someones day?

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?
It helped me acquire a lot of perspective – especially as I got to see how many of these kids have to spend their days in a hospital and aren’t as fortunate as me, I was reminded to not take anything that I have for granted and reminded of how lucky I am to have been blessed with good health.

6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society? We participated in this cause completely out of our own will. The hospital encourages volunteers who are willing to come in and participate somehow in entertaining the patients there. We also brought with us coloring books and crayons and we had a wonderful time with all the kids.

7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?
I learned that there are always available outlets for us to contribute back to the community and do something meaningful with our time. It doesn’t always have to be donating a lot of money, sometimes it is the heart and thought that goes the longest way, and can help someone in need find the inspiration they need to continue striving in life.

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?
As I mentioned above, it helped me gain perspective and helped me see clearer that there are many kids who aren’t as fortunate as I am, and that just a little bit of my time and heart, can go a long way, and that is a wonderful feeling.

9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience?
I learned to be more aware of my community and surroundings and be more aware to give back whenever I have the chance. Now I feel a lot more grateful for everything that I’ve been blessed with in my life.

10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not?
Yes, definitely. Seeing all the kids’ smiles and bright faces as we played with them really meant a lot to all of us.

11. Do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not?
I would like to because it is important to give back to the community and make the world we live in a more fair and well-rounded place.

12. Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two-sentence headline:
Helping out with the community doesn’t require rocket science – it just takes a little bit of heart and dedication.

 

a. Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? Exceeded your expectations?
Coming into college, I was honestly quite nervous – I was nervous about whether I would be able to handle the workload, what professors I would be getting, being able to get good grades, meet new people etc, however coming into Baruch, it’s been surprisingly quite a pleasant and fulfilling experience. I met some great people that I know I want to keep in touch with and I was also able to become more organized and manage my time more efficiently.

b. How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?
At first, I would say my biggest challenge was being able to manage my time well – I would constantly be getting caught up doing other things, and before I would realized, I’d be finishing a paper at 4am, and that would affect the quality of my work. So definitely time management is an aspect that I’m still trying to improve.

c. What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?
I would do more research into the classes I was taking so I wouldn’t be caught off guard as much as I am now with Art History for example.

d. How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?
I have become more responsible and active in terms of finishing assignments in a timely manner and have also gained more confidence with my  public speaking.