Blog #4: Service and Learning Together

At first when I was given the task of finding the child for the Service Learning project, I was a little nervous. I wasn't a very outgoing person, but with this project, that soon had to change. I had to break out of my shell and work with my partner to get the job done. I was so glad that I had a partner that was willing to pull his weight just as much as I was willing to pull mines. Kory was a really nice guy. He was easy to talk to, and I never felt uncomfortable when I was around him. He made doing this project a lot easier.



When we got to the Girls and Boys club, we were assigned our child to work with. I was a little worried about the child not being cooperative, but that wasn't the case for Breona. She came in prepared to talk about her careers (Engineer and Basketball player) and to work on the dream collage. Once we got her talking and comfortable, time just flew by. Before we knew it, we were finished with the collage. The first week was probably one of the most memorable and most fun for me.



The second visit went a little slower than the first. Kory and I sat down with Breona and researched her dream careers with her. We found out that engineering might not fit her interests as much. Science wasn't a favorite class of Breona's, and engineering requires lots of it. So, we moved on to basketball and discovered that that particular career was the way to go.



Now, that we had all the information that we needed, it was time to write the essay. We all know it's hard to get a kid to sit still, let alone get them to write an essay. Maria suggested bringing candy as an incentive for the kid, but Kory and I took another route. Me being me, I know how to get the job done. If you just set a piece of paper in front of the child's face and tell them to write an essay, they're probably going to look at you like you're crazy. You have to ease your way into the topic and guide them. So, we started off with the outline and worked our way into the essay. I happened to have a candy bar with me that day, and I was planning on saving it for later but I decided to share it with Breona. This visit turned out to be a fun visit for all of us. Though it was hard to get into, we managed to get the essay written.



Last but not least, the Action Plan. This last week of Summer Scholars has been a very busy one, and everybody has been trying to get to their last Service Learning, including Kory and I. We too had to create an Action Plan of our own. Ours is preparing us for the hectic year ahead of us. The Action Plan that we have to do with our student is a little different. We have to help them prepare for the middle school and high school years ahead of them. This will keep them on the right path to achieving their goals.



One thing that I learned from this experience was to never say that you can't do something. If you put your mind to it and put forth effort, you can do anything. This experience as well as the one with Summer Scholars has helped me interact with other people instead of staying in my comfort zone. I'm glad to have changed Breona's life in some way and to have shown her that there is hope for her in the future. I hope that she takes this experience and uses it to get her to where she wants to be.

Blog #3: Personal Statement

America is known as the melting pot, the land of great diversity and many colors. For years, even centuries the topic of homosexuality has been a controversial issue. In my opinion, people are entitled to their own preferences. You shouldn’t be judged because of your sexuality because judging others is wrong, we are all human, and we should love and accept each other as we are.

Many refer to the Bible when the topic of homosexuality is brought up. The Bible says, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22) Homosexuality goes against the created order of God, but that gives you no reason to judge that person for being that way. The Bible also says, "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2) Do not judge others in a way that you would not want to be judged yourself. We may not all be perfect, but we are all human.

Man wasn’t built to be perfect or to obtain complete perfection. There are several bumps (imperfections) in the road every now and then. They give us our identity, our own story. Each story is different in the way that it is written and presented. Though we are different, we still have a heart, and we still have the ability to love and to feel.

The feelings of those who are different than others often get hurt. We are God’s children, and we should all love one another. We don’t have to condone homosexuality, but we can still support our friends and treat them no differently because of that. I, myself, have been confessed to several times by my friends who are bisexual or homosexual. I still love them and hang out with them because they are my friends. What they are shouldn’t change the way I feel about them.

So you say the place of great diversity isn’t so perfect, eh? You’re right. Maybe it’s time to start working together as a family. Instead of pushing people away, embrace them. Listen to what they have to say, know where they’re coming from. Who knows…your friend might come to you for your help and support.

Well...it's about time to wrap this week's blog up.

So until next time...Catch ya later.

Blog #2: Life in the Dorms! (Summer Scholars)

One might think that the college life is all about partying and staying up late. I had a chance to experience that and see if those stereotypes are actually true. The first day I came to the Scott Residence Hall, I was really excited. I was ready to live the college life. That day once we all got unpacked, we went to Camp Carol Joy Holling for co-op team building. When I saw the high ropes course that I had to complete, I was terrified. Me being scared of heights, I knew this would be a challenge.



Once I got up in the air, I was doing fine. Of course I was shaken up and scared, but I managed to get through the first level of the course. Half way through the second level, my body just couldn't continue. I recognized the feeling, and I knew that I was getting sick. I wasn't very happy that I didn't finish the course, but sometimes you have to listen to your body first. As I was being lowered down to the ground with the safety rope, I ended up getting scratched up from the wooden platform. I guess you can say that it was more painful coming down than it was staying up there. Even Maria was shocked when I came down with the scratches, but I'm not one to over exaggerate things. They stung a little bit, but it wasn't excruciating pain. I guess you can say that there's a first time for everything. It kinda sucked that I had to be the first, but it's quite all right with me. Just getting that far in the course, I felt accomplished.



That wasn't the only activity that went on during my week at the dorms. We had movie night, an ice cream social, battle of the scholars and so much more. I got a chance to bond with all the people in Summer Scholars. I made new friends and had a really good time. One complication was the late night partying. We all had our fun and enjoyed our stay, but the next morning was a drag. All our eyes were drooping and we sat in class half asleep. Partying has a price, but man was it worth it.



If I had a chance to do this again, I totally would. =]

Well...it's about time to wrap this week's blog up.
So until next time...Catch ya later.

Blog #1: My First Week as a College Student

Summer is a time to relax, a time to hang out with friends. Most people don't consider spending most of the summer in a classroom, but Summer Scholars is different. Sure, you have to get up a little earlier than usual, but hey, you had to do it for high school. Why not wake up a few extra hours early for a day's worth of fun and learning. I'm not going to sit here and lecture you guys about getting up early when I don't like doing it myself. I'm more of a night person. If it can't be done at a reasonable hour, then most likely, I'm not going for it. {lol} But Summer Scholars is so worth it.

One thing that I have noticed about this experience is that college students have more freedom. Independence is a major plus, especially since we don't get it at home. Another thing that I have noticed is that college is somewhat difficult. Always build a study group and stay on track. If you manage your time wisely and keep up with your homework, then you're good to go. Advice like that works especially for the class that I'm taking, which is Philosophy.

My first impression of Philosophy was that it was going to be a course where we discussed our opinions on certain topics, but man was I wrong. This class changes your way of thinking completely. It makes you think in ways that you haven't before. I guess that's why I enjoy it so much. Even with difficult theories and philosophical teachings that sound like a foreign language, I still find the subject interesting. Not only is the class laid-back, but the teacher is as well. Mr. Decker is awesome! He's not afraid to think outside the box and say what's on his mind. It's always good to feel comfortable with your professor and feel like you can go to him/her for anything.

Well...it's about time to wrap this week's blog up.

So until next time...Catch ya later.