Introduction
Partaking in a class that offers a learning experiences has major benefits not only to my learning experiences, but to my well being overall. As a first year in college, I have realized the many beneficial things that can come out of helping other peoples, communities, and organizations.
Partaking in a class that offers a learning experiences has major benefits not only to my learning experiences, but to my well being overall. As a first year in college, I have realized the many beneficial things that can come out of helping other peoples, communities, and organizations.
My Experiences
Youth Group Fundraiser
The first thing I did was partake in helping my church youth group and their upcoming annual youth bake and clothing giveaway. Being away in college has kind of opted me out of being in the youth group at my church. But then in return, gives me the opportunity to help out in ways that is so beneficial and rewarding not only for them, but myself. I helped organize and locate each section for each distinct age group and their program's givings. I was able to help divide and place each clothes in separate totes accordingly based on gender, size, and color. Doing this made each person looking for clothes less stressed out. I then helped lay out and bake cookies, brownies, cakes such as pound cakes, carrot cakes, red velvet cakes, and much more! As it came to a close and as each specific age group between K-8th successfully had a great bake sale and clothing giveaway, I helped pack things up and coordinate further actions for their youth leader.
Volunteering with Elementary Education
My second learning experience was based in a classroom with my mother. My mother goes in every week, Monday through Wednesday to help volunteer with the Special Needs or "Inclusive Needs" program at Rural Hall Elementary in Rural Hall, North Carolina. In high school I attended the elementary school at least once a week with my mom, but since I am in college, I try to attend once a month, sometimes every other month. What my mother and I would do, would be to go in and help the teacher and her assistant work with and test, take children on field trips, and regular day schedules between lunch, quiet time, and specials! I primarily assisted the children when it came to testing and specials. I would always play with the kids and make sure that they had attention as much as possible.
Archie Carnival
As my partner Sydney and I were able to partake in helping out with the spread of Archie the Aetosaur and publication of this amazing discovery, Sydney and I were allowed to undergo a min project. As children from elementary schools and middle schools were being introduced to this idea of prehistoric animals, we had to make the idea kid friendly and interesting. As Sydney and I were gathering ideas and plastering them together for our class project, we decided to create a game board that quizzed children on their cognitive ability to retain information within lecture and then apply wha they learned during the game. Kids loved it as much as Sydney and I loved making the game for the kids!
Library Public Display
As a class we were able to work at the Watauga Public Library to inform others about the other professors at Appalachian State University. As each individual worked on preparing an informative brochure to inform the library about these professors, we made a tripod to inform others about the many mountainous regions and parks in North Carolina at the entrance of the library. We had a very fun time spreading around the word at the public library!
S-cientists and their Impacts
I feel as if science enthusiasts and scientists could help their community by allowing children and younger adults understand in a more fashionable way. Through fun educational lessons coming in to educate and see the kids, or between allowing kids and young adults listen to studies, I feel as if scientists can impact kids and young adults this way. Being hands on is such an important thing in a kids life because they more attentive to an activity rather than a lecture.
What I Took Away
What I took away from each expereince is that we should always help each other regardless if it is big or small. Any form of help is so great and humbling. I have taken away many lessons that I can enhance within my collegiate and professional careers. Being kind and helping others is something much needed within this world, and any individual can attend to others, either by guiding or physically helping.
