I think it is interesting that the subject of religion be brought up and how the Catholic identity of Loras is suppose to make us more socially responsible in this world. I have mixed feelings on this.
There are many people that do not attend masses at Loras, but are still very responsible. You see this at many schools that have no religious affiliation. These people sometimes have more "freedom" because they won't necessarily be criticized for their views because they aren't Catholic or aren't Christian. However, they are socially responsible just the same.
I'm Catholic, and I go to mass nearly ever Sunday. However, with the reasoning above, I don't know if a strong Catholic identity is necessarily a good thing for social responsibility. It definitely can be, but if people become overly identified with the Catholic identity and aren't open to other ideas, then the negative effects can set in, and that can be considered sin in the Catholic church. This is where I think Loras does do a pretty good job. Most of the Catholic identity courses that Loras offers discusses various religions. Our own Catholic identity course discussed Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism. I believe that understanding these various religions is what makes us more socially responsible in today's world.
Think about it for a second. How did most of the wars of the world begin? It usually had a religious cause. Someone didn't agree with another, and before you know it, countries are trying to kill off other countries and thousands, sometimes millions, of lives are lost. All because the leaders did not think the other person was right...thus they didn't deserve to exist. That is much of what I see today. There are many people who are quite narrow minded and do not see both sides of the bridge. They only see their own shore and stick with it for dear life. Low and behold, there is another side, and it seems that if someone tries crossing that bridge, they get blown to $h^t.
That is why I believe Loras does do a decent job at educating us on more than just Catholicism. This makes us more socially responsible because it gives us the opportunity to discuss other views and consider them in our solutions to various social and economic issues that face us today. We all need to work together, and that is one thing that I learned from my religion classes in high school and at Loras.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Learning Plan Version 0.1
Individual service site
Name of organization and location:
The Dubuque Multicultural Family Center
Name of contact who will serve as supervisor and reviewer
Madeline Cairney
Description of duties/activities
Help in creating programs for grade school youth with the help of the other volunteers at the MFC. Also, I will simply be available to the children to tutor mathematics. Furthermore, I will help with the Future Talk girls and their involvement in seeking colleges.
Learning plan
What are your goals? Why did you choose these goals? How do they relate to coursework at Loras?
My main goal is simply to be available to the children. At the very least, I want the children to know that I’ll be there to help them with math or just a cool guy to play some games with. It would definitely be great to have awesome programs, but the relationships that can be built are crucial. Some of these children don’t have any constants in life, so for as long as I can, I’d like to be there for them.
These goals really relate to the coursework at Loras because they focus on relationship, and relationship not only with myself, but with the children and the community.
Means to the goals. What will you be doing to help you reach your goals?
In order to reach my goal, I need to be at the MFC at the times I have set. Though it is only Wednesday and Friday, if I’m consistently at the center on those two days, I will set a pattern that the kids will hopefully get to know.
Assessments. How do I know whether or not I met my goals? How close did I come?
In order to assess this goal, all I’ll have to do is go to the MFC and when the children come they just have to smile when they see me. That will be the measure of my goal.
Name of organization and location:
The Dubuque Multicultural Family Center
Name of contact who will serve as supervisor and reviewer
Madeline Cairney
Description of duties/activities
Help in creating programs for grade school youth with the help of the other volunteers at the MFC. Also, I will simply be available to the children to tutor mathematics. Furthermore, I will help with the Future Talk girls and their involvement in seeking colleges.
Learning plan
What are your goals? Why did you choose these goals? How do they relate to coursework at Loras?
My main goal is simply to be available to the children. At the very least, I want the children to know that I’ll be there to help them with math or just a cool guy to play some games with. It would definitely be great to have awesome programs, but the relationships that can be built are crucial. Some of these children don’t have any constants in life, so for as long as I can, I’d like to be there for them.
These goals really relate to the coursework at Loras because they focus on relationship, and relationship not only with myself, but with the children and the community.
Means to the goals. What will you be doing to help you reach your goals?
In order to reach my goal, I need to be at the MFC at the times I have set. Though it is only Wednesday and Friday, if I’m consistently at the center on those two days, I will set a pattern that the kids will hopefully get to know.
Assessments. How do I know whether or not I met my goals? How close did I come?
In order to assess this goal, all I’ll have to do is go to the MFC and when the children come they just have to smile when they see me. That will be the measure of my goal.
Friday, September 19, 2008
What can I give?
What can I give to society? Recently, I was reminded by a professor who just retired, that I wrote something about having a job that gives back to society. I used to think that I was pretty selfish--and I was--but I did not know that I thought like that three years ago. So, as an engineer and mathematician, I can give my skills. Just down at the Multicultural Family Center this evening, I helped two children with their math homework. It was definitely rewarding to me to see them understand the problem after I talked it through with them. I can also help fix people's cars or help them out with housing projects, and I've done all that. But I always feel that something is missing.
I was also recently reminded today that sometime I give too much (though through my eyes, I think I can give much more). Sometimes, I don't let love in after it is given out. So what I got from this (and the person who reminded me is very dear to me), was that relationship is what I can give when I leave Loras. And with relationships, there is a two-way street. Each has to give a little in order to avoid a collision. It doesn't matter if it's at the job, at a restaurant, far away, near by, or simply at home, relationship is what we must give to other people. Whether that means stopping to help someone with a flat tire or simply smiling at someone who looks down, that is what we all must give.
With society now-a-days, it seems that relationship is getting further away from people. We walk around with iPods, talk on the cell phone as we walk the streets, and many other things (I'm guilty of it too), but all these things seem to take us further away from the important things in life. And now, especially, since the economy is unstable, people are going to be worried about money or could fall into depression easily. It's sad how much control money has on people today. That means we must do our best to make the people we care about feel important so that money won't rule their lives. I know a few gentlemen at work who have never had a serious relationship or even cared about another person--by the sounds of it, not even their parents much--they live purely on money...and I used to be like that as well. But now, I have seen that just one relationship has opened my eyes to let me see that relationship is the key to helping others. I am so thankful for that person; I make sure she knows my gratitude.
The only way to face such an issue is to go out into the world everyday with an open mind. That is the key. If you have an open mind, you can ask interesting questions and learn more about others while they ask about you. Thus completing the two way street.
The only real doubt that I have is that honest sometimes can get one into trouble. I'm not hesitating, but I've seen this happen before. Someone is honest and hard working while another is lazy and irresponsible. Unfortunately, a boss or someone likes the lazy person and gives he/she a raise. The honest worker doesn't get his/her fair share. However, I know who the better person is, but it bothers me a bit, and it really makes people hesitate.
Take for instance, a class at Loras. A student wants to say something to the professor but is afraid that if he/she speaks, the professor will lower his/her grade on the next paper. We all know this is wrong, but there are people who do this, and it drives me nuts. I, personally, cannot stand to watch someone who just told me they don't like something and want to suggest something different and then don't say anything at all, even when given multiple opportunities. It is best to be honest, but people have seen the honest man lose, and that makes people fearful.
That is much like the narrator. He is honest and is looking for a job with his "letters of recommendation." However, he didn't know that the letters weren't recommending him for any job. He trusted that they would get him to where he needs to go. However, his trust caused him to lose quite a bit, and it made him a bit angry. This is much like what I see in some people. They see this in books and movies, and then they become afraid themselves of the consequences of honesty.
All-in-all, I know that I want to be trustworthy, putting myself out there for others. I want to grow relationships, and I want to be there for those that love me. I am fortunate, and I have the obligation to share my good fortune with others. That's what I want to offer to others as I leave Loras. I just hope I can live up to my words.
I was also recently reminded today that sometime I give too much (though through my eyes, I think I can give much more). Sometimes, I don't let love in after it is given out. So what I got from this (and the person who reminded me is very dear to me), was that relationship is what I can give when I leave Loras. And with relationships, there is a two-way street. Each has to give a little in order to avoid a collision. It doesn't matter if it's at the job, at a restaurant, far away, near by, or simply at home, relationship is what we must give to other people. Whether that means stopping to help someone with a flat tire or simply smiling at someone who looks down, that is what we all must give.
With society now-a-days, it seems that relationship is getting further away from people. We walk around with iPods, talk on the cell phone as we walk the streets, and many other things (I'm guilty of it too), but all these things seem to take us further away from the important things in life. And now, especially, since the economy is unstable, people are going to be worried about money or could fall into depression easily. It's sad how much control money has on people today. That means we must do our best to make the people we care about feel important so that money won't rule their lives. I know a few gentlemen at work who have never had a serious relationship or even cared about another person--by the sounds of it, not even their parents much--they live purely on money...and I used to be like that as well. But now, I have seen that just one relationship has opened my eyes to let me see that relationship is the key to helping others. I am so thankful for that person; I make sure she knows my gratitude.
The only way to face such an issue is to go out into the world everyday with an open mind. That is the key. If you have an open mind, you can ask interesting questions and learn more about others while they ask about you. Thus completing the two way street.
The only real doubt that I have is that honest sometimes can get one into trouble. I'm not hesitating, but I've seen this happen before. Someone is honest and hard working while another is lazy and irresponsible. Unfortunately, a boss or someone likes the lazy person and gives he/she a raise. The honest worker doesn't get his/her fair share. However, I know who the better person is, but it bothers me a bit, and it really makes people hesitate.
Take for instance, a class at Loras. A student wants to say something to the professor but is afraid that if he/she speaks, the professor will lower his/her grade on the next paper. We all know this is wrong, but there are people who do this, and it drives me nuts. I, personally, cannot stand to watch someone who just told me they don't like something and want to suggest something different and then don't say anything at all, even when given multiple opportunities. It is best to be honest, but people have seen the honest man lose, and that makes people fearful.
That is much like the narrator. He is honest and is looking for a job with his "letters of recommendation." However, he didn't know that the letters weren't recommending him for any job. He trusted that they would get him to where he needs to go. However, his trust caused him to lose quite a bit, and it made him a bit angry. This is much like what I see in some people. They see this in books and movies, and then they become afraid themselves of the consequences of honesty.
All-in-all, I know that I want to be trustworthy, putting myself out there for others. I want to grow relationships, and I want to be there for those that love me. I am fortunate, and I have the obligation to share my good fortune with others. That's what I want to offer to others as I leave Loras. I just hope I can live up to my words.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Liberal Arts and Service
I'm not gonna lie. When I first experienced a true liberal arts class at Loras, I HATED IT! I thought, "Why am I wasting my time taking these classes that have nothing to do with my major and my future?" I was utterly wrong in my understanding of liberal arts at the time. I believe it was because it challenged me to be a better human. It challenged me to understand many other points of view and to accept that point of view. I remember arguing about Socrates as Plato during our freshmen year in The Trial and Death of Socrates. It seemed pointless. No side of the argument would budge--either for fear of losing the debate or for fear of diminishing their grade. However, when all was said and done, I came out much different.
Throughout grade school, high school, and my first year at college, I would consider myself EXTREMELY shy. I wouldn't talk to many strangers or ask too many questions for fear that I'd make a fool out of myself. But it seems that the classes that challenged me the most personally--not mentally because engineering and science courses are absolutely brutal on the mind--were the liberal arts classes, my gen-eds. It was in these classes that I could truly question what I believed, and I could learn about many other ways at looking at the world. And though I still truly don't like the way some things are graded and believe that needs to be changes in the way the liberal arts are taught, it still does a great job at preparing us on how to communicate with others. I know that because liberal arts courses aren't graded by tests, people sometimes become scared and don't speak their minds as they should. This can hinder communication within a class, but the overall outcome--at least in my case is excellent. I make sure that I state my opinion when I can. I also don't want to be someone who kisses my bosses butt, but one who is respected for stating the facts and sticking to them...being an honest man, a man of my word.
Now because I believe communication is key and that I built a lot on my communication skills through my liberal arts education, it is only reasonable to state that the liberal arts education really prepares us for the "real world." Just the other day out at John Deere, I was talking to my mentor. He told me the story as to how I got hired, and I was impressed at myself (I hope I can live up to my expectations). However, I learned that many of the skills that I learned through my liberal arts education really helped me stand out. There are quite a few people that share the same technical skills of a good engineer, but excellent communication skills are what set engineers apart. And Lord knows how hard it is sometimes to find an engineer with good communication skills :).
As for preparing for service work, the liberal arts are crucial. Again, because communication is the key to dealing with people, the liberal arts are a way that can help us to try and understand the people that are helped and the people we work with. At times, we will be challenged because of our different points of view, and if we're not careful, maybe by stereotypes as well. It is our liberal arts education that is suppose to help guide us in understanding all stances while maintaining our own unique perspective. Therefore, I believe the liberal arts helps us prepare for service by sharping our communication skills and broadening our understanding of the vastness of the people of the world.
Now Martha Nussbaum, author of Cultivating Humanity, states that, "Liberal education in our colleges and universities is, and should be, Socratic, committed to the activation of each student's independent mind and to the production of a community that can genuinely reason together about a problem, not simply trade claims and counterclaims." This is exactly what I mean when I say that we must express our unique points of view while also understanding the other sides of the issue. That way, people can reason together rather than argue and fight about holding different points of view.
Also, Nussbaum mentions that, "This is because these people have never stopped to ask themselves what they really stand for, what they are willing to defend as themselves and their own." This hits the nail on the head for me. I really used to be afraid to state my point, even if I knew that I was correct. However, once I questioned myself as to why I did not say what needed to be said, I learned that something had to change. I needed to speak up when I felt strongly (but I have to be careful to understand the other person as well) about something. Once people learn that you speak what is true, and that you reach that truth through reason, they will, at the very least, learn to respect you for your reasoning and understanding. I think it is truly sad when people are too afraid to speak their mind...because the truth never gets out if people don't speak for it.
Overall, this is a topic that I hold dear. I really, really hated the idea of the liberal arts (and like I said, I still don't agree with everything but that's another ten page story). However, I have learned of its benefit throughout college and especially outside of college. A liberal arts education opens up many doors for people, and it also opens the doors between people. It is the key to open the door to worthwhile service.
Throughout grade school, high school, and my first year at college, I would consider myself EXTREMELY shy. I wouldn't talk to many strangers or ask too many questions for fear that I'd make a fool out of myself. But it seems that the classes that challenged me the most personally--not mentally because engineering and science courses are absolutely brutal on the mind--were the liberal arts classes, my gen-eds. It was in these classes that I could truly question what I believed, and I could learn about many other ways at looking at the world. And though I still truly don't like the way some things are graded and believe that needs to be changes in the way the liberal arts are taught, it still does a great job at preparing us on how to communicate with others. I know that because liberal arts courses aren't graded by tests, people sometimes become scared and don't speak their minds as they should. This can hinder communication within a class, but the overall outcome--at least in my case is excellent. I make sure that I state my opinion when I can. I also don't want to be someone who kisses my bosses butt, but one who is respected for stating the facts and sticking to them...being an honest man, a man of my word.
Now because I believe communication is key and that I built a lot on my communication skills through my liberal arts education, it is only reasonable to state that the liberal arts education really prepares us for the "real world." Just the other day out at John Deere, I was talking to my mentor. He told me the story as to how I got hired, and I was impressed at myself (I hope I can live up to my expectations). However, I learned that many of the skills that I learned through my liberal arts education really helped me stand out. There are quite a few people that share the same technical skills of a good engineer, but excellent communication skills are what set engineers apart. And Lord knows how hard it is sometimes to find an engineer with good communication skills :).
As for preparing for service work, the liberal arts are crucial. Again, because communication is the key to dealing with people, the liberal arts are a way that can help us to try and understand the people that are helped and the people we work with. At times, we will be challenged because of our different points of view, and if we're not careful, maybe by stereotypes as well. It is our liberal arts education that is suppose to help guide us in understanding all stances while maintaining our own unique perspective. Therefore, I believe the liberal arts helps us prepare for service by sharping our communication skills and broadening our understanding of the vastness of the people of the world.
Now Martha Nussbaum, author of Cultivating Humanity, states that, "Liberal education in our colleges and universities is, and should be, Socratic, committed to the activation of each student's independent mind and to the production of a community that can genuinely reason together about a problem, not simply trade claims and counterclaims." This is exactly what I mean when I say that we must express our unique points of view while also understanding the other sides of the issue. That way, people can reason together rather than argue and fight about holding different points of view.
Also, Nussbaum mentions that, "This is because these people have never stopped to ask themselves what they really stand for, what they are willing to defend as themselves and their own." This hits the nail on the head for me. I really used to be afraid to state my point, even if I knew that I was correct. However, once I questioned myself as to why I did not say what needed to be said, I learned that something had to change. I needed to speak up when I felt strongly (but I have to be careful to understand the other person as well) about something. Once people learn that you speak what is true, and that you reach that truth through reason, they will, at the very least, learn to respect you for your reasoning and understanding. I think it is truly sad when people are too afraid to speak their mind...because the truth never gets out if people don't speak for it.
Overall, this is a topic that I hold dear. I really, really hated the idea of the liberal arts (and like I said, I still don't agree with everything but that's another ten page story). However, I have learned of its benefit throughout college and especially outside of college. A liberal arts education opens up many doors for people, and it also opens the doors between people. It is the key to open the door to worthwhile service.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wisdom and Service Learning
Well, we all got to read about Socrates again as a class. However, our focus now is on wisdom rather than justice. Now this wisdom is something that alludes Socrates. It is something that Socrates has been in search for all his life.
An oracle once said that the wisest man alive is Socrates, so, Socrates went out to try and prove the oracle wrong. He went to the "wisest" people he knew and began to ask them questions. Much to his surprise, they didn't know that much. In fact, they seemed to be very ignorant in the eyes of Socrates. Therefore, after hounded by Socrates with all these questions, these people didn't take to liking Socrates at all. And he did this for politicians, artists, poets, and many more prominent people in Greek society.
Socrates, after numerous encounters, stated that, "Well, although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is--for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows. I neither know nor think that I know" (Apology pages 31-32). This was the same conclusion after conversing with all these types of "wise" people.
Now the question comes up, "Where do we find this type of wisdom in today's society?" Well, I can't say that I always see it in higher education, nor do I see it in too many young people today. However, I see it in the men and women who have experienced many things throughout their lives, both hardships and great joy. These people with varying degrees of experiences are usually those that accept others for who they are no matter what. They understand that no one person is right or wrong, but agree that we are all one on this big ole thing we call Earth. These "wise" people do not see in color, nor do they see money as a means of measure. They simply see people. They see people for who they are and what they have experienced. This is what being wise truly is. It is a state that allows a person to enjoy the experience of interaction with many people and learning about others' experiences. And the great thing is, once one is wise, it seems to be a continuing cycle of becoming wiser because more connections will be made through more interactions. And more interactions means the sharing of more experiences.
Wow! I didn't know that this thing was actually going to come full circle with service learning, but I think I somehow managed to join it up. This wisdom that I've been speaking of is achieved in many ways. However, rereading the passage I wrote above, I see that service learning, when taken seriously and given a serious effort, can lead people to become wise. I have met many people that have given lots of time to service and service organizations, and each and every one of these people seems to be very wise when it comes to dealing with people in general. They seem to always think globally about the issues and the people involved. They are the ones who seem to be very wise in my eyes.
I've also learned another great thing about these "wise" people. They know that they cannot make a whole lot of change on his or her own. However, they do their thing every day and try to spread awareness of the issues they're involved in to try and help people by those means. If they were naive, they would simply take charge of everything and try to "change the world." But they do their tasks everyday, and they are changing the world the long and hard way--which is the only way since change is usually not taken too lightly.
Now, I believe this writing from Plato is something that first went in and out my brain when I read this for class three years ago. However, this time is a bit different. I do remember much of what I read, and surprisingly so, I have taken a message out of it. I believe that through these last three years, I have taken Socrates' meaning of wisdom to heart. I have learned that the smartest people are not always the wisest, and I see that in daily life. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that "The wisest are the willing." They are the ones who put in the extra effort in order to understand, and they are amazing people--my girlfriend is one of these people, and she'd never admit to being wise. These are the people that hear about an issue and conduct research before jumping to a conclusion. These are the people who have a deep understanding of humanity, and I definitely look up to these people whenever I run across one.
So, it seems that being wise is knowing that there is a lot to be learned and that you'll never know enough. Being wise is experiencing what all humans endure, but knowing that there are another few billion stories to understand before coming to a conclusion. No one person is wise, but we all have wisdom. And when we work together to help others, our wisdom is multiplied.
An oracle once said that the wisest man alive is Socrates, so, Socrates went out to try and prove the oracle wrong. He went to the "wisest" people he knew and began to ask them questions. Much to his surprise, they didn't know that much. In fact, they seemed to be very ignorant in the eyes of Socrates. Therefore, after hounded by Socrates with all these questions, these people didn't take to liking Socrates at all. And he did this for politicians, artists, poets, and many more prominent people in Greek society.
Socrates, after numerous encounters, stated that, "Well, although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is--for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows. I neither know nor think that I know" (Apology pages 31-32). This was the same conclusion after conversing with all these types of "wise" people.
Now the question comes up, "Where do we find this type of wisdom in today's society?" Well, I can't say that I always see it in higher education, nor do I see it in too many young people today. However, I see it in the men and women who have experienced many things throughout their lives, both hardships and great joy. These people with varying degrees of experiences are usually those that accept others for who they are no matter what. They understand that no one person is right or wrong, but agree that we are all one on this big ole thing we call Earth. These "wise" people do not see in color, nor do they see money as a means of measure. They simply see people. They see people for who they are and what they have experienced. This is what being wise truly is. It is a state that allows a person to enjoy the experience of interaction with many people and learning about others' experiences. And the great thing is, once one is wise, it seems to be a continuing cycle of becoming wiser because more connections will be made through more interactions. And more interactions means the sharing of more experiences.
Wow! I didn't know that this thing was actually going to come full circle with service learning, but I think I somehow managed to join it up. This wisdom that I've been speaking of is achieved in many ways. However, rereading the passage I wrote above, I see that service learning, when taken seriously and given a serious effort, can lead people to become wise. I have met many people that have given lots of time to service and service organizations, and each and every one of these people seems to be very wise when it comes to dealing with people in general. They seem to always think globally about the issues and the people involved. They are the ones who seem to be very wise in my eyes.
I've also learned another great thing about these "wise" people. They know that they cannot make a whole lot of change on his or her own. However, they do their thing every day and try to spread awareness of the issues they're involved in to try and help people by those means. If they were naive, they would simply take charge of everything and try to "change the world." But they do their tasks everyday, and they are changing the world the long and hard way--which is the only way since change is usually not taken too lightly.
Now, I believe this writing from Plato is something that first went in and out my brain when I read this for class three years ago. However, this time is a bit different. I do remember much of what I read, and surprisingly so, I have taken a message out of it. I believe that through these last three years, I have taken Socrates' meaning of wisdom to heart. I have learned that the smartest people are not always the wisest, and I see that in daily life. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that "The wisest are the willing." They are the ones who put in the extra effort in order to understand, and they are amazing people--my girlfriend is one of these people, and she'd never admit to being wise. These are the people that hear about an issue and conduct research before jumping to a conclusion. These are the people who have a deep understanding of humanity, and I definitely look up to these people whenever I run across one.
So, it seems that being wise is knowing that there is a lot to be learned and that you'll never know enough. Being wise is experiencing what all humans endure, but knowing that there are another few billion stories to understand before coming to a conclusion. No one person is wise, but we all have wisdom. And when we work together to help others, our wisdom is multiplied.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Introduction
Service Learning...it seems to be an excellent way to learn how to make change in a society that cannot be complacent. However, there are many challenges that one must overcome to feel like he or she is making a difference.
I'm a college undergraduate student at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, enrolled in a class called Honors Service Learning. It is a senior capstone class that involves two large service projects: the first is an individual service project, and the second is a group service project. Both of these projects are to be completed within the Washington neighborhood of Dubuque. What makes this experience different for me, is that it involves service on a more personal/relational level than I've ever done before. My most recent service project was in January 2008 in the St. Bernard Parish of New Orleans. There, a group of Loras students--including myself--helped rebuild houses for Hurricane Katrina victims for one week. One week...that isn't much time considering that this service learning project is one whole semester. But maybe this single semester will turn into a lifetime of giving.
I have also been involved in many other service projects, from tutoring CCD students at my home parish of Holy Trinity in Dubuque, to giving a single day of service with my high school class. However, I have faith that my education and experiences through Loras have helped prepare me for this undertaking better than my past experiences. I have learned, from my New Orleans experience, that one week is not enought to feel like you've accomplished anything. My education at Loras has taught me that relationships are what is truly important when trying to make a difference.
One experience that comes to mind from my New Orleans trip is one piece of advice that the Americorp volunteers told us during our orientation. They said not to worry about the quantity of work that we get accomplished, but they said to cultivate the relationships with the people that we are helping and working with. To me, that was an huge shock...I wanted to go down there and take care of business. However, one the first day when we took a lunch break, we ended up talking with the owners for two hours--I felt kind of bad for not getting too much work done, but the relationship that was planted was awesome. Everyone in my group learned alot about what the people of New Orleans had experience and what they are still experiencing today, years after the disaster. These relationships are something that I definitely learned to cherish through my experience at Loras.
Through this particular course, I hope to continue that work of building meaningful relationships. Through this, I hope to learn exactly how I'd like to spend my time after graduation--service is definitely something that I would like to get in the habit of (my girlfriend definitely helped me figure out that there are much more important things in life than cars and four-wheelers). If I one build relationships with those I helped, then that single person can definitely make a difference in people's lives. I believe there is a saying that says if even one life breaths easier because of something someone does, then that person lived a successful life.
Walking down White Street in Dubuque (part of the Washington neighborhood), something I do nearly everyday, gives me the feeling that there is a lot that needs attention in Dubuque. I've lived here all my life, and I've always known that this city was never perfect, however, walking it this time, knowing that I would finally be forced into a routine to help this neighborhood gave me a sense of eagerness. There are many run down houses, but there are also many houses that have been redone or are in the process of being restored. All-in-all, it looks like an area that most towns have. It is also easy to tell that the people that live in the area may have a difficult time paying rent or finding a job--thus the houses deteriorate in condition. There also appears to be trouble with some of the residents' family lives. Just the other night as I was driving home from work, I witnessed a husband and a wife arguing outside in a way that many would look down upon. That is one thing that would be great to help, bring unity to some of the families, but it is probably the most difficult of all tasks. There is definitely alot of areas that need help, and I have confidence that our class can maybe help some of the residents in the Washington neighborhood in some way. I know, I know...but someone will say that anyone going to do service will feel the same way. But I truly want to help and think that improvements can be made. I know that after everyone is finished with their service that it may not seem that we've accomplished anything there. However, if we've even helped one person, we can consider our work a success. We must always be positive, and persevere when times get difficult, and they will.
I'm a college undergraduate student at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, enrolled in a class called Honors Service Learning. It is a senior capstone class that involves two large service projects: the first is an individual service project, and the second is a group service project. Both of these projects are to be completed within the Washington neighborhood of Dubuque. What makes this experience different for me, is that it involves service on a more personal/relational level than I've ever done before. My most recent service project was in January 2008 in the St. Bernard Parish of New Orleans. There, a group of Loras students--including myself--helped rebuild houses for Hurricane Katrina victims for one week. One week...that isn't much time considering that this service learning project is one whole semester. But maybe this single semester will turn into a lifetime of giving.
I have also been involved in many other service projects, from tutoring CCD students at my home parish of Holy Trinity in Dubuque, to giving a single day of service with my high school class. However, I have faith that my education and experiences through Loras have helped prepare me for this undertaking better than my past experiences. I have learned, from my New Orleans experience, that one week is not enought to feel like you've accomplished anything. My education at Loras has taught me that relationships are what is truly important when trying to make a difference.
One experience that comes to mind from my New Orleans trip is one piece of advice that the Americorp volunteers told us during our orientation. They said not to worry about the quantity of work that we get accomplished, but they said to cultivate the relationships with the people that we are helping and working with. To me, that was an huge shock...I wanted to go down there and take care of business. However, one the first day when we took a lunch break, we ended up talking with the owners for two hours--I felt kind of bad for not getting too much work done, but the relationship that was planted was awesome. Everyone in my group learned alot about what the people of New Orleans had experience and what they are still experiencing today, years after the disaster. These relationships are something that I definitely learned to cherish through my experience at Loras.
Through this particular course, I hope to continue that work of building meaningful relationships. Through this, I hope to learn exactly how I'd like to spend my time after graduation--service is definitely something that I would like to get in the habit of (my girlfriend definitely helped me figure out that there are much more important things in life than cars and four-wheelers). If I one build relationships with those I helped, then that single person can definitely make a difference in people's lives. I believe there is a saying that says if even one life breaths easier because of something someone does, then that person lived a successful life.
Walking down White Street in Dubuque (part of the Washington neighborhood), something I do nearly everyday, gives me the feeling that there is a lot that needs attention in Dubuque. I've lived here all my life, and I've always known that this city was never perfect, however, walking it this time, knowing that I would finally be forced into a routine to help this neighborhood gave me a sense of eagerness. There are many run down houses, but there are also many houses that have been redone or are in the process of being restored. All-in-all, it looks like an area that most towns have. It is also easy to tell that the people that live in the area may have a difficult time paying rent or finding a job--thus the houses deteriorate in condition. There also appears to be trouble with some of the residents' family lives. Just the other night as I was driving home from work, I witnessed a husband and a wife arguing outside in a way that many would look down upon. That is one thing that would be great to help, bring unity to some of the families, but it is probably the most difficult of all tasks. There is definitely alot of areas that need help, and I have confidence that our class can maybe help some of the residents in the Washington neighborhood in some way. I know, I know...but someone will say that anyone going to do service will feel the same way. But I truly want to help and think that improvements can be made. I know that after everyone is finished with their service that it may not seem that we've accomplished anything there. However, if we've even helped one person, we can consider our work a success. We must always be positive, and persevere when times get difficult, and they will.
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