NOVEMBER | 23rd | 2016
When you think of service projects many think of a day spent in a food bank or spending a couple hours working on a construction project. To many, they don't see these opportunities as times to feel "alive" or "invigorated". Many express that service is a thoughtful way to spend your weekends, and you feel better about yourself after completing it, but that's all many "get out of it". I have discovered to truly understand the impact you are having on those you are serving, you must enter into serving others as selfless as possible. It is difficult to get anything out of service if you are not putting your all into it. I am not saying that every time I enter into a service project I have the "perfect mindset". There are many service opportunities where I leave, feeling as if nothing "clicked" or as if I didn't contribute anything. Often, I have that moment of epiphany when I least expect it. Another common misconception about service is that you have to travel to a third world country in order to have a "true" service experience. I can't tell you how many times I have disproven this belief. A meaningful service experience can be completed 10,000 miles away or 10 steps from your front door.
Throughout this semester I have had many moments where I have "felt alive". In fact just two weeks ago, me and Jeromy were talking about how whenever we visited Hokie Wellness to talk with the director to hear about opportunities where SERVE could get involved, the director was so excited to see how excited we were to help. I believe we gave her a stepping stone and she immediately felt motivated to begin a new project knowing we were there willing to help. In that moment, I felt as if a new partnership had been formed and it was obvious that there was a reason we had gone to meet with Hokie Wellness.
The prompt of 'Times I've Felt Alive' really resonated with me because whenever I have one of those moments I always get chill bumps. I know it may sound cliche or cheesy but it's always been a sign of recognition that I am where I need to be. It also gives me a since of peace and contentment. One of the first vivid memories of getting chill bumps during this first semester in college was whenever I began working with Reading Hour. It was a familiar experience for me, working with kids, but the process of getting to the school, working with complete strangers, and working with kids I know nothing about was extremely nerve racking. Selfishly, I was immediately thinking of myself and how uncomfortable I would be. The first day I met the little girl I would be reading with the rest of the semester, I instantly got chill bumps. I had never seen someone so excited to spend an hour with me, reading. The kids in the Reading Hour program are suggested to us by their teachers and the teachers were just as excited for them as they were to see us. Every Thursday when we stop by their classrooms to pick them up for Reading Hour and I see their faces light up, I know I am exactly where I need to be.
It is especially rewarding whenever you learn later how you've impacted someone or a group of those you helped. Participating in the Christmas store right after the football game to collect canned foods, I anticipated would be hectic. Unfortunately, the only people able to go on the trip was Myself, Megan, and Mike. Whenever we first arrived, the women expressed to us how disappointed they were in the turnout of the food drive. Due to the fact that they only collected half of what they normally have, there wasn't an extensive amount of work to be done. After working, we were able to have a long, deep discussion on how to better advertise for the next food drive and upcoming opportunities with the Christmas Store. Although we were discouraged by the small outcome and little amount of work done, the ladies were so appreciative of all of our work. They praised us on our "organized system of working" and how efficiently we used our time there. We were grateful to have formed that relationship and I am excited to see the process made in the Christmas Store when we visit this coming week.
Although it's rewarding to have those moments of feeling "alive", I have found it important to not search for those moments. Often times those moments come days, weeks, or even months after serving. However, sometimes those moments never come. It is important to focus solely on the service you're completing and doing the best you can whether or not you have one of "those moments" or not.
When you think of service projects many think of a day spent in a food bank or spending a couple hours working on a construction project. To many, they don't see these opportunities as times to feel "alive" or "invigorated". Many express that service is a thoughtful way to spend your weekends, and you feel better about yourself after completing it, but that's all many "get out of it". I have discovered to truly understand the impact you are having on those you are serving, you must enter into serving others as selfless as possible. It is difficult to get anything out of service if you are not putting your all into it. I am not saying that every time I enter into a service project I have the "perfect mindset". There are many service opportunities where I leave, feeling as if nothing "clicked" or as if I didn't contribute anything. Often, I have that moment of epiphany when I least expect it. Another common misconception about service is that you have to travel to a third world country in order to have a "true" service experience. I can't tell you how many times I have disproven this belief. A meaningful service experience can be completed 10,000 miles away or 10 steps from your front door.
Throughout this semester I have had many moments where I have "felt alive". In fact just two weeks ago, me and Jeromy were talking about how whenever we visited Hokie Wellness to talk with the director to hear about opportunities where SERVE could get involved, the director was so excited to see how excited we were to help. I believe we gave her a stepping stone and she immediately felt motivated to begin a new project knowing we were there willing to help. In that moment, I felt as if a new partnership had been formed and it was obvious that there was a reason we had gone to meet with Hokie Wellness.
The prompt of 'Times I've Felt Alive' really resonated with me because whenever I have one of those moments I always get chill bumps. I know it may sound cliche or cheesy but it's always been a sign of recognition that I am where I need to be. It also gives me a since of peace and contentment. One of the first vivid memories of getting chill bumps during this first semester in college was whenever I began working with Reading Hour. It was a familiar experience for me, working with kids, but the process of getting to the school, working with complete strangers, and working with kids I know nothing about was extremely nerve racking. Selfishly, I was immediately thinking of myself and how uncomfortable I would be. The first day I met the little girl I would be reading with the rest of the semester, I instantly got chill bumps. I had never seen someone so excited to spend an hour with me, reading. The kids in the Reading Hour program are suggested to us by their teachers and the teachers were just as excited for them as they were to see us. Every Thursday when we stop by their classrooms to pick them up for Reading Hour and I see their faces light up, I know I am exactly where I need to be.
It is especially rewarding whenever you learn later how you've impacted someone or a group of those you helped. Participating in the Christmas store right after the football game to collect canned foods, I anticipated would be hectic. Unfortunately, the only people able to go on the trip was Myself, Megan, and Mike. Whenever we first arrived, the women expressed to us how disappointed they were in the turnout of the food drive. Due to the fact that they only collected half of what they normally have, there wasn't an extensive amount of work to be done. After working, we were able to have a long, deep discussion on how to better advertise for the next food drive and upcoming opportunities with the Christmas Store. Although we were discouraged by the small outcome and little amount of work done, the ladies were so appreciative of all of our work. They praised us on our "organized system of working" and how efficiently we used our time there. We were grateful to have formed that relationship and I am excited to see the process made in the Christmas Store when we visit this coming week.
Although it's rewarding to have those moments of feeling "alive", I have found it important to not search for those moments. Often times those moments come days, weeks, or even months after serving. However, sometimes those moments never come. It is important to focus solely on the service you're completing and doing the best you can whether or not you have one of "those moments" or not.