Mercado: Service Learning
Service Learning experience and the four Learning Outcomes
Volunteering is seeing as a waste of time for some, but for me is making a difference. Every year I volunteer my time somewhere were I find a community in need, where I love volunteering the most is in schools or anywhere else were the kids are. I was surprised to see that my business class this class offered service learning opportunities. Some things that we learned through this class were the four service learning outcomes, which I thought were perfect to bring awareness of all the marginalized people. I will be addressing each and every one of them, and give a brief reflection in how each where applied into my service site experience.
1. Self and Social Awareness
Privilege and marginalized people exist in most communities. Castroville, unfortunately, has a community with many unprivileged people. The students in the Library homework center are some of them. The kids that go to this center are trying to do what they can to excel at school, but there’s only so much they can do in this society. I feel like the most unprivileged students are those whose have parents can’t read or write in Spanish, less in English. These students are behind in their work and the teachers know they need to be placed in bilingual classes, but they don’t do speak up for them.
I was in their position once, but I was helped immediately. I think that in order for these kids to succeed they need to be placed in an educational system that is going to help them succeed.
Many people assume that because the students are placed in regular classes they are going to grasp the language, but they don’t realize that it makes them feel inferior or that others are better than them. Speaking the Spanish language was beneficial for me in this site. I was not only able to communicate and help the students, but I was also capable of talking with their parents.
2. Service and Social Responsibility
We, as citizens, have a responsibility of giving back to our communities. If all people worked together for the betterment and prosperity of our communities, then things such as injustices and mistreatments would disappear. Once we enter into the “real world” as professionals, we should look out for the people who need us, especially if it relates to our careers. For instance, I’m going into the field of education and I know that I have a responsibility of teaching the students well, but also I have a responsibility of looking after the community I will work in.
Volunteering at the Castroville Public Library gave me a strong sense of accomplishing this social responsibility. Whenever I would help a student with their homework I knew I was contributing to their learning, but also that I was being a role model to them. Many times during my volunteer hours students came in who didn’t speak English; it made me remember my childhood. I felt strongly about them and I wanted to do everything I could to teach them English. There was an occasion when a little girl came in and she didn’t speak English or Spanish. I found a way of teaching her the words; I first translated them into Spanish, then I had his dad translate them into their native language. I bet this little 3rd grader felt overwhelmed. I felt so bad for her, but going through this experience made me learn many things about myself. Some being that I’ll do anything to help the students and that I have a passion for teaching. I wrote in my journal how strongly I felt about this little girl, but most importantly what she had done for me: “That special day and that special student helped me solidify what I want to do as a career; become a bilingual teacher”
I believe that my service time had a great contribution to the learning of these students, which is why I believe that everyone should be part of experiences like this one. I think an individual who becomes involved in the community can benefit many. Sometimes, however, we may feel like our contributions don’t make a difference, but I believe that if it wasn’t for us sharing our knowledge, our time, and our hearts the people we assist wouldn’t prosper as much. Whenever we give our backs to a person in need, we are taking charge of that social responsibility.
3. Community & Social Justice
Castroville seems to have a very close community. However, there are some things that are very noticeable, like the difference in income or education. In the Castroville Public Library I had the chance to see it myself. Many times, parents came in who didn’t speak English, spoke a little bit of Spanish, and couldn’t read or write. This was difficult for them, because they couldn’t help their own children. Although, I think that Castroville is doing what it can to help these parents in any way they can. For instance, they have adult classes where they teach them English and how to use computers. Also, in the public library, along with the homework center, they offer a program where they help parents who are trying to get their citizenship study for their exams, but also once they are citizens they help them vote. It was interesting for me to see this kind of program; I have never seen anything like it before.
Unfortunately I feel that there is a lot of inequality in the school system. Many times when I was volunteering in the library a lot of little kids came in and they didn’t understand their assignments. Many of them had just started school and didn’t speak English. It was really had for them to do their homework because they couldn’t understand a word; some of them had never been in a classroom before. I feel like they should offer a bilingual program for them, so they can catch up to the rest of the students. By doing this, they would feel like they belong to something and are not just going to school because they are told to.
4. Multicultural Community Building/Civic Engagement
Working in the community can be mutually beneficial to both the person who is being helped and the assistant. I believe that in order to move forward we must care for each other, as one of my favorite quotes from Cesar Chavez says: "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own". I truly believe that we have a lot to offer to one another.
As I volunteered in the public library, I learned many things from these kids, such as how to understand their learning perspectives. These kids were all from different cultures and different ages, working with them made me realize how much I admire the differences in people. Many of us assimilate to the “American” culture and forget where we came from and who we are. This later becomes a struggle for us because we don’t fit in society. Speaking Spanish was very beneficial for the students and the parents I worked with. I was able to speak with them and understand their needs. I know they felt they weren’t being marginalized when they came to this site.
Volunteering is seeing as a waste of time for some, but for me is making a difference. Every year I volunteer my time somewhere were I find a community in need, where I love volunteering the most is in schools or anywhere else were the kids are. I was surprised to see that my business class this class offered service learning opportunities. Some things that we learned through this class were the four service learning outcomes, which I thought were perfect to bring awareness of all the marginalized people. I will be addressing each and every one of them, and give a brief reflection in how each where applied into my service site experience.
1. Self and Social Awareness
Privilege and marginalized people exist in most communities. Castroville, unfortunately, has a community with many unprivileged people. The students in the Library homework center are some of them. The kids that go to this center are trying to do what they can to excel at school, but there’s only so much they can do in this society. I feel like the most unprivileged students are those whose have parents can’t read or write in Spanish, less in English. These students are behind in their work and the teachers know they need to be placed in bilingual classes, but they don’t do speak up for them.
I was in their position once, but I was helped immediately. I think that in order for these kids to succeed they need to be placed in an educational system that is going to help them succeed.
Many people assume that because the students are placed in regular classes they are going to grasp the language, but they don’t realize that it makes them feel inferior or that others are better than them. Speaking the Spanish language was beneficial for me in this site. I was not only able to communicate and help the students, but I was also capable of talking with their parents.
2. Service and Social Responsibility
We, as citizens, have a responsibility of giving back to our communities. If all people worked together for the betterment and prosperity of our communities, then things such as injustices and mistreatments would disappear. Once we enter into the “real world” as professionals, we should look out for the people who need us, especially if it relates to our careers. For instance, I’m going into the field of education and I know that I have a responsibility of teaching the students well, but also I have a responsibility of looking after the community I will work in.
Volunteering at the Castroville Public Library gave me a strong sense of accomplishing this social responsibility. Whenever I would help a student with their homework I knew I was contributing to their learning, but also that I was being a role model to them. Many times during my volunteer hours students came in who didn’t speak English; it made me remember my childhood. I felt strongly about them and I wanted to do everything I could to teach them English. There was an occasion when a little girl came in and she didn’t speak English or Spanish. I found a way of teaching her the words; I first translated them into Spanish, then I had his dad translate them into their native language. I bet this little 3rd grader felt overwhelmed. I felt so bad for her, but going through this experience made me learn many things about myself. Some being that I’ll do anything to help the students and that I have a passion for teaching. I wrote in my journal how strongly I felt about this little girl, but most importantly what she had done for me: “That special day and that special student helped me solidify what I want to do as a career; become a bilingual teacher”
I believe that my service time had a great contribution to the learning of these students, which is why I believe that everyone should be part of experiences like this one. I think an individual who becomes involved in the community can benefit many. Sometimes, however, we may feel like our contributions don’t make a difference, but I believe that if it wasn’t for us sharing our knowledge, our time, and our hearts the people we assist wouldn’t prosper as much. Whenever we give our backs to a person in need, we are taking charge of that social responsibility.
3. Community & Social Justice
Castroville seems to have a very close community. However, there are some things that are very noticeable, like the difference in income or education. In the Castroville Public Library I had the chance to see it myself. Many times, parents came in who didn’t speak English, spoke a little bit of Spanish, and couldn’t read or write. This was difficult for them, because they couldn’t help their own children. Although, I think that Castroville is doing what it can to help these parents in any way they can. For instance, they have adult classes where they teach them English and how to use computers. Also, in the public library, along with the homework center, they offer a program where they help parents who are trying to get their citizenship study for their exams, but also once they are citizens they help them vote. It was interesting for me to see this kind of program; I have never seen anything like it before.
Unfortunately I feel that there is a lot of inequality in the school system. Many times when I was volunteering in the library a lot of little kids came in and they didn’t understand their assignments. Many of them had just started school and didn’t speak English. It was really had for them to do their homework because they couldn’t understand a word; some of them had never been in a classroom before. I feel like they should offer a bilingual program for them, so they can catch up to the rest of the students. By doing this, they would feel like they belong to something and are not just going to school because they are told to.
4. Multicultural Community Building/Civic Engagement
Working in the community can be mutually beneficial to both the person who is being helped and the assistant. I believe that in order to move forward we must care for each other, as one of my favorite quotes from Cesar Chavez says: "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own". I truly believe that we have a lot to offer to one another.
As I volunteered in the public library, I learned many things from these kids, such as how to understand their learning perspectives. These kids were all from different cultures and different ages, working with them made me realize how much I admire the differences in people. Many of us assimilate to the “American” culture and forget where we came from and who we are. This later becomes a struggle for us because we don’t fit in society. Speaking Spanish was very beneficial for the students and the parents I worked with. I was able to speak with them and understand their needs. I know they felt they weren’t being marginalized when they came to this site.