STEP Signature Project Reflection

My STEP signature project took place over the summer and it involved me volunteering for the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for the Veterans Team directly under an attorney. While volunteering for this team, I completed a variety of activities including researching and synthesizing medical literature to aid in appeals, reviewing drafted doctor statement requests for persuasiveness, and contacting clients. I also helped collect data on past decisions made by the corrections board when veterans had attempted to get a discharge upgrade.

 

While completing this project, I my views and understandings of the world around me and of myself changed and transformed. Working with this group of individuals of which I had never had any personal connections to in the past was eye-opening to me. Through the direct communication I had with some clients in addition to reading through appeals, I had the opportunity to read and hear some of the struggles these people face and have been facing for years. I learned a great deal about how the Veterans Affairs office handles cases and how veterans are treated when they need help, and it was shocking and disappointing. From learning all of this, I realized how difficult it is for these members of society and how much change needs to happen. Prior to this, I had never thought about the hardships that veterans face because I was uneducated on the matter, and it had not crossed my mind. My view has transformed, though, to not only being more conscious of their struggles, but of the struggles of all different kinds of people. I have gained an understanding about myself in that I want to be able to help and make a difference for the people that really need it.

 

One significant interaction that I had while completing this project that still stands out to me now was a phone call I had with a client. My supervising attorney had wanted me to call this client to assist her in completing paperwork to send to the VA that would explain why she cannot and should not pay them anything. Before the phone call I was told that she would most likely be stressed over the situation and have a lot of questions that I won’t be able to answer. Throughout my phone call with her as I was filling out the form, these statements proved to be true and the client was overall very worried about having to pay the VA. She repeatedly told me that she could not afford to pay them any money for a multitude of reasons and was worried that they would not understand. Additionally, the client was asking me about how things would go, and I did not have any answers for her. I felt very empathetic towards her in that moment and very powerless as well.

 

 

This phone call was significant to me because it was the first time that I had experienced something like that. Never before in my life had I been faced with a person in desperate need of help, telling me all of the reasons why they needed this help, and been so utterly unable to provide the help. I knew what I was doing was helping in a way, but even still it felt like a very small action for her. I found myself in a position in which I didn’t know what to tell her to make the situation better, and it was very uncomfortable for me. From this interaction I realized that I want to have an active role in helping people, and I don’t like to be watching helplessly on the side. It also opened my eyes and gave me a different perspective on the challenges that some people face, challenges that I have never seen firsthand. I think that hearing an account of these struggles from someone living through them has set me up to approach other people differently in the future, and to put myself in other people’s shoes.

 

Something else that I had the opportunity to do through this project was listen to and watch a hearing on the VA character of discharge determinations process. Firstly, this gave me my first real insight on proceedings within the court and the justice system, which was interesting to see. More importantly, though, I also got to hear all of the current issues with the process of completing character of discharge determinations and how frustrating this is for veterans. There were personal accounts from veterans who have had to deal with the VA when trying to get medical and other types of care, and it was disheartening to hear. As the people testifying in the hearing were stating over and over, the system is greatly flawed and in need of reform so that these veterans can get the treatment they need. From viewing this event I once again realized how much hardship this group has to endure when trying to get what they need. Most people go about their lives completely ignorant to the problems other people in other walks of life have to face, but we should be more conscious of this.

 

The transformation I had as a result of this project is significant to my life as it would to anyone’s life. In a way I got a lesson on human decency and empathy and was shown firsthand why we should be kinder to other people. Everyone is going through their own struggles, and while we won’t always be able to fix their problems, there are ways to help and show support. Even though I couldn’t solve the issues of these clients directly, I was able to be compassionate to them on the phone, and they were appreciative of that. Just by being conscious to what other people are going through you are doing your part. Being able to navigate those difficult interactions with people in that setting will benefit me greatly in my personal life when the people close to me are going through something. I will be able to build and keep stronger relationships with the people in my life.

 

Outside of my personal life, this change will also benefit me in my professional and future goals. As I stated, I realized from doing this project that I want to be in a position to help people who really need it and take an active role. Seeing that people need help but not being able to do anything for them will frustrate me greatly. I want to have a career in the criminal justice system, and there are many different ways that I could help from within the field. I know that the justice system is in need of some major reform, whether it be for juveniles or adults, and I want to be on the forefront of that change. After this experience, I will continue to educate myself on the biggest issues of the system, and eventually get into a position where I can push for change.

 

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