- At the Carolina Tiger Rescue sanctuary, we mainly provided assistance with the upkeep of the enclosures as well as helping to build new enclosures. As a team, we used weed-eaters and clippers to clear out the grass and overgrown shrubs in the enclosures. We also laid a new foundation for a raccoon enclosure which involved shoveling dirt and gravel into wheelbarrows and transporting it to the area.
- I think my biggest assumption that constantly is challenged revolves around not judging a book by its cover meaning to not make assumptions about people or places. My team was very eclectic, and I had some reservations about how well our team would work together during our pre-trip meetings. However, once we actually started the service project, our team quickly bonded and became very close. Under normal circumstances, I do not think I would have randomly become friends with these people, but this opportunity granted me connections that I am now grateful to have. While each member of my team was very unique in their own regards, we all shared a common goal/mission that was greater than ourselves. I think this helped me put into a better perspective of what really matters when it comes to maintaining relationships and who to be friends with.
- Like I stated above, I initially was concerned about how well this trip would turn out. At our pre-trip meetings, the team didn’t really seem that engaged and seemed hesitant to be themselves. Additionally, I feel like the leadership meetings involved a lot of fearmongering about what could go wrong that didn’t help my anxiety. Our drive to North Carolina was pretty quiet, but no one really had anything to talk about. It wasn’t until we settled in to our lodging and ate dinner together that I started to feel better about our trip. I noticed that everyone was eager to contribute something to meal-planning, shopping for groceries, cooking, or cleaning. I think everyone wanted to show that they were capable of being a valuable team member. This feeling only increased the next day which was our first official work day.
We were all unsure of what work we would actually be doing, but before then, we got a ~2 hour tour of the sanctuary. This really inspired me because it was concrete evidence of a need that needed to be addressed. We got to see all of the different animals that were living there and heard the backstories of most of them. While on the tour, both me and Adam got covered in fire ants, and I think this was one of my first real bonding moments with a team member. Once we got to the actual work part, we started by clearing out the weeds of a tiger enclosure. Everyone was doing their best, and we worked pretty fast together. Most of our work was like this throughout the week. We were such good workers that the sanctuary seemed to run out of work for us to do.
Our meals were a big time for bonding because we didn’t have much time to talk while using weed-eaters and mowers. I really looked forwards to socializing at meal times because of this. My team formed a lot of inside jokes, and it seemed like everyone was friends with every other person on the team. I personally feel very satisfied in my relationships I formed. I also really enjoyed hearing what everyone had to say during our reflection times. It was interesting to hear what each person was thinking about during the day, and what were their high and low points. For the most part, everyone had their own unique take on the day’s events, but I believe we all felt similar in some way. This all relates back to not judging a book by its cover because before the trip, I really had no idea what to expect out of this team as everyone seemed to have different background. However, throughout the trip it became very clear that everyone had good intentions and wanted to contribute their own experiences to help build a better team. - While this isn’t necessarily a new development in my life, this trip definitely did affect and reinforce my perspectives on my social life. I am someone who only has a few close friends, and this trip honestly helped me out in terms of confidence and social anxiety. I was sure to be myself, and I got along well with everyone as a result. I know it isn’t the healthiest perspective, but I feel like some of my self-worth comes from others’ perspectives on me. Since this trip ended up being so successful and the fact that we all grew pretty close, I felt very satisfied and a bit melancholic once the trip was over. Also, as a leader I felt that I was very much responsible for whatever the outcome would have been, so I am glad that nothing bad happened as I would have felt responsible even if it wasn’t my fault. I feel like this whole experience is a concrete example of my value as a leader and even just a student at OSU. I really felt like I contributed something value to not just the service site, but to my team as well; I know I am very grateful for the effort and sincerity of my team. Personally, I am very proud of myself for going on this trip as a leader, and I honestly am considering going on another trip because of how great this one was.
