1. For my STEP project I did a service learning at Diorite Michigan. There were two main activities I have done during my project. One was children learning. In this activity I had the chance to pick the age group of kids and work with them. The activity was similar to a daycare, so I was basically helping the teacher in that daycare with the kids. I had to help the kids to go to sleep and service their food. The other activity was a food bank for seniors. I have packed food from a non profit organization called “ Focus hope” which is the one responsible for packing and delivering the food to the seniors. After packing the food, my group and I delivered the food to each senior’s house.
2. I believe my assumptions and understanding has changed a lot. That fact that I can make a change in this world. One might think that delivering those packages of food might not make a huge difference, but actually it does, that one package of food will help and support the family for a month. This means they don’t have to worry about food expenses. Rather they can use their money on their other expenses. Talking about the other project, being able to spend time with kids at the age of 1 is such an adorable thing to do.
3. So events that led me to change could be when delivery packages, the reaction of the seniors, when going up to their apartments and leaving the food outside their doors. And some of them will be waiting outside and when getting there their reaction and smiles means a lot. And we were able to have a little bit of chat with them and leave, which gives us a little bit of time to get to know them.
Another interaction with the kids also changed my view. Those kids were very friendly, it took them one day to get used to us. The next day I went there, they were running towards me playing and bonding pretty well. All they needed was their good nap and their food. It shows me their pure heart and kindness, the fact that getting along with a stranger they just met and playing with them shows how they are so sweet and I feel like they made me the happiest person of my time there.
In General, spending time with older people and kids taught me a lot. It helped me to understand the fact that I was not the only one helping them, rather I was getting a huge help from them. Seeing their kindness, their true personality. Truly makes me think that there are many good people out there and wanna be around those people.
4. This is valuable in my life because it will help me to accomplish more things in the future. It will show me what to improve and what to expect. Plus knowing this will also prepare me in the future on how to become the best version of myself. Not only that but also since it’s related to my professional goal as a health professional this is how I am going to learn on how to help others. Because helping others is not only in the medical field rather being a shoulder for others in any aspect of life.