Service Post 2

When asked to write about different forms of service that I participated in many came to mind. However from my years of doing multiple forms of service there was one that stood out most to me as it shaped me, opened up my eyes, and made me feel as if I was making a difference. Teaching is a field that requires the educator to know their students. Going into this field I knew to expect such, but actually experiencing it opened up a whole new world. I spent this past summer working at a summer camp with children ages 5-12 because I figured that it would pertain to my major, and I was so glad that I did. I was nervous on my first day because I did not entirely know what to expect, but I learned that as time went on I grew more connected with these kids. Soon enough I memorized their likes and their dislikes, who they were friends with and who to keep them away from, I learned all about their personalities, and quickly picked up on their favorite activities and crafts. Every time I talked about these kids to others I would refer to them as “my kids”. What started off as a summer job turned into a powerful relationship. It dawned on me that these kids are away from their parents for roughly 9 hours a day everyday during the week. Their teachers and their camp counselors play a major role in the developing stages of their lives, hence why I knew I had to make a positive difference. Throughout those three months I changed in the sense that I knew how to relate to and talk to these kids-something that has been discussed in the classroom but I never got to physically experience. I was learning about the kids themselves, but also how to work with them. This was something that I was never exposed to before this job so it was a real eye-opening shift for me. Someday when I get my own classroom I know that my time spent with them will have an impact.