Community Readings and Thoughts

While reading the article over Articulated Learning it really got me thinking about how I will reflect on my experience with Dove Springs whenever I have left the area. I want to leave the area and have more to say than, "It was such a great experience." In the first few pages its explained how reflections and true articulated learning can be achieved through a model. I feel as though it is a good idea to allow students, volunteers the opportunity to reflect, but I also feel that for some the impact and cause may be felt differently. Before I became really educated about the Dove Springs community, I don't feel as though my passion and drive would be the same as a volunteer who knows very little about the community's situation and background. Also as a Pre-Social Work major, we are required to take introductory courses and are taught that for many people a situation is much more complex than we can imagine. Before taking these classes I myself never thought that situations were that complex: if you are being abused, you leave, it was that simple. As I have taken more Social Work classes, and been at the university longer I have learned that situations are never easily understood. But to get back on topic, I feel as though these lessons and classes have prepared me much more to approach people in the community with confidence and compassion. I am thankful that I am learning so much about the community so that I do not seem naive or ignorant whenever I arrive on the 26th. For my classmates and myself it will very important that we approach the community in a calm, but helpful manner. No one likes a tyrant who runs in controlling everyone and everything. There was also a word in the text that I really liked and hope that I can be this during the day of Project. The word is "stimulator" and is used in the context of, " Someone who rouses activity in other individuals, which later becomes self-sustaining." This example of a leader is a great one, because I hope that in all that we do in the Dove Springs community that we stimulate them into continuing to help themselves. I hope that whenever I reflect on this experience that I am able to fully appreciate and find a purposeful meaning to it.

In the beginning of the reading over Reciprocity in Service Learning, it talked about how if a university partners with a community, many times it seems as a situation of “tutoring the poor,” instead of an empowering situation. This is a situation example has been repeated throughout my Team Lead training, and the use of empowerment is something that is often preached and praised in my social work classes. I feel as a Pre-social work major all of these trainings are something that I may have to go through as a social worker. Another thing is that I really feel as though these trainings are so beneficial to the Team Leads in that it is reminding us that we will be meeting people with different backgrounds and perspectives as ours. These trainings have really shown me and reminded me how some people may be very welcoming and others may not be as happy about our presence. Critical consciousness is something that should be practiced on a regular basis to bridge the gap between the “oppressors” and the “oppressed”.  The thought process on bridging these two groups is about promoting honest dialogue. Being honest and truthful is something that my parents have always taught me to be with them and anyone else I meet. They would tell me if we didn’t have enough money to do things, or to remember that not everyone’s life situation is the same as mine. This type of honest dialogue in my household, allows me to better understand when others are being honest with me.

These readings have really highlighted and enlightened me on issues that may occur in the Dove Springs community whenever we attend Project 2013. I hope that these readings will help me to be the best volunteer I can be.