help me to write reflections for community service

Service - Learning Reflection

Before you Attend, Answer the Following Questions:

Write down your expectations for the project: what you think will be challenging, what do you think will be fun, how do you feel about participating?

My expectations for this service learning experience is to have fun with the children, while also educating them about their disease and especially their medications. I think that it was very rewarding and fun to interact with the kids and yet we were helping both ourselves and them to learn. I was happy to see that these children, who are physically challenged by their disease, were glad to get out and play and enjoy themselves with Frisbee golf. I know from personal experience that when you have respiratory issues such as asthma, it can be challenging and scary to physically exert yourself. Therefore, I was very proud of these kids.

Describe the group you will be serving, including age, racial/ethnic background, socioeconomic background, and their previous experience in this area.

Asthma is a disease that affects people from every background, from very different walks of life. I imagine my group of kids will be like all other young children who enjoy playing outdoors. I have worked at a daycare for four years and I have both worked with and given asthma medications to these children. Therefore, I feel that I have a great basis for what the asthma camp will consist of and provide for these children.

“In doing we learn.” – George Herbert.

After You Participate in the S-L Experience, Answer these Questions:

Recall your experience. What were one or two “high points” of your experience, that is, something that you experienced as positive, worthwhile energizing or comforting?

Compare this to your Pre – service expectations.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent at the asthma camp. I recall two of my favorite points of the day. First, Mckayla and I quizzed our group of girls about what they had learned. We noted that they actually seemed to enjoy themselves and learn many of the key points that the Frisbee golf game focused upon. This gave me confidence that the girls do understand the importance of being proactive in their preventing the onset of asthma symptoms, by using medications correctly and effectively.

Another one of my favorite moments of the day was at the end of our time at the camp, when the whole group of kids were sitting on the steps and they answered questions and talked about what they had learned that day. This makes me see that we did help those kids build a foundation of knowledge regarding their disease, medications, and also how to handle their symptoms.

These outcomes most certainly lived up to my previous expectations for the day. I couldn’t have asked for anything more than to just have fun outside with some new friends, while also helping both them and myself in a learning experience.

“From the pain comes the dream. From the dream comes the vision. From the vision comes the people. From the people comes the power. From the power comes the change.” --Peter Gabriel.

What was one “low point” of your experience, that is, something that you found troubling?

Truly the only troubling part of the day to me was at the start of the day, when one of the kids in my group didn’t understand the difference between her rescue inhaler and her daily inhaler. This troubled me because this could be potentially dangerous if the child is with someone, or he/she themselves don’t know which inhaler to use in an exacerbation. I am happy though, that by the end of the day the child did understand the difference between the two inhalers and when to use each.

Whatever you do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic to it.” --Goethe.

What are some insights or questions you want to remember from this experience?

An insight that I want to remember is how these children were so respectful and receptive to learning more about their disease. I was also proud of myself that I was able to assist or aid in a child’s education and knowledge.