First Service Learning Experience

This past Sunday I completed my first three service learning hours at Kahl Home. My partner and I helped with a wine and cheese event that was going on that afternoon for the residents of Kahl Home and any family members that wanted to attend as well. When we first got there the Sister in charge had us set up plates, napkins, and dishes of candy on each table. Once the residents of Kahl Home arrived at the event we served the wine, cheese, crackers, and any other extra goodies that they had to them. Once the main serving was done we were able to interact with the residents. It was great to be able to communicate face to face and meet all the different people, because I do not get a chance to be around the elderly often. I found it was hard to keep conversion with certain people, because it was clear that they were disinterested in the conversation based off their body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. The sister in charge gave my partner and I the instructions to engage in conversation with the residents even if they seem disinterested, so when they did appear to be disinterested, it was hard to decide if I should walk away or try to get them to engage in the conversation despite their efforts to end it. I also had the privilege of encountering other people that I could tell were really engaged in conversation from the beginning and were really pleased to have my partner and I there helping out. This was easy to tell because they would show their gratitude by saying thank you, smiling, laughing, and keeping the conversation going.

Going into my service learning, I knew I had to prepare myself for the different types of people and personalities I would encounter. It is safe to say that this proved to be a wise idea on my part, because I really did encounter many different types of people. Now that I have been to Kahl Home once and have gotten a feel for what to expect in my future visits, I know I can handle all the multiple personalities and types of people. For future interactions with the residents of Kahl Home, I would like to try to get some of the people that did not seem too excited about my partner and I visiting to be excited about it and sit down and talk with us. I am sure some of them did not want to warm up to my partner and I because they assumed that would be the only time they would see us. I hope once they see us return again, they will see that we will not be one time visitors and will hopefully warm up to us and engage in conversation.

Pre-Service

            My hopes for the Service Learning Project are to give back to the community, gain a new experience, and be able to look forward to what I will be doing. I would first like to give back to the community, because I attend school in this area and have free time so why not spend it doing something meaningful. A few administrators have also mentioned to me that St. Ambrose University does not currently have the best standing with the community due to disruptiveness. I would love to play a role in improving this standing by helping out the community and showing them what great students attend St. Ambrose University and what the school as a whole is really about. Secondly, working with the elderly will be a new experience for me, because I have not yet been give a chance to do so. Lastly, because I love helping others out and love the elderly, I will be able to look forward to completing my service learning hours.

            I assume that my Service Learning site will really allow me to work with and interact with the elderly people. I think I will be given the opportunity to talk one on one with many of them, engage in activities, such as playing games and so on, and will get to assist them in anyway possible. From any past experience I have had with elderly people, even with people of different ages in general, there will be some people that are more friendly than others and some that will not mind my assistance as much as others will.

            I have chosen the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) for my location to complete my service learning at. I know that the center is dedicated to serving seniors in the greater Quad Cities area and has a professional staff dedicated to the advocacy of seniors. I know that CASI offers daily activities, educational classes, community forums, and a fitness center for the seniors. They also operate the only adult day care facility in Eastern Iowa, serving seniors with early onset dementia, seniors with specific physical needs, and seniors who enjoy a daily routine filled with physical and mental activities and social interaction.

            I am very interested in serving this site, because I have never really gotten a chance to work with seniors before. I think the elderly are adorable and usually so sweet, so I am really looking forward to working with them. I love talking one on one with people, and I know the seniors will have a lot of interesting stories / information to tell me. I know there is also a lot I could share with them as well. I really think this will overall be a great experience, and I am looking forward to it!