Final Service Learning Experience

           On Sunday, March 24^th, my partner and I finished our final hours of service learning at Kahl Home. Because it was the Sunday before Easter Sunday, Kahl Home was having a small pre-Easter celebration. This Sunday, like every other Sunday, we served the residents snacks and drinks while interacting with them.

           Since it was a pre-Easter celebration many of the residents asked what my plans for Easter were. I told them I would be spending my Easter with my family and asked what their plans were. Many of them said their family was coming to visit them and some said that they would be celebrating Easter with other residents because their family lived out of state or was unable to come for some other reason. With the topic of Easter and family brought up, many of the residents really found a lot to talk about this visit. Almost everyone told me a lot about their family, Easter traditions, and their life before Kahl Home. This was all fascinating for me to hear because I love hearing old stories. With this particular visit to Kahl Home, I really found myself applying the interpersonal communication’s concept of listening. I was definitely mindfully listening to each persons stories and what they had to say, because I was interested in what they were saying. I found myself listening to each of their stories to understand what they were saying, what they experienced, and simply to get to know them better.

           I think this visit to Kahl Home was a perfect way to end service learning. I could see myself going back in the future just to visit with some of the residents in my free time. What I learned from this visit about listening can be applied to any future interaction with any person. I found that when the residents could tell that I was mindfully listening and responding to what they were saying it really pleased them. It also made them want to continue to tell me more since I did not seem bored or disinterested. I think with any future interaction with someone who is telling me something I should always keep an open mind and try to be as interested as possible, even if what they are saying does not particularly interest me, because it makes them feel good while showing that I am a good listener.