First Visit to RIHS

The first day I went to Rock Island High School to provide service through Ms. Elizabeth Kanter was very exciting.  When Cassie R. and I first arrived at Elizabeth's classroom, the class periods were just changing.  As we talked about what we would do while we were there, different students walked in the room saying "hello" or "hi" as they took their seats.  Once the classroom was filled with students, Elizabeth introduced us to the class and asked which students would like help with their math skills.  Four girls, all dressed differently, instantly raised their hands.  As Cassie and I walked the four girls to the library, I noticed that some of them had different accents in their voices.  The intercultural differences were noticeable between the girls, even though they conversed together.  While we helped them with their math homework, they seemed shy at first, but the more we helped them, the more they became comfortable with us.  They seemed very appreciative of our help, especially because they kept thanking us.  It was definitely a rewarding experience.  It was nice to take some time out of my day to help those girls with their homework and talk to them about some normal everyday things and information.  I really enjoyed the experience and I cannot wait to go back and help again.

I now know that I can be open and interested the next time I provide service for the ESL program at Rock Island High School.  I now know to expect that I sign in as a guest of the high school and go to Ms. Kanter's classroom and await instructions from her.  I also expect that I will enjoy myself like I did my first time there.

Pre-Service

1.What are your hopes for the service-learning project?
-During this service-learning project, I hope to gain a better sense of how hard it is for a refugee to transmission themselves into their new environments.  I also hope to have an overall good service-learning project experience because I am excited to help out at the Rock Island ELL program.  I hope that I am able to provide the people that I help with a positive experience.

2. What are your assumptions about your service-learning site?
- I assume that the school has a large separate room or rooms that are specifically for the ELL program. I imagine that there are many desks and shelves full of school supplies, along with a few offices for those who are in charge of the ELL program.

3. What do you already know/or assume about the work they do?
- I know that they help refugee children with their school work and driving tests.  I know that they also help children develop their study skills, and try to help them organize their schoolwork.

4.  What do you know/or assume about the population they serve?
-I know that they serve refugees who have left their countries due to different circumstances.

5. What connections/interests/passions do you have for this site or the population it serves?
-I am interested in helping others.  I have always had a passion to help those in need, no matter what their situation is.  I am really excited to being this service project because I think I will have an amazing experience and that I will walk away with a lot of new insights on life and refugees.

Service related to learning

Service realtes to learning in many ways.  One of the most important ways service is related to learning is by experience.  I personally have learned many things about myself and the way I learn through my experiences.  While participating in past service projects, I was challenged cognitively, physically, and emotionally.  I used what I had previously learned before and applied it to my service project, but I also learned new things about a different culture, different people, and different ways that I learn best.