1.+Reflection+Essay


 * Service Learning Reflection Essay**
 * Farida El Bashari**

As I checked the box for service learning in my courses form, I was unsure of what I was in for. I new Service Learning would be about gaining a certain amount of hours in order to pass the class but I didn't know the results I would get out of it. I always wanted to make a difference in my life, make a community more educated, and more able, help individuals grow to become people who can raise their own family and live life with a positive attitude, and help people through pain, sicknesses and injuries they have had. So choosing this Service Learning class made me excited, for I knew that I could gain a feeling of self accomplishment by helping my Community, my Country, and the people that surround me. Going into Service Learning was an exciting feeling for me as I would finally get the chance to know how it is to commit to service and giving back for an entire year, and I was looking forward to see the difference it would make in me.

As I walked into to Service Learning, I immediately came in with a general goal, that is to make a great impact one someones or some peoples life. I learned that giving back needs time and concentration in order to achieve your goals. Before starting a new project it is best to plan out, which ended up working perfectly for me and my friends who served at the Fakroon Nursery as we had a solid plan set before we started. Even though we changed it a bit throughout the year it was still a good base to refer to. I knew that service would never be easy, however in this class the main idea that would help us other than a plan was goals. In order to make a plan you must set goals, that can be realistically achieved. I learned that in order to do proper service you must be very organized. As soon as we entered the Fakroon Nursery we were sure that we would have to make adjustments to our initial plan and we did, we had to meet the students in order to finalize the plan, as the time would be based on the way they are able to take in information and fully understand. I realized after service I was more organized in general as I began to plan out my days, create study planes and work in realistic time. Not only did I learn to be organized, I learned more about my country, and its under privileged, not only was I constantly going to the Fakroon Nursery but I went on other school based service trips such as the cancer hospital. Those areas opened my eyes as to what parts of Egypt are like and made me want to help. I as one definitely wanted to make a change.

Me and a group of friends who signed up for the Service Learning class decided that we will go to a nursery that is highly underprivileged and we will help out the students with their mathematical and english skills. The students all had some sort of english background, some where more educated english wise than others, however they were not near fluent. The area that they lived in was sad to see, but the way they expressed extreme joy through their expressions and personality made it seem like paradise. However the school was left with no appliances and we were not going to leave that the way it was. Me and the girls got supplies that would benefit them such as lots paper and pencils and much more. Not only did this make the students happier but it made learning for them to be much easier. As a final result the students grew academically, they were able to hold a conversation in English for much longer than they used to with very good understanding as well as read short sentences. Their mathematical skills started off much better than we thought however they still began to improve more and more after each class. I believe that we left the Fakroon Nursery with out goals achieved and with happy students who learned a lot of things they probably would have never learned.

Fakroon is not the only under privileged school in the world. Infact, it is not even seen as under privileged as some in other places. This depresses me, the fact that people are not able to receive the education they need. Education is key for a person to be able to live a successful life, and I believe as one who is well educated it is our obligation to help others become as bright as they can be, as each individual impacts the world. I feel like service should be a way of life, people should always give back to their community and to their under privileged and sick, this way the world will be impacted positively.

After all signing up for service was a great idea as I did achieve a life goal of helping others. It is definitely something I do plan on continuing as I got attached to each and every one of the kids and I knew that they were personally effected positively throughout this year, which effect me as well. I felt very proud and accomplished after seeing the end results. Because of this great experience I am positive i will carry on service and giving back throughout my entire life.