Final Service Learning Project Anthropology 1010 Mason Howe

My expectations for service learning. Over all my expectations for service learning were good at the start. I have been involved in many instances of service over the years and I thought that this would be an easy assignment to complete.

Fears My biggest fear which more or less came true was the problem with scheduling. It can become overwhelming at times to try and do the service learning when focused on multiple classes.

The Positives Service is a great opportunity to lean skills without having them be tied to a paycheck. It is as very rewarding experience to try and help someone with their weaknesses and try to develop your strengths at the same time.

The Negatives Service can be hard and because you are not really bound to anything like you are in a job the temptation to just call it quits can be a big one. We all have our “comfort zones” and often times we do not really want to step outside them so it can be uncomfortable for all involved.

I wish that I knew what I know now… Hindsight being twenty-twenty I wish I would have been more careful about choosing a partner. Nothing was wrong with my chosen service partner, but it just took a bit to long to set everything up.

Tips for Success The best thing you can do to be effective in a service learning environment is, first to get on it early and stay persistent, and two to maintain you resolve when things get rough. Not only are those good things to keep in mind for this assignment, but for life in general.

What was its affect on me? It was a bit of a mixed bag. Service can often bring out the best in someone. Where as stress can bring out the worst. The best thing to do is to try and have a desire to serve. If you do not things will be made all the more difficult for you.

Is it for you? That is something that only you can answer. If you are looking for new experiences (not to mention something that can look good on a resume) then yes I recommend service at your discretion. If you are someone who is focused on you or other important people in your life (there is nothing wrong with that) then maybe long term service is not for you.

A Personal Choice In the end I think whether you should consider service or not is a strictly personal decision. There are many worthy service causes out their, and it is likely that some are more important to you then others. So if you want to give back and you find something that you love or are good at then find a cause that you support and go for it.

Conclusion To wrap it all up if you are looking for a worthwhile experience to help out, then I recommend service for you. Service learning is a bit harder to recommend than standard service, because while its intentions are noble you may not be doing it for the right reasons.

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