Service Learning Project Whitney Stephan Anthropology 1010: Cultural Experience

The Heritage Center  I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Heritage Center  The Heritage Center is a recreational center for senior citizens, located in Murray, Utah

Expectations  I didn’t think I would be able to relate the population I was serving at all  I thought that it would be boring  I thought that it would be a waste of my time  I thought that the people wouldn’t be very nice to me Reality  I was able to talk and joke with the attendees at the Heritage Center  It was actually very fun  It was very fulfilling to see I was meeting needs in my community  Everyone there (attendees and employees) was very nice Expectations vs. Reality

Fears  I was worried about not being able to do anything useful  I was nervous I would get in the way of the employees at the center  I was scared the old people would be mean  I was also nervous that the employees would be mean

Experience Positive  I made friends  I made a difference  I was appreciated  I was complimented  I learned about some of the attendees lives  I met a plethora of different people Negative  There was nothing negative about this experience For example, I met a man named Carl, who was 100. I learned about him and found out that he appears in this music video.

Reflection  I think the Heritage Center is a wonderful place  It felt good to volunteer and know that I was helping my community  Even though the jobs that I did seemed insignificant, they were important to the people who attended there  I realized that I made a difference even though I didn’t feel I was doing anything that noteworthy

Reflections (continued)  Volunteering made me feel a sense of unity with my community  It gave me greater perspective on culture  It helped me realize my ethnocentrism  Given the opportunity, I would serve all over again  I would choose the same partner

What You Should Know…  You should try and spread your service hours out over the course of the semester  You should pick a partner that is helpful  You should choose to serve a population that you aren’t familiar with  You should have a good attitude about serving, it will definitely make the time volunteering more enjoyable

Learning Outcomes  Gaining an understanding of the cultural diversity found throughout the world.  I learned that there are several other cultures that are different than mine, and that they are just as important. I learned that these cultures work and have different ideas.  Identifying ethnocentrism.  Personally, I didn’t think that their culture made sense at the beginning, but I realize that my idea that my culture is the only correct one and functional one was wrong.  Communicating effectively about diverse cultural practices from a cultural relativity perspective.  This is where the journal comes in. It was really a chance for me to reflect on my experience and discuss what I’ve learned about the culture I served.

Connections Humanities  My Humanities class attempted to answer important questions about life. It did so by presenting different cultures and their views on some important life questions.  Serving at the Heritage Center gave me an open- mindedness that allowed me to accept other cultures and their views. Psychology: Human Development  This class took a cultural approach. I learned about the different life stages, specifically those in late adulthood.  Serving at the center allowed me to interact with people and since I learned about their behavior in psychology, I was able to understand them better.

Conclusion  Overall, Service Learning is a great opportunity to:  Learn  Become involved in a community  Make friends  Challenge stereotypes and preconceived notions about others  Understand other’s beliefs and ways of life