There have been two main themes from the day that have impacted me the most, but I believe that they will be dominant throughout the week as well. One: barriers between humans does not define how you can impact them. Two: education is the single most powerful force in a person’s life.
The Wesley-Rankin Community Center in which we worked at is actively attempting to impact the lives of the community that surrounds them. This includes after school programs for children, education classes for adults, and programs for the elderly. This morning we were located at the center and performed indirect service that included storage organization and cleaning; however, we were introduced to the elderly that the center impacts in the community. The community that arrives at Wesley-Rankin is a Hispanic majority, with many of the children and adults speaking Spanish and little English. This was obviously a verbal barrier that disconnected us from those we so desperately wished to serve. It freaked me out at first and made me very nervous and I distanced myself from the elderly by choosing one of the tasks that was furthest away. Even after our group reflection tonight it still bothers me some. I never wish that something that I cannot do affects how I can impact someone else, but much to my discontent that is what happened this morning. I wasn’t able to have conversation with these people, I wasn’t able to connect to them, and I doubted the value of my impact on them because I could not connect with them in one of the most basic human needs: communication. Despite how the situations has been described there has been a lot of good that came out of that interaction as well. I’ve started to think about a desire to learn Spanish in order to better connect and understand those of the Hispanic community within the United States. I’ve realized that sometimes communication doesn’t need to be verbal. Communication can be done through acts of love and compassion and sometimes that makes a bigger impact that our words ever can. This got me to thinking about how else I am able to impact and communicate with those around me in less than direct ways. One of those ways is definitely education.
I am a bit biased when it comes to education because I am currently a History Education major (but I am soon turning it into Middle School Ed!). I’ve only had a few education classes at Missouri State, but even before that I knew the importance of education. My bias goes beyond my major with my family primarily consisting of educators. My father is a high school principle, mother is a fourth grade teacher, and my brother is an eighth grade history teacher. I consider this an advantage because I realize the importance of education and the impact it can have on one’s life. This is especially true for the community around Wesley-Rankin. Education is an aspect that encompasses many parts of life. Education can be found in the formal setting of schooling, in the subtle art of socialization of children, and the heart-warming impact of self discovery. Despite all the different ways in which education can affect our lives, the commonality between them is that they are all positive experiences. Education enriches one life and helps them to grow and aspire to become a better person. That is the impact that Wesley-Rankin is having on the community that surrounds them. They are providing the community with the opportunity to enrich their lives and giving them the hope to aspire to strive for the highest in their lives. I believe so deeply and strongly in the goals and challenges that are set out before this community center and it’s people. I consider myself blessed to be able to serve in the capacity that I can.
Both of these lessons from today have made a difference in my perspective and viewpoints, and that is the beauty of service. You cannot serve another without also growing yourself. But there is also an ugliness to service and that is that you cannot understand it without experiencing it yourself. If you’ve read this and and have understand through the empathizing of my experiences then I feel with you; however, if you’ve read this and don’t quite understand then I implore you to go out and serve another person. Go spend time with the elderly in your community, volunteer at a local after school program, or just agree to spend an afternoon helping a neighbor move. No matter what, service will change you because any act of kindness you give to others is equally reacted with an act of self growth.