Service Learning Experience Analysis

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I thought the service learning experience was awesome. Our group decided to volunteer at a soup kitchen hosted by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit, Michigan. All the volunteers were positive and happy to be there. Like a Mercy and Jesuit graduate, all the volunteers were excited to fulfill their sense of responsibility to serve the community. When we got to the church, our agency rep assigned us to various positions. The agency rep frequently rotated us so we could experience everything. The duties consisted of: washing the dirty dishes, preparing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, spreading cream cheese on bagels, and dispensing tea and coffee. I was most eager to interact with the homeless because this generated the most effective …show more content…
“Communication occurs when one is in the presence of another person, even if no works are spoken” (Black 176). Black is trying to explain that communication is not always verbal communication. When I was serving donuts, I ran into a homeless man that could not speak. I quickly realized I had to try to read his lips and pay close attention to what donut he was pointing at, and what donut he was looking at. To make sure I had was giving him the donut he wanted, I used a simple feedback technique suited for his needs. I held the donut I believed he wanted and asked him if this was the right one. After he nodded, I became aware of the importance of being a good communicator in …show more content…
My service learning experience helped me understand the importance of this characteristic more clearly. Each morning the soup kitchen needs volunteers to lend a hand to help feed the homeless. Most volunteers are church goers or Mercy and Jesuit graduates because they have a pledge to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations. Another characteristic of a Mercy and Jesuit graduate is their ability to interact in a diverse setting. The service learning experience showed me that it is very important to be able to cooperate with a social class different from my own. Using active listening, acceptance, and being nonjudgmental are some key elements to avoiding communication failure, which can lead to anger and violence. For example, a homeless man might be intoxicated and experiencing sleep deprivation, which results in a slurred voice. He may snap and show aggression if he receives the wrong beverage. This failure to listen closely can put you at serious