Service Learning

What is service learning?

   Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, tech civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Young people from kindergarten to college students use what they have learned in the classroom to solve real-life problems. With applying their knowledge, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the services that they are performing. Different settings where service learning can be applied include schools, universities, and community based and faith based organizations, Big Brother Big Sister being one example. Service learning offers all of its participants a chance to take part in the active education of youth while simultaneously addressing the concerns, needs, and hopes of communities.

What are your expectations along with any apprehensions you have about this project?

      I expect to learn a great deal from the staff at Big Brother Big Sister, mainly on how to interact with other organizations in my own community. Or even how to arrange for service learning organizations in my area; living in Imlay City, Big Brother Big Sister of Flint is the closest organization of this type. I feel that if there was more advertising for the programs or if more parents knew about it that they would definitely become a part of it. I think it is a great tool to teach adults who may have never done any type of service or interaction within a community, about the satisfaction from the organizations and how much it truly helps out.

                                                         

What skills will transfer over to your current or future career?

      Skills that will transfer over to my current career include personal skills, organization, time management, future planning, and communication skills. Each of these skills is highly important in any career. In helping out Big Brother Big Sister, organizing events and other activities can take a great deal of time and a lot of planning is involved in order for them to be a success. Communication is always a major factor in anything you do, if you don’t communicate properly things could fall out of place.