This summer I spent nine weeks working at the Ira Samelson
Jr. Boys and Girls Club. I was assigned the position as the Healthy Habits
program director for this branch; the purpose of this program is to educate the
children about healthy foods and the benefits associated with them. My class
was structured so that I would meet with 4 different age groups twice a week.
One class a week would be dedicated to nutrition, and the other class would be
teaching them how to cook.
I chose to
work at the Boys and Girls Club because I strongly believe in the importance of
their purpose. It is to provide a safe environment for children to grow and
develop into adults. A community like the Boys and Girls Club is essential for
the development of many of these children. Whatever their home lives may be
like, the Samelson Branch gives them a community that looks out for them and
provides them with many resources, such as my program. I was privileged to be a
part of this club and build relationships with some amazing children.
The summer
service experience has been instrumental in the development my education and
myself. In many of my classes at Rhodes, I learned of the social issues that
accompany people living in poverty. I learned of the discrimination they face
and the privilege I have because I do not face the same issues. Because of my
work at the Boys and Girls Club where I have been able to see these social
issues first hand, my understanding of them has improved dramatically. It is
apparent the privilege I have over others that did not grow up in a similar
situation. I am extremely thankful for the experiences that I have had while
working at the Boys and Girls Club.
I really liked how you connected your previous knowledge of these social issues to your experience at the Boys and Girls Club. Overall, I really like your blurb. It is short, sweet, and to the point! Its good to hear that this was an influential experience for you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexis! This blurb provided important info about what you did, how you did it, and what you learned/gained in the process. You may mention that you're an urban studies major (i'm really hoping that's right)/some of the specific types of classes that you took that helped with your education of these social issues, but honestly it's a really good, concise but full (of good info) post. Thanks 4 sharing :))
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Conor! I appreciate that you discussed the specifics of your work this summer as well as your motivation for serving at the Boys and Girls Club in the first place. I think your last paragraph is especially effective because you make the connection, through Summer Service, between your formal education and your newfound understandings about social issues and your own social position.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, most of my suggestions are simply nitpicky. If I were you, I would change the second sentence of your first paragraph to something along the lines of “I directed Health Habits, a program aimed at educated children…” in order to be more concise. In addition, you can combine the first and second sentence of your second paragraph with a colon between “their purpose” and “to provide.” Finally, it would be a great improvement to your blurb if you included a sentence or two, perhaps after your third paragraph, explicitly addressing how seeing “these social issues first hand” has not only improved your understanding of the issues themselves but also changed your perceptions about service.
Conor,
ReplyDeleteThis is a solid and informative post! You did a nice job with your organization and I very much enjoyed your second paragraph. However, I have a few comments to make: spell out the number 4 in your first paragraph to be consistent throughout the excerpt. In your second paragraph you use "them" three times in the same sentence, which makes it confusing to the reader as to who you are referring to. Lastly, I would add a paragraph on the end that talks about your definition of service and if/how this definition has changed over the course of the summer. I think with these minor adjustments your blurb will be ready for the pamphlet!