Blog One: In the Beginning

1. What are your hopes for the service-learning project?

    I really want this to be a positive experience for everyone involved. I would like to make some sort of impact on the kids' lives and let them know that they are not alone on this journey. I will never be able to fully understand their situations, but I would like to be able to show them that there are many people that care about them and their success in this country. I am also hoping to come out of this experience with a better understanding of myself. I am looking forward to seeing how I will interact these kids, and see the impact that I know they will leave on my life as well.

2. What are your assumptions about your service-learning site?

    I'm assuming that the people that work at this high school genuinely care about bettering the lives of the children that attend. Obviously the majority of the kids are from another country, so I'm assuming that the teachers are patient and understanding of the fact that not all kids will grasp the concepts they are learning right away. I also assume that there is a lot of "study hall" time so the kids can do their homework and get all the help they may need.

3. What do you already know/or assume about the work they do?

    Since this is a high school, obviously the people that work here teach. In addition to that though, I assume that they care about the students as individuals and not just how they do on their homework. I believe that the teachers at this high school are a big part in helping the students adjust to life and the situations that they are in.

4. What do you know/or assume about the population they serve?

    I'm assuming that all the kids that attend this school are in high school. I know that the majority of the kids come from a different country. I assume that most of these kids come from less fortunate lifestyles, and that school might not be a top priority for some of them.

5. What connections/interests/passions do you have for this site or the population it serves?

    It's great that there is a school like Rock Island made specifically for students that are still adjusting to life in America. I like the fact that the teachers in this school really seem to have a passion for the kids that they are teaching, and really care about their education and well being. I haven't really been exposed to this before, so I can't say that I have a passion or connection with it, but I am very excited to see what I can bring to the kids and what impact they will have on me as well, because I know that we come from two very different lifestyles.