Community Service.

Community service is a process that most seniors dread. Not everyone earned their hours in a fun way, or doing what they initially wanted to do. I did my hours by working in a classroom full of preschool and kindergarten aged children, helping the teacher, Cindy Russell, prep activities, and play with the kids. My other experience was helping the sober grad committee sell flowers at our dance production over a weekend period of time. Helping serve that time was a good feeling, knowing that i was helping not only my school, but our community.

I think that community service is a great way to get our names out there. It lets people know that you are willing to help and spend your time serving others. I believe that this service is a wonderful way to get experience under your belt and earn respect as growing and learning all the different ways to assist our local citizens. Serving your community isn't always fun and exciting, but knowing that your helping out is such a reward. Others knowing that you will be responsible and reliable is what they strive for in an employee. Spending your time wisely and helping your community through spending time at a shelter, or serving food at an event, by doing a good job and helping out people will remember you by that and respect you for what you do.

For my service hours i spent time with Cindy Russel helping her in her classroom. I helped prep activities for the kids to do during group time, helped with snack, read, colored with them, and cleaned up afterwards. I did this for a few days assisting her with the daily routines, helping out more than 13 hours combined. Learning what the everyday routines are and how the children adjust to new people in the class is interesting to see. They just go right up to them and strike up a conversation, asking what your name is and figuring things out about you. They will either like you, or just walk away! I thought it was really funny how they would just walk away if you were boring or just weird! Prepping activities for the kids wasn't so fun, but I loved being around them and listening to them speak to me. They were so fun and cute to be around that i would do it again. Since they weren't old enough to read on their own, i read them stories and observed them in activities. They are so creative and fun to be around. Spending this time made me realize that i might enjoy a career in teaching, or something to do with kids.

The other experience i had with community service was selling flowers for sober grad. We sold these bouquets at the dance performance here at west valley over a 3 day span. People bought their daughters flowers and contributed to the cause by purchasing these flowers. There were bouquets of 5, 3 and single carnations. They were beautifully made by our floral class and everyone loved them. We sat there in the cold and wind and rain, but it was worth it. We made enough profit off of them and even got a few extra dollar donations. Spending this time helping my school raise money for out Sober grad was fulfilling and worth while, knowing that all the proceeds weren't leaving, but going straight to a great cause. In the beginning we didn't have much at all for our grad night, but not we are slowly and steadily making more and more to end up with a fantastic, fun night. Selling those flowers was rewarding and fun in the end, even though i was cold and wet, i had fun.

Contributing my time for others was not what i expected. i intended going and not having fun, or it be extremely boring and regretful. But when i got to both places each time, i was thankful i was there. It was such a rewarding experience that I want to spend more hours helping others instead of sitting on my butt. Knowing that others need my help and knowing that i am being rewarded in more ways than one is such a great feeling. I feel that I'm wanted and needed. These hours spent were great ones and I am going to spend more in the future helping others, and my community.