Reflective Writing --- chapter 1 response

1. Most of my past academic experience has been shaped by the educational methodology of Hutchins, that of using cannon or classic works to educate about various subjects. This has been most evident in english and history courses in high school, but has prevailed in almost every course in college. I have taken a few less-traditional courses in college, namely this service-learning course and an African American Studies course where formal papers were replacd with live debates between classmates. Still, the latter utilized classic works of the leaders of the African liberation struggles that we were studying.
2. The reason I chose to take this course was primarily to prepare myself for employment in the service world. I am still unsure of the exact reasons for this intention, and am hoping that this course will help me understand these intentions. While the course does not could toward smajor credit, it still counts towards graduation, and in that way, I need it to graduate. But I could have chosen to take a much less time-demanding course, so it is that I wanted to take this course. Another primary reason for taking this course is to have sort of a "dry run," if you will at working with communal service organizations. I have had significant experience volunteering with these types of organizations or organizing with campus organizations, but I have had little official work/writing/organizing with non-campus communal service organizations. Again, it is a means of preparation. Finally, a byproduct of this work is doing good work, that it is not merely to look to the future, but that in doing this work now, I am helping an organization that needs this help.
3. When I attended college in Cincinnati, I wrote several articles about how to take activism to end the genocide in Darfur. It was structured as an op-ed, and provided ways that each of us could take action. There are some things I would have changed about the article, such as creating a narrative and making it more poetic rather than in list form, but I think that people read it and understand the intention behind the article. I was, however, discouraged by the response of people that read it. Most congradulated me for the work I was doing, but few asked to talk about the crisis or how they could help. Was the article effective in any way? Maybe in educating people, but not so much as a tool for direct action.
4. I am indeed excited and nervous about such responsibility, but I have learned that the most effective way to learn how to do something is to learn by experience. So I will have questions, may struggle, and may get frustrated, but I will learn. Learning and doing while being mindful not to bring in negative energy will be the challenge. Apprehensions: not many, suprisingly. I'm excited to meet the people that I will be working with, and curious about the respinsibilities I will have, but not apprehensive. However, that may change right as I walk through the door.
5. Most important consequence: Uniting with people for the common good. Yes, that it is. We will be working together, on the same mission, to bring together some improvement in the lives of the people we are trying to help. That is the greatest reward, and the most significant consequence.