Community Service - Final Draft

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I completed  my community service hours at The North Side Learning Center (NSLC). The learning center was founded in 2009 and exists to aid in adult and youth literacy development, and to be instrumental in teaching self-sufficiency and self-actualization to newcomers in our community. Students come from dozens of countries around the world. Beyond the core of teaching English to adults and providing academic support to their children, additional programs are offered as resources allow. These have included sewing classes, digital and financial literacy, soccer, photography, and college prep to name a few. Volunteers from Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, and the general community allow NSLC to provide these enhanced classes and to provide individualized,constructive teaching. Services are provided to over 150 students annually - from ages four to eighty-four. What makes the North Side Learning Center unique - and successful - is its approach: start with where people are; respect their experiences and abilities; and teach what they want and need to learn.

The mission of North Side Learning Center is to aid in adult and youth literacy development, and to be instrumental in teaching self-sufficiency and self actualization to newcomers in our community.This is an important  mission in Syracuse because many refugees come to the city from many countries.

During my volunteer hours, I helped kids with their homework. I worked with kids grade 4-7.
I helped with math, science, and social studies. I helped a group of 13 students at a time for four days in January. Sometimes there was a teacher with me; at other times I worked by myself. I had to get a ride from my father to get to the learning center, except for one day when I had to walk.

I felt good helping the kids because I made them happy. I was able to speak their own language and help them do their own work. One student had only been in this country for five months, so everything was really hard for him. I remember when it was like that for me, so I'm glad I was  able to help him. All the students were very friendly and thanked me for helping them. Some of them were sad when I said it was my last day.

I think it is important for people to do community service because there are a lot of people who need help,and if  everybody helps in the ways that they can, there should always be someone to help us when we need it.  If you have been in school for longer than someone else, then you should know more than them. That's  why I was able to help other students. Learning is really important, and helping others is something that we can all do.


1 comment:

  1. Hello. My name is Miss. Noll and I am a student at SUNY Oswego. It sounds like you learned a lot from your experience volunteering at the North Side Learning Center. Your reflection was well written.

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