Apple Bees

Volunteering at Apple Bees for a volleyball fundraiser.

            In this experience I worked as an expo to get the consumers breakfasts to their tables for a volleyball fundraiser. I spent 3 hours in back with kitchen calling out orders to the cooks and yelling names of the ‘Servers’ (volleyball girls) who were to bring the food to their tables. Although I work in restaurant myself, I realized how difficult it can be to deal with people who do not know what they are doing in that type of situation. I learned the importance of stepping up and being a leader as well. This whole experience was a rather crazy mess. No one knew what they doing, let alone how to serve food or gather it from the back. I had to step up and create a system of who was next to receiving their order of food. Although this system was just writing their name on a piece of paper, as if a ticket for the food had been sent it. In the middle of calling out names, orders, and telling others what they needed to do and what needed to be done.  I realized that everyone had seemed to come to me with all the little problems/questions. I learned that in a time of need I am able to step up and take charge when no one else will, and how important it is to have a leader when others have no one else to turn to. I can apply this to other parts of my life because having the courage to take charge is hard for most to do and being a leader I have the ability to create a change with my ideas.

tutoring

For one of my volunteer experiences I helped tutor the younger odyssey scholars in math. This was actually a very interesting experience for me. It was different because I realized that although I am in a higher math class and I am good at math. Trying to teach a younger student how to do a simple math problem that he/she does not understand is very difficult. For me 15+5 is simple knowledge, of course it is equal to 20, yet trying to explain how this works to a 6^th grader that is a few grades behind in math is very difficult. I learned that being a teacher is very hard. I could not explain that math equation to the younger student on how to do it without giving them the answer. Yet, Mr. Mcnett mad it look so easy when he was able to explain it to the child. I can apply this to my life because I realized that teaching at a younger level does not seem like something I should do. With some of the older students I was able to show them how to do the problems without giving them the answer, as long as they knew their basic math. Even though this was a bit challenging for me I still enjoyed spending time with the younger kids.

A Touched Heart

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to serve in my church nursery. Don't get me wrong, I like kids but I had had a rough week and really wasn't feeling it. There were about 10 baby/toddlers in total. But one in particular stood out. It was a little boy who wasn't supposed to be in the nursery because he was a little bit older then the other kids, but because he had down syndrome his parents wanted him to be with his younger brother. He was so extraordinarily happy. I made this comment to the lady who was also watching the kids with me. She said that usually kids with special needs can sense their parents attitude on the situation which can kinda help shape their personalities. I thought this was so beautiful. It's kinda how every one works. In a way our situations shape us. Before I helped on that morning I was totally opposed to the idea of ever working with special needs kids. Not because I had anything against them but because I was scared. I think that day helped shape my view on a lot of things and now next time I won't be so afraid.

You Can't Do It

Now, I know what you're thinking. What a terrible title right? Well, my first reflection isn't about something I actually did, but about something I didn't do. This past Saturday I went to a blood drive with my dad. I had everything ready, my ID, birth certificate and arm. I asked how long the process would take and the woman said it should only take about 45 minutes. I followed the nurse back and she asked me questions and typed the answers on the computer like my age, birthplace, medical history and height. The final question was how much did I weigh. She typed it in and then told me that I couldn't do it. I couldn't give blood because of something like "my blood mass index wasn't high enough for me to give blood while I was a minor". I was both disappointed and relieved at the same time. I had really wanted to do something good but at the same time I was deathly afraid of giving blood. But as I sat in the waiting area for my dad I began to notice something. A lot of the people that were there to give blood were older, probably 55+. Honestly, this touched my heart. For many of those people it was probably a big deal to give blood, but they did it anyway. I have been having a rough time lately and it was awesome to just see that there still is good in the world and it assured me that even when you're older you don't have to let certain circumstances stand in your way. You can always find something to do to make even a small difference in the world.

Last Friday I helped first graders they read to me there fravorite books. were I volunteered was Copper trails. When I walked in to the class rooms the first graders were excited to see me. It was intresting to see all of there reactions. They all had questions they wanted to ask me. The most asked question I was asked was how old I was or  whats my name. The teacher asked them to give her there names on a list s I could read to them.

zach pederson

Helping Olson

Mrs. Olson is very busy with being the founder of the school and everything else she does so I have spent time this school year helping her with the athletic department. I have done filing, scheduling, emails, and organizing to help her so she has time for her other responsibilities. It is flexible to her time and my time but has also given me life skills for the future.

Babysitting that turned into Service.

A couple weeks ago I was asked to babysit for a family the attends my church. This isn't very uncommon. I tend to be asked multiple times a week. Whenever I am available I take the job. More money, plus I love little kids.  

So when this family asked me I agreed to the job. I arrived that saturday morning ready to spend about five hours of my day with three little boys. I had no idea where the parents were going nor was it my business. I spent the day playing sword fights, making them lunch, reading them books, and building legos. 

After I had accepted the job opportunity I become aware of an event with some friends that would be during part of the time I was babysitting. The whole time I just thought, "I'm getting paid and I will be done at 4:oo to hang out with some friends." I was having fun with the kids but at the same time I had that negative emotion not being able to do what I wanted to be doing with my Saturday. 

Once the parents got home I found out they had been doing service for the temple of our church. They told me they had not been able to get cash from the bank and would pay me later. I quickly debated in my head whether I should accept the money or just do it for service seeing as that is how they were spending their time. I decided and thanked them for the service they had done and told them I would also be doing service. 

The whole time had been negative but once I had done that service (without really even knowing) my day was better and I didn't mind so much that I had missed out on some time with friends. I found service in two places in one day that I hadn't been expecting. That is ALWAYS a good thing.

-Mikensee Funk