05.26.10
Posted in AV 2009-10 Domestic at 2:01 pm by Lisa Mehalick
This year working at my service site, St. Margaret of Scotland, has been a big adjustment for me. I work in the Pre-K classroom as a teacher’s aide. One of the first challenges I was faced with was being the minority in a student body of African American children. I also had to learn how to work alongside the head teacher, Ms. Gunn, and figure out how to get the children’s respect and at the same time be able to effectively discipline them. However, along with all the different types of challenges I face daily I would like to focus on what has been my greatest joy at my service site.
Reflecting on this topic there were so many little things that have brought me joy throughout this year but it wasn’t until today, that it was made clear to me what has brought me the most joy.
I would like to focus on one little girl, in particular, who I have watched all year struggle with her speech. Having been a speech pathology major in my first couple years in college I was well aware that her speech was delayed. All year I have wondered why her parents and teachers weren’t giving her the help that she clearly needed. I have watched her struggle and get violently angry when she wasn’t able to get her message across. I, too, found myself getting frustrated with her when she wouldn’t allow me to help her with difficult tasks. It wasn’t until this past week that I noticed in the mornings that she would begin to talk to me more than just answering yes or no questions. She was telling me the color of her shirt and showing me her new shoes. But as the day would go on her conversations with me would slowly fade and the progress we made in the morning would soon be lost and her speech would no longer be as coherent.
It wasn’t until today, as I write my blog, that I have come to realize how much joy this situation has brought me. This Monday morning was expected to be no different, but even before the day officially started it was. Ms. Gunn was changing up the chore chart and telling the children what their new jobs would be for the week. As she was saying this I was helping this little girl to put her things where they belonged when she heard Ms. Gunn say aloud that it was her job to clean the tables. Now most kids aren’t too thrilled to have this job but she was ecstatic! When she heard this she looked up at me with the biggest smile and said, “My job’s to clean the tables” crystal clear and must have repeated it to me 5 more times. Then as the day went on she became my little buddy, always at my side, telling me about her weekend at the park with her dad, riding her pink bike, and going on the swings. I don’t think her smile ever left her face. Then her big moment came when center time was over and it was time to clean the tables. She couldn’t be more excited. It was so satisfying to see her enthusiasm to do her classroom job. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring but seeing the joy in her helped me to be more appreciative of the little accomplishments in life.
It has been the little things this year that have brought me the most joy at my job. It could range from watching a child face their fears and slide down the pole on the playground, to being able to open their own milk and learning how to spell and write their own name. Everyday there is always a struggle with trying to get the kids to listen and get their work done but it is the little accomplishments that make it all worthwhile. It’s just important to keep yourself mindful of them and not get so caught up on the negative. This year has really helped me to become more mindful to all the good that is present and to not focus on the bad. I have learned to live in the present moment since we have no guarantee of tomorrow and to appreciate the little joys in life that God gives to us.
Lisa Mehalick
Chicago, IL
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05.21.10
Posted in AV 2009-10 Domestic at 10:19 am by afolker
I was walking to the medical clinic one morning and was approached by a man asking if I could spare some money.
“I’m sorry I can’t. Have a nice day,” I said as I walked by.
“Do you mean it?” he asked.
I stopped. Did I mean what? That I can’t spare change? Truthfully, as an “employee” I cannot give anything to any potential clients- so really, I was being honest.
“Excuse me?” I asked, genuinely confused. Then my heart began to race- I have NO idea who this man is. What if he was angry? Violent? Who was around to witness if anything happened? WHY did I stop?
“I wanna know if you really meant it. Do you REALLY want me to have a nice day?”
“I do sir, but I have to get to work. I’m running late.” (Again, not a lie)
I started to walk past him at a VERY brisk pace.
He called to me again. “If you want me to have a nice day, pray for me.”
I stopped. “Sorry?”
“If you really want me to have a nice day you will pray for me. I’m not a stupid man but I made stupid decisions. I need help and I know that- so I need you to pray for me. Will do you that?”
“I will,” I promised. And I did. On my way into the clinic I prayed that this man would receive the help that he needed.
A few minutes later, as I settled into the triage desk, I looked up from the computer screen just as a man fiddling through papers looked up at me. Sitting at my desk was that man from outside. We just looked at each other half in shock- and maybe even pointed at each other- and said “it’s you!”
“Did you pray for me?” he asked. I nodded.
My faith isn’t something I ever struggled with, but I’ve come to realize that it was never anything I really depended on, either. I was never really aware of God’s presence and/or possible effect on my life. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful things in the world and witnessed the most incredible acts of selfless love- but I have also seen suffering, tragedy and injustice. In both extremes, God’s presence was unknown to me.
Since working as a nurse at St. Vincent De Paul Medical Clinic I’ve met so many people, like the patient above, who have absolutely nothing but their faith. My patients, most with failing health and many without a change of clothes, a roof over their heads or access to food, have only their faith, and yet they push on day to day, many times with a smile on their faces. I have been indefinitely humbled by my patients and my faith has been undeniably strengthened. Seeing these people rely on and function solely with their faith has given me greater understanding to the belief that “with God, anything is possible.” Working with these clients has also taught me to see and accept God and His love in everything I see and do. I recognize God’s presence in all of the beauty and experiences I have been blessed with in my life, and I am now comforted by knowing the power of faith in times of struggle.
Allison Folker, San Diego
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05.13.10
Posted in AV 2009-10 Domestic at 11:37 am by Charlie Knibbs
Mr. Charlie, can you open my milk? Can you open my juice? Can you tie my shoe? Can you zip my jacket? Can you take me to the bathroom?
I never knew it was humanly possible to ask so many questions. Working in a Pre-K classroom can be very challenging. There are 30 children in my class between four and five years old. For some of them it is their first time in a school setting. Some like to shout, some like to hit, some like to run around. Unfortunately very few like to be quiet. A few days ago I was jotting down some last minute ideas for this blog during the kids lunch time until I was suddenly distracted. One of the kids seemed like something was bothering him so I asked him if he had to go to the bathroom. He told me he didn’t need to. I walked away, sat down and started writing at a nearby table. Then, two minutes later he started crying so I walked over to see what was wrong. As I walked up I noticed something had soaked the ground… and it wasn’t his tears. I thought it was very ironic that in the midst of writing my blog about challenges at my service site that a kid literally had an accident while I was brainstorming. This year I have said the phrase “I can’t even make this stuff up” a lot more often than I would have liked.
My biggest challenge this year was adjusting to being surrounded by five year olds for ten hours each day. For the past four years I was around college students and professors and had no problem communicating with people my age and older. This year I had to learn how to relate to kids who are almost twenty years younger than me. At first it was very difficult to have a meaningful conversation with one of my students. I learned to become a better listener and thought of creative ways to get my message across. When my roommates would come home from work and tell a story about how they gave advice to one of their junior high students or how they helped them with a difficult situation, I often felt like I was not really making much of a difference at my school besides helping my kids open their snacks. I felt like I was just babysitting them and not teaching them. I found myself asking did I waste a year of my life doing service in a Pre-K? Now with only a few weeks left of my AV experience I know that I definitely did not waste this year. I have made a difference by being a part of their lives at school and helping them mature and develop. I have learned to become a much more patient person and have learned a lot from the kids.
I came into this year thinking that I would teach the kids, but they have actually taught me a lot. We teach our young children very simple lessons about sharing, playing nicely with one another, and listening well. I really like the phrase my teacher uses “You get what you get and don’t be upset.” Sometimes in our busy lives we forget these simple lessons. We do not always share what we have with those around us. We don’t always say the nicest things to our friends and family. We don’t always listen to what others are saying. We get angry when we don’t have exactly what we want or get jealous of what someone else has. I want to take these lessons that I have learned this year and apply them to my everyday life in the future. I will be a more patient and understanding person and listen to the needs of others. This year I have overcome many obstacles at my service site and am now a stronger person because of it. Life is not always fair and throws us many challenges. Your attitude will determine if you can rise above them. Thanks to my year as an Augustinian Volunteer I will have a better attitude and strive to live by the saying “you get what you get and don’t be upset.”
Charlie Knibbs
Lawrence, MA
2009-2010
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