As this service learning class comes to an end, I begin to think and reflect upon the activities I took part of and how it affected the class and those I came in contact with. My viewpoints have greatly changed since the start of the class as I have learned quite a bit about a relatively unknown subject and have been given the opportunity to indulge myself into new experiences concerning it. I’ve learned that being a part of a community that seeks common goals and is interactive with each other is a prime way to reach new heights. Being part of this refugee understanding class has taught me not only through classwork and books but through interactive activities such as group discussions and getting firsthand experience in the lives of refugees; learning to assist others and being more aware of those in need around me have helped shape a side of me that will now be more aware that I, as a human, am responsible for the well-being of humanity.
As a commitment to this class, I am required to give 25 hours as a volunteer in work assisting refugees. I was assigned the Rupal family, a Nepal family that lived in a Bhutanese refugee camp before filing as refugees and moving to the US. I was actually quite nervous the first time I went to visit because I didn’t know what to expect but the visit went well and I found talking to the 5th grade boy, Suman, to be entertaining because he always had random questions. He was also very interested in WWF wrestling and so I was able to relate to him on that level. The older girl seemed more to herself and spent most of the time in the kitchen, although she did make some very delicious tea that reminded me of my own mom’s. I only met the parents on my 3rd visit when I went without my mentor and they were very welcoming and warm. They were very interested in my own background because I am Indian and they asked me questions such as what it was like to grow up in the US and if I ever visit India and the sort. Whenever I visited I would help Suman with school work for the most part otherwise I would just talk with him and his sister and anyone else that was home. The apartment was filled with pictures of people that looked like family and were from different parts of the world. It almost felt like I was stepping into one of my uncle’s or aunt’s homes that did not have children that grew up in the US. Even from the start I felt visits to be very warm and welcoming from the entire family.
Before I came to college I would have never guessed that I would be in a class learning about serving and volunteering, especially in assisting refugees. Even when I was put into the class I wasn’t very enthusiastic. However, after learning about what we would be doing in this class those thoughts began to change, especially after actually meeting my family and getting involved with them. For the first time in my life I was willfully giving my time to serve someone else in need. I have volunteered in a hospital before but I was never able to see the appreciation of the people I helped. When I talked to Mr. and Mrs. Rupal they made me feel so wanted and needed and as though I had done a huge favor by helping Suman on his homework. After weeks of helping and visiting, I realized that the reward of feeling needed should not be the reason that I visit, but because I am helping someone that is disadvantaged, whether they are thankful or not. Lucky for me my family was very thankful which made the visits pleasant, even during busier weeks, but I understood that even if they were ungrateful I should continue to try to help.
Probably the biggest self-realization I had through the entire experience was that I need to have a more giving spirit. I could tell that I was feeding off of the appreciation of my family because if I didn’t feel like visiting one week because I was busy or being lazy I would all of a sudden be fine when I saw that my presence was appreciated. I soon found that this was a bad feeling. A true giving heart would be willing to help whether or not it was appreciated. Yes it is much harder to work for someone that is unappreciative and only someone who is truly devoted to helping someone in need could help such a person. I want to become a more complete giver. I want to be able to give when there is nothing to take back. I want to be able to see a person’s needs and be able to assist them without the reward or satisfaction at the end. Being a human means learning to love another human no matter what the benefits, if any at all, may be. This is what I want to become. I want to be a better human being.