My Midterm Service Learning Reflection

My experience thus far at the Carnegie Center has been extremely positive. I have only worked one event so far, but I have been impressed by the sense of community that I feel around this place. Building a true sense of community anywhere can be difficult, but especially so in a place where so many people are strangers to one another. The staff has done an excellent job creating an environment in which strangers can come together, connect and learn from another. They take pride in building a strong community, and their joy is infectious. I also felt a sense of pride and joy knowing that I had been able to contribute to the sense of community that the Carnegie Center creates.

This is the aftermath of a dinner preceded by an event meant to promote peace and community and is an example of one of the many ways in which the Carnegie Center brings people together.

I was unsure of what to expect going into the service learning experience. When I was told that part of what we would be doing may involve transporting books and helping set up for events, I was worried that I would not be able to take much away from the experience. However, after being given the opportunity to interact with the people that come to the Carnegie Center, I have been very pleased with the experience. It was incredible to watch children illustrate through bracelets and art activities their understanding of peace. Their illustrations of peace have served as a reminder to me that peace often comes down to simply respecting who other people are. The children did not care about the ethnicity or background of the people they interacted with and their ability to interact without any sort of prejudice inspired me to reflect upon myself and try to rid myself of any prejudices that I hold. 

These children interacting so freely with one another is a great example of what peace truly is and helped me reflect on how I can follow their examples in my daily life.

Going forward, I intend to use the lessons about peace and community that I have learned through my interaction with these people in my own life. I am excited to go back and help with their upcoming events and hopefully gain more invaluable experiences working in such a genuinely heartwarming environment.