Service Learning Reflection

  1. On November 19, 2017, I volunteered for the Fight Like Mike fundraiser. This took place in Downtown Norfolk at the Bearded Bird Brewery. I got there at 10am on Sunday and I carried in boxes and helped set up. Once the event started I stood in the parking lot, my assignment was to direct people to wear they can and can’t park. Later on, I was in charge of selling the Fight Like Mike shirts outside.
  2. The Fight Like Mike Scavenger hunts story and mission is “In 2016, martial arts instructor Michael Sheffield suffered a serious spinal cord injury. During his rehabilitation, he received amazing care from ODU Monarch Physical Therapy Clinic. In gratitude the Sheffield family and supporters plan a fund-raising scavenger hunt, with net proceeds going to the clinic.” Their goal is to raise money for the clinic so they can have more money for research and be able to help others like Michael.
  3. This organization gives their net proceeds to the ODU Monarch Physical Therapy Clinic. The proceeds help with further research. This relates to my intended career because it gives the money to ODU Physical Therapy Clinic and I am in the ODU Health Services department.
  4. After completing my first service-learning activity I realized that ODU Physical Therapy Clinic is a wonderful and caring facility and group. I realized that accidents can happen to people at any time as they happened to Michael so unexpectedly and ended his martial arts career. I also realized that they really appreciate and value the volunteers coming out to help them with these events.
  5. I didn’t have any direct health related experience prior to the Fall 2017 semester. Although, I began to want to work in the medical field when I visited the hospital a lot while my grandfather was in the Norfolk Heart hospital and watched everything the nurses there did and how they helped people. My service-learning event also made me want to be a nurse because I saw the condition Michael was in and it made me wish I was able to help and find a way to make him better.
  6. My service-learning and community partner could relate to physical therapy because they work directly with ODU Monarch Physical Therapy Clinic. I would choose this as my parallel major because I have considered this occupation before. I think learning about the way the body works and how bones heal is fascinating. Also, to help someone get their strength back would be one of the best feelings.