I volunteered at the IGNITE Pantry on Wednesday, October 23rd from 2-5 pm and Wednesday, November 6th from 2-5 pm. At the ignite pantry we sign up to help Old Dominion students, staff and faculty receive non-perishable food items for free. When someone walks in to get their share of food we take them back to the “pantry” and explain the portions and how much food they can take depending on how many people are in their household. They fill a bag or box with what they want based on what’s available and what they proffer. The mission of IGNITE Pantry is to make sure that students, staff, and faculty can have easy access to food. Their services provide access to non-perishable food items for low-income students, staff, and faculty. They address the needs of the community by providing food which is a need and not everyone can afford access to it. IGNITE Pantry is a way for everyone in the old dominion university to have access to what they need.
My values, opinions, and beliefs did not change after reflecting on my service-learning activity. I did similar work in my hometown delivering free farm-fresh vegetables and fruit to international neighbors. Those families had very little money and we helped them get access to good healthy food for free. Because of this experience before my service-learning opportunity my beliefs, values, and opinions did not change. I have changed my major from nursing to teaching. The experience with IGNITE Pantry impacted my desire to pursue a career in teaching students who are not as fortunate as others. Nursing is not the only carrier that helps people in need, teaching does too and that is what I want to dedicate my life to. This could also relate to a career in social work, communications and community health. I don’t think I would pursue any of these majors because I am so passionate about teaching. But, they are all great lines of work that better communities. I believe any job that does good work for other people and helps communities are important.
My study habits have become much better these last few months. My quiz and assignment grades have been higher due to studying ahead of time and going beyond my lectures and notes to understand the information more using youtube and other outside sources. The one class I am still struggling with is my chemistry lecture class. I have worked so hard to study and get my grade up but I still haven’t. But, all in all, I am very proud of myself and how much work I have put into making sure my grades are where I want them. I will take this same work ethic to my classes next semester.
The study techniques that worked best for me are making study guides, watching videos about the information, meeting up with classmates and studying far in advance for tests and quizzes. My study habits for each class are different, some are harder than others and take different strategies. My English class is mostly reading and deconstructing poems, my dance and sociology class is about studying and understanding terms. Chemistry lab is a little different from other classes, we have to take a short quiz before the lab after reading background information about the upcoming lab. Then we have to carry out the lab based on the background information we had to study and then answer questions afterward. Chemistry lecture is the hardest class, I study far in advance, watch videos, make Quizlets, make study guides, and take her practice quizzes and it is still not good enough.
14 weeks ago when college started I expected the workload to be hard and stressful but I didn’t know it would be as emotionally draining as it was. A resource that I found helpful this semester was my success counselor. She was helpful with both my emotional and academic challenges. A resource that I found unhelpful this semester was chemistry tutoring. They contradict what our professors teach and put on our exams and they don’t help with any of our homework. 14 weeks ago I wish you knew how hard being away from home would be. I have struggled a lot more than other people thought and myself included. I miss my family every day, they are my everything and being moved away from everyone and everything you know and love it is hard to not be depressed. Something I have learned this semester that I will assist next semester is taking everything day by day. I am a big planner and thinking about how everything plays out in the future and that’s why my anxiety and stress have become so bad. Towards the end of this semester, I have had to my workload, stress, and homesickness one day at a time and stay positive about the time in the future when I get to see my family.