Makael Meissner

HUMA 1100
May 2, 2017

Civil Engagement

After a couple weeks of debating whether or not to volunteer at a rest home or an

elementary school, I decided on an elementary school. I volunteered on May 2nd, from
11:30 a.m to 3:05 p.m at Entheos Academy. Entheos is the charter school I went to as a
kid that is located in Kearns. At my arrival, I was tasked to go to three different
classrooms. The first part of my day was from 11:30 a.m to 12:00 p.m and, it was my
job to help a small group of seventh graders with their math. Even though I took MATH
1050, I doubt I was much help. I forgot a lot of what they were learning and, many of the
children never asked for my help. The second part of my day lasted from 12:00 p.m to
12:30 p.m and, I was sent to a first grade class. This class was much bigger than the
seventh graders; Id estimate, somewhere around 25 students total. The students were
learning how to tell time. It was extremely interesting to watch how long it took them to
read the time. I guess Im just used to being able to tell time quick. I helped the students
cut out and glue clocks onto the correct times printed. The last part of my day, and
certainly the biggest, was from 12:30 p.m to 3:05 p.m. This time spent volunteering was
my favorite part because, I was able to work in the kindergarten class. They were
probably the most fun to be around since, they listened more and they didnt misbehave
as much as the first graders. I helped them with their writing, reading, math, and even
went to recess with them!
This project wouldnt be very useful to this class, unless it related to the SLCCs
learning outcomes. Two of the learning outcomes I thought my volunteer work related to
are: Students develop the knowledge and skills to work with others in a professional
and constructive manner and Students develop civic literacy and the capacity to be
community-engaged learners who act in mutually beneficial ways with community
partners. Throughout my time volunteering, I realized that it took a lot of patience,
understanding, and equal treatment when helping the children. No matter how irritated I
got when this young girl wouldnt listen to a single word you said, as if youre invisible, I
still had to be professional. Besides, theyre only children. When I was volunteering, I
also had a realization that these children are the future; just like Im the future. Theres a
good chance that in 20 years, I could be working alongside some of these children and
not even know it. Which is why, its important to get involved in your community and
volunteer. By creating a community where everyone is involved, well be able to
produce an extraordinary world.
 Everything that Ive been explaining, seems to align fairly similar with what is said
in No Sense of Community, No Anchor written by Howard Cutler and His Holiness the
Fourteenth Dalai Lama. In this essay, it begins by explaining how the Dalai Lama feels
that communities who dont come together and get to know each other are, a major
obstruction to the fill expression of human happiness, as described in the essay. This
lack of community is what holds back many neighborhoods, for example, and restricts
the people from reaching their full potentials. However, communities who work together,
take the time to get to know each others name, and find out more about each other are
the communities that will reach a higher level of happiness. Another great thing about
happiness is, it brings progress. If communities are progressing in a positive manner, it
means that theyre working together to make a goal become reality. My activity relates
to this because, I mentioned how the children are the future as well as I. If we want to
progress, then we need to create a better community that involves everyone. This is the
great thing about volunteering; it allows for people to come together from all types of
ethnicities, backgrounds, skills, etc and work to help each other. I believe the Dalai
Lama as well as Howard Cutler, would approve volunteering.
After participating in this small, yet helpful volunteer work, I have to say that it
has made me a more responsible. However, I wouldnt say that it has made me a more
responsible person. Being a responsible person can take a long time. Im sure most
people, never even reach it. For the sake of this assignment, however, I do have to say
that it has shown me how to become more involved in my community; which entails
more responsibility. The reason why I think this is because, I felt a strong connection to
what I was doing. It felt good to do something for other people and not expect an
extrinsic reward in return. Instead, I developed a more intrinsic reward where I felt
happier within myself. It can be hard to explain, but the best way I can put it is, I feel a
different feeling that I dont usually feel. This feeling, is a good feeling.
I realize, these feelings I felt while volunteering are unlike any type of feeling Ive
had. Which is why, I would argue that this civic engagement was an enjoyable
experience. It allowed me to think about other people, which is a nice difference from
the norm. I was able to help teachers and students who needed assistance and by
doing this, I am now able to see the benefits in engaging in your community. When I first
read through No Sense of Community, No Anchor, I didnt see how becoming more
involved in your community would boost your happiness. I thought it was just a small
amount of happiness that didnt make a difference in your day-to-day happiness. I can
now see how wrong I was. Becoming involved in your community isnt what boosts your
happiness; its more than that. Its about feeling a part of your community so that, you
have something to look forward to. Volunteering at this school, allowed me to feel a part
of that community, even if it was only for a short while. I would most definitely do this
again just to feel that sense of belonging again. It may have only been a small deed, but
its the small things that matter the most.
Before going to volunteer, I had this sense that I wasnt going to have any fun.
Ive done volunteer work in the past, but none of it felt like what I felt during this
experience. That is what I wasnt expecting to enjoy it. I believe the reason why I never
fully enjoyed it before was because, I was only doing the volunteer work to get a good
grade. I was never there to actually be a part of something and to help someone else. It
was all just for an assignment. However, this time was different. I wasnt doing it just for
the assignment. I actually had fun while doing it. It reminded me of what volunteer work
was all about. Im glad to say that my expectations were wrong. This time, was different.
This time, I became actively engaged in my community and it really paid off.