dicke127

So today I went to the CCLC orientation meeting. For myself, I found it rather boring and very uninteresting only because last semester I took a course called Leadership at the University, which covered much of the information, we learned at the orientation. Leadership at the University was the most amazing class ever, because we learned about all the factors of diversity in the work place and how to handle those differences. This was all in addition to learning detailed ways of handling a conflict, setting values, being a good leader and follower, etc, etc. Upon entering the orientation I was not exactly sure what to expect, but what I was thinking was this was going to be wayy too long!
Although I am sure the social change model, scenario practice, planting the root, and the community involvement activities will help in my volunteering experience, I cannot say for sure just yet. The one exercise I found to be of asset was the “planting the root� or something like that exercise. We were told to draw a tree, the roots being the cause of poverty and the branches being the outcome of poverty. As a young woman, who grew up in an upper middle class suburb, the idea of poverty is a shocking thought. Sad but true… As well as the root exercise I really enjoyed the “defining your neighbor� exercise, where you would define your neighbor by class, gender, age, race, religion, ethnic background, etc. without learning of these characteristics first. This was interesting because it really taught me that I should never just assume. There is always something I do not know about a person and it is not fair to judge before that time.
I have yet to start my work with the Children’s hospital of Minnesota. On the bright side I do have my application finished and I will be attending the orientation meeting this following week. I definitely look forward to starting my work; it all should be very interesting.