Service-Learning

Reflection Paper #3

This semester has brought on a lot of work, but I think it has really paid off in the end. I now I have a full portfolio that I can actually use in a real life situation. I enjoyed this project because it gave me the hands-on experience that I need for when I graduate.


I didn’t encounter any problems with Jericho Road Ministries. Matt was nothing but nice and gave constructive feedback on my work. He was flexible with my schedule and vice versa. I really like how the brochure turned out.


I didn’t realize the amount of writing that is involved in day-to-day activities, or how much PR practitioners really do write for an organization. It is a lot. But I enjoyed it. One thing I do not like, are formal planning sheets. I think they are really annoying. I would rather jot some things down on paper and work from that.


I am very pleased with how everything turned out this semester! I even received an award for all my hard work. I am very honored to be nominated and recognized. I really appreciate it.


I think more classes should do hands on projects like service learning. It gives students a chance to take what they have learned and give back to the community. It is a good way to gain experience and build a resume. Because I know, I need to build mine up some more!


I really can’t complain about this project. I was also very fortunate that I had a community partner that was easy to contact. I know some of the students in class felt like they were hassling their contact, or that their contact didn’t provide enough information. Matt and Jericho Road Ministries was the total opposite. We remained in contact throughout the semester and I went there I think 3 or 4 times. If I needed information I knew where to find it.


This class there was a lot of work involved, but because it was broken down accordingly, it wasn’t overbearing. It felt it was very manageable. I guess I am just rambling now, but everything this semester went very smooth for me! It was a great learning experience! I guess it’s a good thing I never did get in touch with PUSH Buffalo…..

Posted by Kelly at 11:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 16, 2006

I’m just throwing it out there that there is exactly one month until my 21st birthday. I think that is a good way to start this blog. So I’m counting down the days…..That also means there is one month left in the semester too! And I really have my work cut out for me.


I have to start making revisions for my final portfolio for COM 308. I keep a copy, and Jericho Road Ministries also receives a copy. Along with that means I have to redo my resume, because that is part of my portfolio too. I haven’t updated that since my sophomore year of college back at ECC. So there are some definite changes! I have a paper to start writing for COM 307, and another for COM 408. FUN. I think there is more, but I can’t think of what is right now.


I am still working on the new layout for the brochure. I hope to have it done by this weekend. Because it is going to be a 4-fold instead of a 3-fold, the entire layout has changed. I has left me with a lot more room to work with. I haven’t been to Jericho Road Ministries in a while, but I have been keeping email contact with Matt.


Thanksgiving is coming up! This year, I am going to Texas. My mom, stepdad and other brother and sister live down there. As well as some Aunts and Uncles and cousins. So I am looking forward to seeing everyone, and being able to go swimming! Its still warm in Dallas where the rest of my family lives! Unlike here, but that’s just Buffalo. Oh, and by the way, it is raining today. Why? Because it’s Thursday. So, like the rest of America, I will have to arrive at the airport about 3 hours before my flight leaves, and stand in line for security checks. (People are going to be cranky too) And take off my shoes. I wonder if I am allowed to bring a water bottle this time around? Because when I went in August, that was not allowed. Really, what has this world come to? There’s so much hate. It’s ridiculous, and kind of sad. Maybe with the recent elections, some changes will come around. I hope everyone went out there and voted! (That was my semi-political rant for today)


Well, I have some research to do. For the final project in Bryski’s class, we are to do a Standard Agenda Presentation. Our group is researching pollution on and around campus. The causes and ways to prevent it. I think it’s a pretty good idea, and it affects everyone.

Until next time……

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Continue reading "it's almost turkey time!" »

Posted by Kelly at 03:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I think today is the first Thursday of the semester where it has not rained, snowed, sleeted etc. My fellow classmates and I have come to the conclusion that every Tuesday and Thursday, (which also happen to be the days I come to school) some kind of precipitation falls. And today is surprisingly sunny and warm, and its noon! And I left my umbrella in the car today….so hopefully I won’t need it later.


The semester is starting to wind down, and I am really looking forward to a much needed semester break! I registered for classes next semester, and I have another full course load! Only two left! And of course when I go to register (at 1am, ahem) SABRE won’t even load onto my computer because the server is so jammed. So ask me when I finally was able to log on. Well let me tell you, it was 4AM. That’s right, I was so aggravated I just went to bed and set my alarm. I got all the classes I wanted, however, one class in particular, which shall remain nameless, was full before I was even able to register, leaving me to take it with the alternative professor. I hope you can sense the joy I am feeling about that. Ha.


Anywho, back to my Service Learning Project. I received a really nice email from Matt Tice @ Jericho Road Ministries thanking me for all my effort this semester. It also had a suggestion about how I worded a sentence or two. And his suggestion makes the information flow much more smoothly (does that sound right?) I think you get the hint. I am also going to change the brochure from a 3 fold design to a 4-fold. That way, it will have a tear-off portion for potential volunteers to send us their information. Also, this way, I can add more pictures to the brochure. I think this is going to look really nice when it’s all done. After I get that finished, I have to start revising my portfolio for my COM308 class. Because I am pretty sure that Jericho Road Ministries is getting a copy of that as well. I have to find all my papers, and I’m really hoping that I saved everything, so I can just revise it on my computer. But, knowing me, I probably didn’t. I didn’t start doing that until a few weeks ago. Fantastic! Ha.


Our first volunteer also went through her Introductory Orientation. Laura is now waiting to see who she will be mentoring! WOOHOO! It’s neat to see this plan take action! So far, everything is running smoothly over there! I can’t really complain.


Well, I’ve gotta run to a PRSSA meeting now. Until next time…..

Posted by Kelly at 03:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What a week this has been! I have been super busy with school this week. Only 1 month and 16 days until the last day of the semester! (but I’m not counting or anything)


I met with Matt and Elaine this week at Jericho Road and Journey’s End to present my brochure. I was a little nervous because I wasn’t sure if they would like it….and they did! They were very impressed, which is awesome! And I know that Matt was going to use it today in meeting with health care providers for The Priscilla Project. Its really neat to know what you did is actually going to be used in the real world.


So now that the first draft of the brochure for the volunteers is done, I am going to add some pics of real women that the program will help. I think this is a really great program because proper healthcare is so important for any woman or child. This program will benefit the community greatly, because JRM provides affordable healthcare through the Family Practice that is attached. Then, these women can take what they know, and pass it on to their children and future generations. And the end result would be healthy, happy families.


One afternoon that I was there, the waiting room for the Family Practice was packed. Each person was different, and from different cultures. These two organizations have helped so many people. It really is amazing.
I haven’t met any of the women that will be the mentees in the program. However, I do know that Elaine from JERS has three women in mind. These women come from Cuban, Sudan, and Africa. I am very excited to know that I was a part of this! And what is even more exciting is that we have our first volunteer! Laura from the Career Development Center has volunteered to become a mentor! So hopefully with this brochure, we can get many more to volunteer. There is also a panel discussion next Thursday, November 9th, at the Karpelles Manuscript Library Museum on Porter Ave. The discussion should be pretty interesting because the topic is the Plight of Refugee Women and Children. This is exactly who these organizations reach out to. I think I might go as long as I don’t have to work.


I am really looking forward to this weekend. As I do every weekend, because it means I don’t have to wake up early! I am not a morning person by any means. And I have a date on Friday! So I’m excited for that too! With that being said, I have to get ready for work. It should be another exciting day at Wegmans……

Continue reading "the countdown is on!" »

Posted by Kelly at 03:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack