My Icon

The icon I chose to represent this year of learning was a camera.  I chose this because many of things I discovered via the Service Learning course related to visual beauty in the St. Catharines area. 
I'm not from this area, and I haven't lived here for very long.  I was unaware of the amount of local sights that there are to visit.  By attending my OOCLOs for the year, I have had the pleasure of seeing and learning about some places in St. Catharines that are beautiful.  If it were not for this class, I wouldnt have known about some of these places.  These places are beautiful and worth visiting again.  I chose the camera as my icon because I feel that this area is very photograph-worthy and should be shared with everyone.

OOCLO Reflection 6

The Elderly Need to be Remembered, Too

Reflection on Personal Learning

 

What I Did:             

The OOCLO I took place in over the Christmas holiday was to help distribute donated Christmas presents to the elderly residents at a long-term assisted living facility.  My sister works there, and help was needed in distributing the presents, because, as with the last few years, none of the other employees wanted to take time out of their Christmas morning to be there. 

Every year, donated gifts are handed out to the residents.  The staff who were working their regularly schedule shifts that morning were quite thankful that we had come in to help with the Christmas presents.  The residents are not all coherent enough to be understanding the concept of Christmas gifts, but they appreciate the time we took to chat with them.  My sister and I went on each of the 9 floors and hung the gift bags on any closed doors, and we handed gifts directly to the residents who were awake and in their rooms. 

This experience was very emotional because the residents in the nursing home had no other visitors on Christmas morning other than my sister and me.  It was very sad to see so many forgotten family members all alone on what should be a family-oriented holiday.  From the time we were there until the time we left, which was about 4 hours, we didn’t see a single visitor for any of the residents.  I had a hard time dealing with my emotions.  Between seeing the loneliness, as well as the deteriorating mental state of some of the residents, it made for a very depressing day.  I have never been in such a facility, and I assumed that the residents were just elderly and functioning fine.  I didn’t realize they were in the condition they were.  This experience makes me sad and scared for my future state of well-being when I reach an older age. 

What Have I Been Asking Myself?

Will I still have family visiting me when I reach this age?  This made me sad because many of my friends have elderly grandparents in these types of facilities, and it makes me wonder if they visit them enough, or if they simply take having their grandparents around for granted, and don’t really visit.

               

What I Learned

I learned that groups who go and sing to, read to, or play games with the elderly are really serving a great purpose in life.  So many of the residents in these facilities have no family that visits, and they truly appreciate the time spent with them.  I learned that people like my sister are rare to find, and that I truly respect what she does for a living in helping these people.  I learned that it takes a very special kind of person to be able to emotionally handle the sadness of such a facility, and to put their own sadness behind the needs of the elderly. 

I learned this when my sister was the only off-duty employee that cared enough to come in on her day off, Christmas morning, to bring a smile to the faces of people who don’t have much to smile about anymore.  The staff really appreciated us being there, and they were thankful that someone cared enough to hand out the presents.

This learning matters because one day we will all age, and it’s important that people understand that the elderly still deserve love and company.  They can’t help that they are no longer able to care for themselves, nor can they help that they have to live in an assisted living facility. The important thing is that we cherish any time we can have with our aging family members, and help them to be happy and feel like a valued member of a family. 

In light of this learning, my husband and I plan to volunteer every year distributing Christmas presents to the elderly.  We also want to start attending a program that our church offers which organized trips to local nursing homes so people can visit, play games with, or read with elderly citizens.  I believe that it may take a while to get used to the overwhelming emotion that comes with being in such an environment, but I believe that the people would truly appreciate it, so I’m willing to try and overcome my emotions in order to improve their quality of life, and sense of well-being. 




This OOCLO focused on giving back to the community and having compassion for those around us.  We need to learn to bemore empathetic and imaging ourselves when we are older; would we be happy never having visitors or anything to look forward to? This is how the current older generations are feeling: alone.  We have the ability to change their outlook on life.  Health is very much related to psychological well-being, and if we improve their moods we may very well improve their quality of life, and even their life span.  We need to be selfless and contribute some of our free time towards making others happy.

OOCLO Reflection 8

Only the Rich Can Get an Education, and This

Needs to Change!

Reflection on Civic Growth

 

What I Did:

The OOCLO that I took part in this week was the Occupy Brock movement.  There were many people in attendance, ranging from young first-year students, to graduate students.  Occupy Brock took place on February 1^st, and took place at Brock University.  This will likely be a recurring movement.

This gathering's purpose was to enable everyone to voice their thoughts about rising tuition rates, the cost of campus food, the deplorable state of the student housing, etc.  People were to raise their concerns, but it ended up resulting in some ‘heated debates’ between people.  But for the most part, the people in attendance were supporting of the cause, and not there to argue with each other. 

There was a strong sense of anger in the crowd; anger that we, as students, are basically forced to pay these crazy prices if we want to better ourselves and our lives. 

We were trying to raise awareness that so many students have issues with so many things about Brock University (and just universities in general).  We were showing our disappointment at the way these institutions are run, and the way that we are being taken advantage of. 

Student tuition rates go up every year, and it becomes harder and harder to afford post-secondary education.  Most students don’t work, or work just part time while  in school, so it becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to be able to afford schooling.  It becomes a vicious cycle.  Without schooling we can’t make enough money to go to school.  Everyone should have the opportunity for education.  No one is asking for it to be free, but tuition rates shouldn’t keep increasing at such a steady rate.  Unfortunately, the money problems don’t stop there for students.  Food on campus was another issue that was thoroughly discussed at the Occupy Brock movement.  Food prices on campus are ridiculous.  From having to pay $2.50 for a bottle of water at a vending machine, to having to pay $4.25 plus tax for a simple egg salad sandwich on white bread, the prices are astronomical everywhere one goes.  These prices are outrageous, and the students generally feel the same way, which is why we were protesting.  Not only are the tuition and food prices ridiculous, but another point the students were angry about is that whatever money is left on a meal plan at the end of the year is not refunded, but just simply kept by the university.  This is money that the student pays ahead of time to feed themselves throughout the year.  If they don’t eat the amount of food they paid for, then they should be refunded for the difference, and not have to pay it anyway.  This is a completely unfair practice that Brock University is engaging in, and it’s once again the students that suffer. 

The people gathering at Occupy Brock were offended by many of Brock’s practices, and were trying to get them changed for the good of us all. 

What Have I Been Asking Myself?

I have been wondering why places such as Australia offer free tuition to its residents, and how Canada could implement something similar.  Even if not necessarily 100 percent free tuition, but perhaps a tuition cap better than the curent one in place.  Could Canada restructure its tuition and loan regulations, and help graduates not be an average of $50,000 dollars in debt as many are?

What I Learned

I learned that anyone has the power to potentially change the minds and practices of giant corporations.  I learned this when there was a huge gathering, and will potentially be more in the future. Many people turned up at this event, and supported it, and in turn, maybe Brock will pay attention and try and correct their unfair practices and policies.  The students are the reason the university is open, so they should make things somewhere affordable for us to continue to want to be here. 

This learning matters because in the future if there are any issues in life where I may seem helpless to change the mind of the authoritative figures in charge, then maybe I can do something about it if I get enough people who believe in my cause.  We don’t have to play the hand that we’re dealt in life. 

In light of this learning, in the future I will most definitely attend events like this that are for  a good cause, and may change the course of my life in a positive manner if they become successful. 

The Occupy Brock Movement was an attempt to open the eyes of the people in charge of setting the tuition rates.  Students are not happy with the amount of debt they are in when they graduate.  It is a terrible situation to be in.  It seems like a viscious cycle: to get an education one must go into an extreme amount of debt, and then once they get a job using their expensive degree they are able to get a well-paying job, of which most of each paycheque goes to paying back their massive debt.  Why even bother with the entire cycle?  We may as well not attend university, get a job at McDonalds, and at least we are entitled to keep whatever money we make and not pay it out into debt and interest payments.

OOCLO Reflection 9

Hidden Treasures All Around Us

Personal Growth OOCLO

 

What I Did               

The OOCLO that I took part in this week was the self-guided walk through Thorold.  The day that I went on this walk was one of the beautiful sunny days that we experienced, and throughout the course of my walk I saw many other people enjoying the sights.  I’m glad that on a sunny day like this that many people in the community had the same idea; to enjoy the trail available to them instead of staying inside as many people do.  As a child, I grew up playing outside and doing outdoor activities whenever available, but children now seem to be under the spell of technology, and they sit in front of their computers or televisions instead of being active and outside.  It’s unfortunate that the children nowadays don’t seem to understand how to appreciate nature and the inherent beauty of the area we live in.  It was a very encouraging sight to see so many people utilizing this trail, and I imagine there would have been more in the summer because the locks would be full and have marine traffic.  This OOCLO was a recurring activity and was open to anyone.  It’s a public trail that’s open year-round and offers different sights depending on the season.

During this OOCLO, my husband joined me, and we were very happy to learn that such interesting things exist so close to us.  We are not originally from here, so we are generally unaware of many of the beautiful experiences this area has to offer.  Thanks to this, and other OOCLOs, we now realize how many wonderful outdoor opportunities are available nearby.  As we come from a city which is much more populated and industrialized than St. Catharines, we were pleasantly surprised to discover sights such as this Thorold walk has shown to us.  We brought a camera to document the sights, and we will definitely return in the summer to see the locks and trail with the greenery. 

During this walk we appreciated the detailed pamphlet available regarding the sights, as it was nice to learn about the history of these areas, and not just view them.  Our favorite part of this trail was seeing all the extraordinary murals.  They displayed amazing local artists, as well as some history of the area.  This walk would have been nice without the murals, but with them, it really made the trail more enjoyable and attractive. 

My expectations weren’t really great for this walk, as I’ve been on other city trails where I’m from, and they don’t have much to offer, so I expected a similar result from this walk.  I also didn’t expect my husband to enjoy himself as much as he did.  He came with me for company and wasn’t too excited to just walk a trail however he ended up enjoying himself quite a bit.  It was very neat to see the canal up close, and get a feel for how big it really is.  As I stated previously, we will return once the canal is full so we can hopefully see the locks in action.  It was a nice change for my husband and I to get out and enjoy the natural sights available to us, rather than the typical date night consisting of a movie.  Our eyes have definitely been opened as to the beautiful sights available so close, and we will definitely try and experience more outdoor activities in the future.

What Have I Been Asking Myself?

It’s unfortunate that in the past my experiences with walking trails have been so negative, because I feel like I’ve been missing out this whole time.  This has likely happened to other people, and it’s sad to think that there are so many outdoor opportunities that are going unappreciated because of previous bad experiences.  Seeing that there are actually beautiful, free trails to experience, I am now asking myself if there are more local attractions in the vicinity that we may visit.

               

What I Learned

During this OOCLO experience, I learned quite a bit.  I learned that despite my previous negative experiences with city trails, I shouldn’t discount them all because there are actually some cities/towns that put significant effort into these trails.  The locks are an amazing invention that deserves to be recognized for what they are, so I appreciate that this trail takes part along the canal so people can view the locks in action.  I learned that this area has much pride in its history and heritage, and that it puts forth a lot of effort to provide opportunities for the community to experience and appreciate what it has to offer. 

I learned this when I had a great experience on this trail.  I saw many other people taking advantage of this wonderful trail.  There were bikers, walkers, joggers, children, adults, teens, and even the elderly. 

This learning matters because it is important to know about the history of the area that one lives in.  It's important to support the local attractions because without popular attendance these places may no longer be provided with funding and may cease to exist in the future.   

In light of this learning, I will definitely be researching St. Catharines and surrounding areas for free, local attractions that my husband and I can visit.  Realizing how beautiful and interesting of a place that I live in has been very enlightening, and I intend to fully explore this area as much as possible.

               

OOCLO Reflection 10

We All Have the Ability to Help

Personal Growth OOCLO

The OOCLO that I took part in this week was to volunteer on a Thursday for the Special Needs Activity Program (SNAP) at Brock.  This program is structured to allow special needs children of various severities to come to Brock once a week, and work alongside a volunteer for a few hours. 

 During this time, the volunteer and child take part in a variety of activities.  The activities available fall in to 4 general categories: (1) Gross Motor Activities, which consist of things like soccer, basketball, dancing, etc.; (2) Small Motor Activities, which consist of things like doing puzzles, drawing, etc.; (3) Sensory Activities, which consist of such things as items with various textures and visual appeal (these are aimed at individuals with severe disabilities which aren’t able to partake in other activities); and (4) Media Activities, which consists of various video games. 

There were quite a few children at this program, and it probably totaled about 200 at least.  There were about an equal amount of volunteers, as it is best for the children to work on a one-on-one basis.  The children ranged in age from about 5-18, though the majority of children seemed to be able 8-11.  The children were all having a great time, and running around enjoying themselves.

Having stimulation like the SNAP program provides can be helpful in several ways.  Not only can it contribute to neurological improvements, but it also helps these students learn cooperative-play and how to respect each other’s differences. 

I experienced some difficulty working with the child I was with, because she had some behavioural problems, and did not listen very well.  I was getting a little bit frustrated, because it has been a while since I’ve worked with special needs children, and it was a little bit overwhelming to dive right back in to, so to speak 

The child I was with thoroughly enjoyed playing with a friend who attended the same school as her.  We played on the jungle gym, and their favorite was the giant stackable gymnastic blocks. 

I have volunteered for the SNAP program during the previous two school years, so I generally knew what to expect in this situation.  My past experience with the SNAP program, as well as the fact that I’m a Psychology major and focus on developmental Psychology, provided me a broad knowledge of how to effectively deal with the children.  I was able to successfully allow my child to play, yet at the same time make sure she was doing so in a safe and respectful manner with her peers. 

This program is a wonderful opportunity offered to both the SNAP attendees and Brock students alike.  For the children, this is a rewarding program which teaches them social skills as well as provides stimulation for their mental health.  For the Brock students, this provides a fantastic year-round program to gain valuable knowledge and experience. 

I learned that our school puts forth a very helpful and rewarding program for the children in the community who have special needs.  Brock has put forth all the equipment required to host this program, and this shows their dedication to our community. 

I learned this when I had volunteered for the SNAP program both two years ago and last year, and this program is still going strong and has more participants than ever. 

This learning is important because the community needs to know that this program is available to the students.  This program should advertise more within the Brock community so that more people can be aware of this program and be able to volunteer for it.  



Forum Posting 4

Ivan Illich: "To hell with good intentions"

Why does Illich argue that N. American students should come to Latin America to travel or study, but not to help the poor? What aspects of Illich's position are most valid or invalid in your view? Is he missing anything? Who needs to hear his message?



Re: Some truth but not entirely correct
KATRINA GRAHAM (kf08yr) (Feb 28, 2012 4:05 PM)

I think regardless of the person's attitute when they return, any help that they offer should be accepted and appreciated.  People in poorer countries should be appreciative of any help they are recieving.  No one is making people help. If they choose to, even if it's for the wrong reasons, it is still helping the people.



Meta-Reflection on Forum Posting 4

I believe that anyone who is willing to take time to go somewhere and help people, regardless of their motivation, should be appreciated.  Yes, it is true that some people travel to other countries just for the sole reason of being able to brag about it.  My viewpoint, however, is that the people they are helping are obviously in great need of the help, so these people should focus on the positive aspect: that they are getting help.  I don't think people should be bashed because they are poor, but if someone is offering help, even if their reasons for doing it aren't the right ones, the bottom line is that they are trying to better the lives of people, so it shouldn't be viewed so negatively.

Forum Posting 5

Strike- General Discussion

Re: Strike

KATRINA GRAHAM (kf08yr) (Apr 9, 2012 6:24 PM)

I think that it is unfair that the ELS teachers were being treated unfairly, however I am very against the strike.  I've been at a university before that has been on strike, and I lost a semester because of it.  I'm sick of the students being used as pawns in a game of politics.  If the ESL teachers felt they were being treated unfairly, then they need to take it up with the people who were the perpetrators.   The students are being punished for something that's not our fault.  We missed out on classes, tests, presentations, etc., and it shouldn't have happened.  I believe it was very selfish for the ESL teachers to put the students of Brock in the middle of this situation. 

Meta-Reflection on Forum Posting 5

With regards to a strike, I believe that students should never have to suffer the negative consequences that they had no control over.  In the case of the ESL teacher strike at Brock, why didn't the picketers stand and protest outside the offices of the people they have their direct problem with?  Instead, the chose to cause hours of delays for people who have paid a lot of money for their educations, and are now suffering.  I think it's completely selfish and unfair for picketers to disallow students to attend school.  We paid for the right to go to class, and we shouldn't be denied that.  If people were interested in what the strike was about, or in supporting the ESL teachers' cause, then they can do so on their own time, and of their own accord.  We shouldn't be forced to listen to them picket. 
St. Catharines has one of the highest unemployment rates in all of Canada.  If the employees we have aren't happy with the conditions of their jobs, then we should hire the many people who would love to have a job, in their place.  Not to mention that at least three of the picketers' signs had spelling/grammar mistakes.  Are these really the people we want teaching others English anyway?