Cherished Children

This past Monday, I volunteered at the Cherished Children's day care for 2 hours. Overall I had a great time! once we first got there and got off the bus you could see the excitement in all the kids faces. it was so cute. we first had to wash our hands before we played with the kids so we wouldnt spread any germs. Some other volunteers and I went out in the play ground to play with the kids. it was really fun as we played duck duck goose, tag, and catch with a football. there were these two kids in particular, ryan and tony, who would tackle each other once they got the ball. it was pretty funny to see but the supervisor of the playground was mad that we let them fight. it was still alot of fun though. i remember when i was a kid playing on the playground running around without a care in the world. those were the days.

Community Service 4.5 hours

This past Tuesday, I volunteered at the Shriner's Hospital for Children for 4.5 hours. This is a hospital for physically and mentally challenged children. While I was there we played wheelchair basketball. Going into this I didn't know what to expect. As we first entered the facility, I was unsure on what exactly we were supposed to be doing and how we were going to be able to play with the kids and communicate with each other. When we first started playing it was very hard to maneuver the wheelchair while holding the basketball and shooting it into the hoops, but after a while I got the hang of it. There were three patients that we were going to be playing with, Jasmine, Andrea, and Justin. As we started playing, I noticed that these the patients were more than capable of playing. It was very impressive to see them play and have a good time despite their disabilities. I had a great time playing and would enjoy going again. After we were done playing I felt that we had made a difference to these kids and their parents that were there. I could tell on their faces that they also had a good time playing and that the parents were also very happy that we came by to play with them. It made me think that sometimes I take some things for granted such as playing basketball and moving without the use of a wheelchair. Not only do I feel lucky that I am able bodied but I am also so proud of these patients and how they cope with their disabilities and still have a good time. It was a very heartwarming experience. I left with two blisters on my hands, but it was all worth it to bring joy to the patients and their parents.

Teenage Independence

In class this past week we've been talking a lot about when you are finally a teenager and when your are finally an adult. There were many very different opinions in class about when your finally an adult ranging from 18 years old to 25 years old. I noticed that each and every single person had their own opinion on when one was an adult. Some thought it was when you have no more driving curfew, some thought it was when you were able to buy alcohol, and some thought it was when you were able to rent a car. When Sal put a timeline on the board of all the ages where we thought you gained independence the class as a whole was only naming the nurture part of it. The part that were rules or laws, not what has been given naturally to us such as our first tooth or ones first gray hair or wrinkle. In society we are judged by what age we are not by what age we act. There are some 14 year olds that are mature enough to drive a car but then again there are some 16 year olds who can legally drive a car but are too immature to handle the responsibility of doing so. I feel that people shouldn't be judged on how old they are but judged on how mature they are and what they can learn from their elders and can set an example to ones younger than themselves just like in that one island off of the pacific coast. Teenagers are often judged too harshly on being a teenager but not every teen fits that stereotype of a crazy irresponsible individual. Society should that note of this and not judge a person on how old they are but how mature as a person they are and how they can receive and give back to their community.

Masculinity

In class this past week we've been talking alot about masculinity. In todays society alot of men are trying to put on this "tough guise" to show their masculinity. Even boys, small children are trying to do this. they are trying to put on a show to make themselves look tough to others and be respected. many of the people who dont show their masculinity through this disguise are often ridiculed and made fun of. words are being tossed at them such as fag and wussy and much more vulgar words. many boys are being influenced by the media. WWE for instance shows very graphic images and videos of huge jacked men throwing each other through tables and bashing each other over the heads with metal chairs. many boys watching this start to imitate the wrestlers and thats where they try "putting on a show" to display their toughness. yes, to me a real man does display a sense of independence and toughness but not to the extent it is going on today. if boys and men really want to show how manly and tough they are they should be more intact with their true feelings and take off that silly little disguise of toughness they put on.