Call to Action Day Official Final Reflection

Call to Action Day on October 11 was a great way to bring the NDNU community together in order to give service to others and help those in need. My Freshman Seminar class went to E. Palo Alto to volunteer at the Ecumenical Hunger Program. We arrived at the site near eleven in the morning and we ate our lunch first thing to have it out of the way. After finishing our meals, we were all put to work by one of the staff. I was tasked to load canned goods and packaged protein with Yuhan. I admit that it was very hard work because the items were heavy. We had to lift the items onto carts and then open them so we could place them on the shelves where they belong. Stacking the canned goods was not that bad; but my arms became tired quicker than I expected because they were heavy to carry around when they were still packaged. We were only there for about three hours but I felt satisfied with the work I did. I did my best to maintain good effort and patience because I knew all the work would be worth it. I was thrilled to find out that all of the items, shelves, and packages we put together and organized were going to be of help to the families coming the following day to receive food and other necessities. I did enjoy doing Call to Action Day because I wanted to help other people through service.

            Overall, Call to Action Day for me was successful. But, I would very much like to see more options in the future because I think that more people would be more willing to go and be interested if there was a variety of choices on where to go for Call to Action Day. My experience with the registration for Call to Action Day was fairly easy. I had no issues with it because Dr. Martin registered us and handed us the papers we needed to fill out and give back to her. I know other people had issues with registering but I did not. I feel that if the professors registered their classes for the services they are doing, the whole process would be much easier and there would not be any confusion. It is great that NDNU is active in doing Call to Action Day because it brings our small community together to help and give our time and services to others who are in need. 

Call to Action Day (After) Reflection

For my Freshman Seminar class, we went to participate and volunteer in E. Palo Alto at the Ecumenical Hunger Program. We started our day around ten in the morning and even though the bus ran late, all of us were just sitting in the quad talking to each other. When we arrived at our site, we had lunch first and then set off to work. I was tasked with unloading canned goods from their packaging and placing them on the shelves where they were supposed to go. I had Yuhan with me and she and I worked together for all of the two hours we had. I found the work to be tiring because of the heavy lifting and stocking. But it was so worth it because I knew I was helping not only the staff of the program, but also the families who would soon come in to get their food. Looking at the small warehouse the program had to stock all the food that it had, I was impressed with just how much good quality items were available for the families. I was thrilled to be a part of this service because it helps me to think about not taking for granted all of the things I am lucky to have. Services and volunteering in a program like this makes me think about us taking advantage of what we have and not appreciating them. I truly enjoyed volunteering at the program and giving my time because I know that the families who come in to get their food packages will be happy. Call to Action Day brought the NDNU community together because we all worked as small units wherever we volunteered to help others in need.

Call to Action Day - Before (Pre-Reflection)

When the three pods met yet again at the Taube Center last Wednesday, October 5, 2016, we discussed the upcoming event of Call to Action Day. The three pods gathered together to do a few activities during the session. The first one was pick a partner, someone who we did not really know, and spend a few minutes with them answering a questionnaire given to us by the professors. I enjoyed that since the questions pertained to Call to Action Day. For my Freshman Seminar class, we are set to go participate and help in the Ecumenical Hunger Program in E. Palo Alto. I am looking forward to helping packaged goods for families who are in need of food and other items because I have participated in services like this before and I enjoyed doing something for the community in that way. I am looking forward to spending a few hours at the program to help and give my time knowing that it will all be worth it because I am helping other people.

ER2

For my 2nd event reflection, I attended the BBQ that NDNU hosted in the quad on September 16, 2016. The event occurred early evening and I attended around 7 P.M. There were not many people present but those who attended were great to be around. I spent time with two of my friends and mingled with others while eating cotton candy and flavored snow cones. I had already eaten dinner so I decided not to have the hot dogs they had ready to be served even though it looked delicious. There was also a sketch artist at the event and I had my portrait sketched. The artist was quick and I liked the way my sketch turned out. I also spoke to a few of the upperclassmen who were there and the staff who were working the different stations: the check-in people and the ones who served cotton candy and flavored snow cones. Since it was a Friday night, I was glad to be there with the small group of people who attended. They also played music which was nice. Overall, I had a good time. I think that an event like this is a great way to have the students come together and spend time with one another. The NDNU community will become even closer with events like this.

ER1

For my first event, I attended the pool party NDNU’s Black Student Union hosted on Saturday, September 10, 2016. A number of people showed up at the event and it was very entertaining. It was hosted from 12–4 pm, and I went with a few friends. The atmosphere was light; and everyone who attended just enjoyed each other's company and either swam in the pool or just talked in small groups in the lounge chairs. I feel that a get-together like this is beneficial for the school community; it is even better because NDNU is a relatively small campus and the students can meet new people and come to know soon–to–be familiar faces. Because I went with a few of my friends, I found myself having a nice and relaxing time right from the beginning. I did not feel hesitant to meet new people or even just having them near me because everyone seemed nice and welcoming. The people who attended talked with their own groups of friends and it was nice to see because at least they were communicating with one another. Not only that, I also enjoyed seeing other people be comfortable and happy around each other, and it brought me joy to know that it is not always a negative thing to push one’s self out of his or her comfort zone.

As a community, it is imperative that we make the effort to come to know each other through various on-campus events. It does not have to be formal all the time either because a casual gathering like the pool party gives a comfortable setting for the people who plan to attend. The pool party was a great way to enliven the community spirit because it helped bring the students together to make new friends and come to know each other better. Since some students can be shy and reserved, an event such as the BSU pool party is an efficient way to get them to branch out of their comfort zone. And hopefully, with this event, the students will be more encouraged to attend future school events that will occur throughout the year.

Orientation Engagement Experience

Upon meeting with the three pods for the first time, I am thrilled to say that it went really well. A number of us already knew each other from Golden Fleece Week and it was finally time to continue blooming acquaintances and friendships through our Freshman Seminar classes. I really enjoyed the activities the three pods had to do on the first day we met down at the Taube Center because I feel that even though it seemed awkward and uncomfortable at first, it was the best way to break the ice. I noticed that in the beginning most students were quiet. Some seemed tired and I understood because it was the first day of school and the Freshman Seminar classes did not start until late afternoon. Separating the times between the classrooms and the Taube Center is a very efficient way to get all three classes/pods to engage. I feel that in the classroom, the class is more intimate and lecture-based which is great because we receive the foundations and materials we need to learn and know about for our specific pod. With gathering in the Taube Center on certain days, I feel that it is a more relaxed setting because we are only doing activities and spend time with each other. I very much enjoyed the first meeting the three pods had together and I look forward for more to come.