One’s Surroundings Influencing their
Lifestyle
I
had my first service learning experience last week where I was a
helper/volunteer for the program Acts 4 Youth at the Gilford School off York
Road. I was excited but also nervous because I did not know what to expect. I
got some insight on what the boys would be like but I wanted to know more.
Right when I arrived a student opened the door for me everyone was so welcoming
and polite. I wasn’t trying to judge my surroundings but I didn’t think the
boys would be so welcoming considering what we hear about the “not so nice”
areas around the university. The front desk was also helpful and the principal
led us to our designated classroom. There were two classrooms we were going to
be working with. One had sixth graders and one seventh and eighth graders. I
was put with the older kids, which I liked because I feel like I can connect
with them. I know what it is like to be in eighth grade thinking about High
School and the different battles one can face socially. The boys introduced
themselves as did we and we got right to work. We helped them with their
homework first and I was amazed at how smart these boys are. I was helping a
student, DeJuan with his math homework and he finished the problem before I
could even understand what the problem was asking! I got to connect with the
boys and let them see that I am really here to help and allow themto feel
comfortable with me. The boys are very goofy at times but I enjoyed seeing them
have a little fun. They also have a lesson everyday that talks about
responsibility or doing the right thing.
The lesson discussed was about
problem solving and apologizing when you make a mistake. Their teacher
explained how they have been using the four A’s to go about this subject.
First, Accept, you need to accept that you did something wrong. Then, Admit,
admit that you did something wrong. Then, Apologize, you need to apologize to
the individual that you may have hurt or done something to. Lastly, I can’t
remember the last A but it involved God. The boys seem to be religious and
religion is tied into their lessons. I enjoyed seeing how they interact with
their teacher and knowing that they do know to do the right thing. After this
lesson we had dinner where we helped serve the boys and then went out for
recess. At recess I was able to just play and have fun with the boys. I was
able to see their surroundings and know what they do everyday in life. When it
was time to go a lot of them were not waiting for their parents I was so
confused. Most of them said they just walk home, which I was a little stunned
about. I felt bad getting in my car driving back to Loyola and watching the
boys walk home. One boy even said to me “O, you go to Loyola, I want to go there
one day”. It really touched my heart and I reassured them keep working hard and
they can reach their goals. I loved my service experience. Just like we dealt
with conflict and their surroundings at service each of the readings has some
kind of conflict or relation to the past where each speaker or author is
influenced by their environment.
In “The Cast of Amontillado” by
Edgar Allan Poe Montresor tells the story of how he had a conflict with his
friend, Fortunato in the past and tricks him into his death. One night at a
carnival when Fortunato is drunk he tells him that he has found this pipe, a
rare vintage Amontillado, which is an alcoholic drink. He explains how we wants
his friends opinion on the Amontillado and leads him to where he said he had
this item. Montresor leads him into the cellars of latter’s palazzo, which are
dark and moist. He ends up chaining him and buries him alive. Montresor has
taken his friends life because of a conflict in the past. It was the day he
took revenge on his friend. Even at the end of the story his friend says, “For
the love of god Montresor!” Monstresor responds, “Yes, for the love of God!” He
is fully aware what he is doing and never backs down he has no emotion to
killing his friend but does have emotion linked to their past. Montresor at the
end says, “May he rest in peace”. For
half a century no one has discovered what Montresor did or did he have any
guilt about his actions. He was influenced by his surroundings to commit the
murder.
The poem “Ode to American English”
by Barbara Hamby explains how the speaker misses America because she is in
Europe. The speaker names multiple customs or subjects that are related to the
U.S. and how she misses home. An Ode poem is talking about something the
speaker is found of which here it is America. The speaker talks about their
elegant Oxfordian accents in Europe and how she is longing for the hot dog, hot
flash vocab of the U.S. of A. The speaker is yearning for little things from
America, materialistic items such as a chili-dog or Cheerios. She does not talk
about real customs or the importance of America rather the more materialistic
side, which shows how people see life now. The speaker mentions Johnny Cash a
celebrity and how she misses him. The speaker also mentions how she yearns for
the street talk of America as I mentioned before. The speaker misses America
not for the land we live on but for the materialistic ideas our culture has
produced.
The poem “Suburban” by John Ciardi
introduces a conflict between two neighbors who don’t seem to see eye to eye.
Mr. Ciardi has a neighbor who calls him and says that his dog pooped in her
garden and she would like him to remove it. He explains that his dog is not
even at his house that day. Mr. Ciardi apologizes and disposes of the poop
anyways. The opposite occurs then what you think is going to happen since it is
not Mr. Ciardi’s dog that caused the problem. It’s ironic that he says it
wasn’t his dog but picks it up anyway. It is also ironic because the remains
would simply decompose in her garden but she needs it removed. Mr. Ciardi
actually took the remains and put it in his lawn where he buried it. The
speaker is showing the way of life in suburban areas because the woman is so
concerned about her lawn. The surroundings of where they live influence the way
the characters act.
My service experience as well as all
three readings all explains a certain way of like. Each topic shows how people
can be influenced by their surroundings. This is not intentional but only
adapted from being human.
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