My Service Our Learning

Do you volunteer? Do you give your service to others in need? I ran a homeless shelter and drug rehab program for men for a decade. So I was asked to come and share with a group of High School students at the end of their journey. I had the great privilege of speaking to High School students who embarked on a one week Mayerson Service Learning Program. The students got to camp out at Xavier University during their stay together. They lived and collaborated with students from other high schools of diverse class, ethnic backgrounds and life experiences. This all while spending time volunteering and engaging people and children in poverty in the heart of the City of Cincinnati at some of its finest Social Service organizations. They were amazed at the realness and common concerns of those requiring services to rebuild their lives from tragic circumstances. In other words, the stereotypes of people and preconceived notions of the mindset of those homeless and impoverished were shattered with each experience and story. As they met and heard the stories of real people each student went away with a concern for how to give and experience service and volunteerism in their future. They heard from homeless women to men in homeless shelters to visiting children in social service organizations built to assist families in need. Statements were made like:

• I need to challenge myself and my beliefs more often.
• I don't always look people in the eye and give them the proper respect he or she deserves.
• I can always make an impact, even on a small scale, and that I don't have to "save everyone" to make a difference.
• I learned to be more empathetic towards people I meet and that I need to be more personal.
• When I join in with other like-minded people, we can change the world.
• I am good at making connections with others when we are both willing.
• Even though I've been homeless multiple times, I do NOT need to be embarrassed.
• My life is privileged. To take time to step into the shoes of others is truly the best way to understand another's pain. All this time, I've been showing sympathy now with this experience, I can show empathy to others in a whole new way.
• I need to be more involved in my community, listening to others' stories, and telling my own to be the influence Cincinnati needs.

All these awesome statements are from Juniors and Seniors in High School. I felt so privileged to be asked to share how amazing they are to me. And how I am hopeful for the future of our nation because of their courage and new found commitment to be an agent of change. I was equally excited to see the look of agreement that manifested as I asked them to be willing to share their experience with others in their families, neighborhoods and schools. They acknowledged the need for others to step out of their comfort zones and cross the divides in society. We are going to be a better city for the Mayerson Service Learning program.