10 Hours Community Service

For my 10 hours of community service, I volunteered at my YMCA in Morris County. What I did was I taught little kids how to swim. When I first found out what I was going to do I was a little nervous because I don’t know how to do the backstroke, but I do swim everyday. They told me that I would be fine because I was going to just be helping the instructor. So I helped teach this one class that met three times a week. These kids were 6-8 years old. We had five kids and three were boys and two were girls. As soon as I saw these kids I fell in love. I had one Spanish girl, one African American, and one Chinese boy, the rest were white. For the most part the kids listened very well and they actually were improving. I have to admit that there were days that they would not listen, and then I had to say something and get them under control. I feel like I benefited from this because I have to learn how to be stern and let them know who is in charge. After I spoke up they calmed down, but it was like if one started to act up, they all did. I also couldn’t stop laughing with these kids. These kids would say the most random and interesting things about their families and themselves. There were times that I shouldn’t have laughed, but it was hysterical! And I can’t say enough how smart these kids are. They remember every little thing you say and do. One day the little Spanish girl, Alissa, was crying and crying and wouldn’t stop. I didn’t know what to do because she was so loud and her mother didn’t even come over to see what was wrong. I decided to act like a kid and do some goofy things to make her laugh. It definitely worked! On my last day, I let the kids and parents know that it was my last day and I had three different parents come up to me and tell me how much their child loves having me help teach and that they thought I was great with the kids. That made me feel so good about myself and gave me more confidence about teaching. My biggest accomplishment I think was the fact that the one Chinese boy, Kevin, wasn’t able to do the tickle-tee-snap stroke in the beginning, but by my last day, he got it down and I was so proud of him.
I had such a great time with these kids. Knowing that I am helping these kids and having them succeed is an amazing feeling.