“So, what can you tell me about Salvin?” I messaged my friend two weeks ago.
“It was the best experience of my life,” she replied.
The seniors split off twice a year for a week. One group goes on Kairos, our senior retreat. The other half has their Senior Service Week, each student working at a different service site, ranging from elementary schools to food banks. I completed my senior service at Sophia T. Salvin Special Education Center in downtown Los Angeles.
I worked for four days in a classroom with disabled children. They couldn’t walk, talk, and in some circumstances, completely understand the people around them. I fed them, spoke to them about the ongoing events of the world, and sat with them, comforting them in any moment of apparent distress. I wheeled them into class and back out at the end of the day, onto the buses that took them to and from school from all over Los Angeles. I worked alongside teachers and nurses. We had endless conversations throughout the day, most about the students and the jobs the workers did there. They expressed kindness and understanding, taught me to the point where I could do certain tasks without any help. They loved their job. I could see that in every one of their actions and words with the students. The students, teachers, and nurses were some of the most inspiring individuals I’ve ever met.
They were long days, sitting in a single classroom several hours at a time, but they were some of the finest days I’ve ever lived. I could have worked at other service sites, but I chose this one for experience, and that is what I received. I wanted to see more of the world, the people who lived within it. I didn’t just get to see them. I became inspired by them.
I agree with my friend. It truly was the best experience of my life.
“It was the best experience of my life,” she replied.
The seniors split off twice a year for a week. One group goes on Kairos, our senior retreat. The other half has their Senior Service Week, each student working at a different service site, ranging from elementary schools to food banks. I completed my senior service at Sophia T. Salvin Special Education Center in downtown Los Angeles.
I worked for four days in a classroom with disabled children. They couldn’t walk, talk, and in some circumstances, completely understand the people around them. I fed them, spoke to them about the ongoing events of the world, and sat with them, comforting them in any moment of apparent distress. I wheeled them into class and back out at the end of the day, onto the buses that took them to and from school from all over Los Angeles. I worked alongside teachers and nurses. We had endless conversations throughout the day, most about the students and the jobs the workers did there. They expressed kindness and understanding, taught me to the point where I could do certain tasks without any help. They loved their job. I could see that in every one of their actions and words with the students. The students, teachers, and nurses were some of the most inspiring individuals I’ve ever met.
They were long days, sitting in a single classroom several hours at a time, but they were some of the finest days I’ve ever lived. I could have worked at other service sites, but I chose this one for experience, and that is what I received. I wanted to see more of the world, the people who lived within it. I didn’t just get to see them. I became inspired by them.
I agree with my friend. It truly was the best experience of my life.