Naomi Edwards
Professor Kristin Ruccio
English 1101
October 29, 2014
The Ideology of Being a Child Volunteer
The famous author Lewis Baldwin once wrote, “The eyes of a child are the eyes unseen, so the eyes are wise.” Baldwin believes that children can tell us more about life because they are so young, and naïve, and sometimes have the simplest answers to what we think are the hardest problems in our lives. I have personal experience with this topic because I work at a Saturday school for young children near GSU. The school specializes in helping young children in areas they struggle with in school, while still providing them with life lessons and various extracurricular activities. I think this has changed me in a way I could never have imagined simply because these kids are making me realize how appreciative I should be, as well as how I can influence them in a positive way to help them be more successful in life.
One of the children I work with is namedSahrib. She is a four-year-old girl and in my short time being there, I have already learned so much from her. For example, when asked how old she was she told me four, and then asked if I was four or five, and if that was not enough, when she heard that I was eighteen, she proceeded to call me a baby. Aside from her humor, her young age has taught me how much potential she has, and how hanging around these “big kids” at the Saturday school makes her want to read, write, and prosper just like them. At four years old, she is already one of the smartest little four-year-olds I have ever met. She has also taught me that when crying does not work, try to negotiate. For instance, when her ball was taken away by another kid, she started crying, and when that did not work she offered him a cookie, and he gave her the ball back while he ate. Sahrib is an influence that I hope to look back on and remember for years to come. By learning from her and other kids like her at the school, my ideology has changed tremendously. As a psychology major, I am used to looking at the problems or defects kids have, like autism or ADHD. However, working at the school has made me realize that sometimes extra attention or care is something that can help a child greatly. These kids live in less than average homes and have parents that work continuously throughout the day, so attention is something that is not always presented to them.
The children of Bethel Methodist Saturday school have encouraged me to be a better person overall. Studies conducted on youth and young adults “suggest that volunteering reduces the likelihood of engaging in problem behaviors such as school truancy and drug abuse”(Wilson). Throughworking with these kids, I have also learned how to react to the people of Atlanta. For example, I have been more giving to the homeless people who ask for food or money. Not all of them have kids or have a connection to my kids, however, just knowing that they are struggling like some of my kids are now, makes me more compassionate and willing to give them what they ask for. I see Atlanta as a community project instead of a place of attractions because of those special kids. They have taught me to be more giving and to help those less fortunate, but I would like to think that I have taught them things as well, maybe I have changed their ideologies too.
We have heard the saying, “If you don’t learn anything at all from me, at least remember this…” I would like to think that I’ve taught my kids all of the fundamentals: reading, writing, math, and maybe even some biology and history knowledge. However, there are two things that I hope they gain from their time with me, and that I hope will forever change their view of people, themselves, and even the world. The first thing would be for them to know that there are no limits and that there is no one on this earth who can tellthem they cannot do something. In our society today, kids are subjected to pressures and ideas of doubt that cause many of them to believe their biggest dreams are not possible, but I try to teach them that their dreams will come true through working hard. I always tell them the FDR quote my father used to say to me: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” My second nugget of wisdom is to pray whenever they need help, are in danger, or just need someone to talk to because God will be there for them.
In conclusion, the “ideology lens” in which I look through has ultimately been altered by some people who have not even learned to tie their shoes yet. Being a volunteer has proven to lead to better test scores, higher self-esteem, and greater life satisfaction overall. The ideology and culture of being a psychology-minded college student has changed me, and I can only hope that my kids’ ideologies have changed too.
Works Cited
Wilson, John. “Volunteering.”Annual Review of Sociology.26.1 (2000): 215-40. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.