Mariam Elgafy
Fall 2016 Mini-Experience
Wesley Chapel Mission Center
HAVING MANY INTERESTS IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT/INVOLVEMENT, I WAS THRILLED TO MEET OTHERS WITH THE SAME INTERESTS AND KNEW WE WOULD HAVE A GREAT TIME BRAINSTORMING IDEAS FOR PLACES TO FULFILL OUR EXPERIENCE. IN OCTOBER OF 2016, WE VISITED WESLEY CHAPEL MISSION CENTER (AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FROM PREK-HIGH SCHOOL), LOCATED DOWN THE STREET FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, ABOUT A 10 MINUTE CAR/BUS RIDE. IT COMPLETELY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE HOW IT ONLY TOOK MY GROUP FEW MINUTES OF “BRAINSTORMING” IN ORDER TO REACH THE DECISION OF GOING TO THE AFTER SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG LEARNER AND TEACHER/INSTRUCTOR, I WORK ON MENTORING STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EVEN IN PHYSICAL SPORTS. THOUGH THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL, IT WAS NOT THE LARGEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME IN THIS PROJECT. THE BIGGEST THING I TOOK AWAY WAS LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH OTHER PEERS OF DIFFERENT MINDSETS, AND LEARNING TO WORK ALONGSIDE OF THEM WITHOUT CAUSING PROBLEMS.
ONE OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THEMATIC LEARNING AREAS WAS TO IDENTIFY/DIFFERENTIATE MULTIPLE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY’S GOALS. THE MOMENT I REALIZED THAT MY PEERS HAD ALL DECIDED ON A SPECIFIC PROJECT, THAT NONE WERE EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO, I PUT IN MIND THAT EVEN THOUGH I WILL LET THEM KNOW I DID NOT FAVOR THE WAY THEY BRAINSTORMED ANY QUICK/MAINSTREAM IDEA , I WOULD STILL WORK WITH THEM AND COMPLETE THE PROJECT. WORKING IN A GROUP FULL OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS AND VIEWPOINTS IS AN EXPERIENCE IN OF ITSELF. ANY PERSON PURSING A PASSION IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, MUST POSSESS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN DEALING WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS, BALANCING TEMPERAMENT, JUDGEMENT, AND OPINION, MUST BE CREATIVE IN HOW THEY BRING THE GROUP TOGETHER, AND BE FAIR. THOUGH I DID NOT ENJOY MY TEAMMATES CHOOSING THE QUICKEST/EASIEST OPTION IN PURSING THE EXPERIENCE, I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.
THOUGH MY TEAM MATES TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT WORKING WITHIN THIS SPECIFIC GROUP, I TRULY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF. THE CHILDREN AT WCMC WERE WONDERFUL, ENGAGING, BRIGHT, AND VERY CURIOUS. THE CHILDREN TAUGHT ME, THROUGH A GAME OF BINGO, THE BEAUTY OF COLLABORATION AND UNDERSTANDING OTHERS. THEY TRULY INSPIRED ME TO KEEP WORKING WITH MY GROUP, THOUGH OUR DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND INTERESTS.