My second experience with Project Angel Heart was quite different than my initial experience. David, Jake and I volunteered to deliver meals on a Saturday shift to the terminally ill who were unable to provide for themselves. Already aware of the meticulous process through which these meals are prepared and packaged having participated in it myself, I was excited to witness the more interactive side of Project Angel Heart. Being a people person, the delivery part of the service project seemed like something I would find very gratifying. I figured that we would arrive at the warehouse, receive a bag of our meals and a map of our delivery route and then be sent on our way to deliver nutrition to the feeble. I, however, was quite incorrect. There are many aspects that I did not consider with this type of work especially in terms of liability and privacy. Upon our arrival, we checked in with the staff and were then given a yellow handout. On this paper were the restrictions for us as pertaining to "patient confidentiality". When my Dad's mother died, people would bring meals over to our house quite often. They would ring the doorbell, introduce themselves, ask me how I was and how my family was doing, and usually I would invite them into our house. The yellow sheet I received at Project Angel Heart told me that I was not allowed to enter the household of the meal recipient, not allowed to ask them how they were, not allowed to run errands for them or take them anywhere. After initially reading over it, I realized how specified our duties were. Even though I consider "how are you?" to be a polite and considerate way to start a conversation, asking the terminally ill how they are would obviously be quite inconsiderate. I realized that without them having told me that, I would have never given a second thought to how I greeted them when I went to the door. Shortly after we had finished being briefed on the protocols of the delivery process, the grunt work began. After a series of facts about the deliveries that were going out that day, I was once again amazed at the precision of the organization. I realize now that service groups like Project Angel Heart run with the same sort of stress and intensity that a business corporation would, it was just the sense of giving and the gratification of serving the community that kept the homely, informal atmosphere alive. Each volunteer was given his cart of food, a map, and specific client information on the people we were delivering to. How thorough they were once again astounded me.
The delivery process what somewhat painless, the houses were in relatively close proximity to each other and we did not have huge difficulties finding them. I was surprised however that this was not the personal interactive experience I had hoped for. I found myself apprehensive, an emotion I rarely experience due to my adventurous personality. I realized that even after reading the literature and discussing the different ways society views illness and those afflicted with them, I was still uncomfortable in the situation. For all of my affluence, never have I dealt with the terminally ill on a personal level. Not that handing someone a bag a food gives you a personal relationship with them, but when they answered the door I found myself thinking two completely different things. One was that I would like to return to my school where this sadness is not a presence, a childish feeling, but a though I had none the less. The second was that I wanted to enter the house, look at how they lived, how their lives differed from mine. I wanted to see how they live their days, how they interact with friends and loved ones, how they were dealing with their illness. I was curious of the medications they were required to take, the intensity of it all. When I was walking towards the door, I found that I was reviewing the things that I was not supposed to do in my head, reminding myself of my restrictions. Even with all that, I still almost instinctively started my conversation with "how are you?", but remembering that was taboo here I swallowed those words. "Hello", I greeted them as sweetly as possible with a smile to go with it. They simply took the bag from my hand, gave me a half smile, and shut the door without a word. My smile faded as I walked back towards the car.
It was only then that I realized my true position in the scheme of things. These people did not view me as their salvation or as the bearer of nutrition, they saw me for exactly what I was. A youth volunteer delivering meals for an organization. Though I was doing a good dead, this was something that they dealt with each week. A new face, a different volunteer. This was not an opportunity for human connection, I was restricted from doing anything but hand them their food with a verbal impersonal greeting attached. There was no possibility of having a personal relationship, we were prohibited from socializing, dating, running errands, or even being in each other's residences. Even though we were reaching out to the victims, there was a wall built for us to separate us from them. Even with the notion of doing community service, we served them from the other side of the wall, where the healthy reside. The world of terminal illness comes with an entirely new set of rules and etiquette that is hard to understand without experiencing it either personally or through someone close to you. The delivery portion of the service learning project made me feel like I was contributing to a greater good, but in terms of my individual self-interest I felt as though I didn't gain much more than a new insight.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The First Service Learning Log
Date of Shift: 26 April 2008 Hours worked: 3
Part One:
I didn’t know what to expect when I was pulling up to the Project Angel-Heart warehouse. In my mind, the only other time I hears of people going to a warehouse was in reference to one of the infamous warehouse parties of my high school a few years back. Project Angel-Heart’s warehouse was nothing like that. Quite frankly, I was surprised by how modern and organized the building was. This is not to say that I expected the organization to be substandard, simply that non-profit organizations usually have some signs of being unable to obtain finances for everything that would like to do. This is most certainly not the case for Angel Heart. For some reason, I found that thought comforting. I like the thought that I am contributing to something that is established in what they are doing and what their purpose is. We walked into the door on the right which led us into a room full of cubicles that serve as offices for the people that work at Project Angel Heart, it looked as though there were a couple of people that had earned the luxury of having their own offices which could be found along the wall in the same room. Although it had the same feel as a corporate office in it’s setup, it felt like a place where people had more of a sense of community. It felt like a place where people came to work everyday to fulfill of piece of themselves instead of their checking accounts. There are few places where monetary gain is not the goal. It’s a strange sensation to figure out how relaxing it is to be in a place where money is not the focus; it decreases the tension in your body. I always forget how much that one aspect can change the way the enironment makes you feel. After telling the lady in the office we were DU students, she kindly answered our questions and led us to the kitchen.
When I was told that I was to be doing a “food preparation”, I did not envision working in a state-of-the-art kitchen, staffed and sterile. The majority of the people working in the kitchen were middle age adults; the exceptions being David, Jake, myself, and the girl who stood to my right. The head chef, at least I believe that’s what he was, asked us to help to finish peeling the carrots. Initially, David and I peeled the carrots then chopped them up into bite size pieces. Though after we looked around, we realized all the carrots on the table were whole carrots. Our realization hit us just as the woman on the other side of the table informed me that you were only supposed to chop off the ends of the carrots. We thought the industrial size knives had been for chopping. I blushed quietly and turned my focus back to the task at hand. Peeling carrots, though far from being an exciting task, became a competition between Jake, David, and I. Though two or three carrots into it, I realized they peeled carrots far faster than I did. I withdrew for my own safety, rushing my task would only lead to me accidentally hurting myself with the sharp object. It was better for me to take it slow.
After the carrots, we had the privilege of ladling soup into Styrofoam containers, putting the tops on, and placing them in the crate type boxes. Five soups bowls by six soup bowls, two layers deep, each crate held sixty single servings of soup. The amount of soup they had prepared was astonishing. We could only ladle the soup containers three-fourths full so that they don’t explode during the freezing process. I found it interesting how meticulous they were about keeping the different types of soup separate, the amount of food in each container, and the general process of tasks throughout the kitchen. David, Jake would ladle the soup into the containers and cleanly as possible and I would place the tops on and put them in the crate. Even though casually assembled, forming a team to increase our productivity was something that came to us naturally. Since we arrived late from the traffic, we were all assigned to the same table and thus at ease to form this assembly line technique. I briefly spoke to the girl on my other side, but she had volunteered for an assignment from school as well. I began to ask her the different questions that I was considering during my shift in the kitchen. I asked her what community service meant to her and if she volunteered her time often. She didn’t have any meaningful answers for me; she merely shrugged her shoulders, giggled, and repeated that she was required to volunteer for school. We packaged the soup for so long that my arms began to ache, but before I could complain it was time for cleaning up.
I was assigned to the task of cleaning the tables with soapy water and then drying them with a rag. Usually I would only clean the surface of the table, but here that was not the case. The head chef specifically told me to clean in between the tables and on the sides because that’s where the things that can made the clients sick live. There were a couple of women who were mopping the floors around us as we continued to clean the kitchen. Despite how many times I tried to be friendly to them, they refused to look me in the eye or bother responding once. They would talk to the other clean-up staff, the man who worked with the dishwashing machine in the back, and of course her boss, but she would not speak to any of us. It was strange to think that someone in such a friendly environment could be unwelcome and altogether unresponsive to any attempts of friendliness. Tom, the head chef, made us cinnamon rolls as a treat; they were covered in frosting. I helped finish mopping the floor and putting things away and finally it was time to go home. I can’t say that time went by quickly, but I enjoyed my time preparing food for Project Angel-Heart.
Part Two:
Volunteering helped me to remember that I enjoy giving to those less fortunate. Though our generation has been raised with the mantra “time is money” in our ears, service work is undeniably satisfying. After volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, I realized that I would like to volunteer on a constant basis. At Project Angel-Heart, I did not feel as strong of a pull to return. The atmosphere was lovely and the people were informative and sweet natured, but I didn’t get the same sense of accomplishment walking out the door as I did when I participated in mission trips and Habitat for Humanity during my childhood. Though I enjoyed preparing the food, it made me realize that I prefer to participate in the more action-based part of service work. I like seeing the progress we’ve made building a house or reconstructing the roof. I believe the delivery part of the service project will prove to be much more satisfactory to me. Physically giving them the food would be a much more meaningful and personal experience to me. The contact between the volunteer and those they are helping is what helps me see the good we’re putting into the world. Even though I know preparing food is the first step to the process, the interaction with the people is what intrigues me most. I believe this realization will help me to pick organizations I will enjoy participating in next time I choose to volunteer.
Part One:
I didn’t know what to expect when I was pulling up to the Project Angel-Heart warehouse. In my mind, the only other time I hears of people going to a warehouse was in reference to one of the infamous warehouse parties of my high school a few years back. Project Angel-Heart’s warehouse was nothing like that. Quite frankly, I was surprised by how modern and organized the building was. This is not to say that I expected the organization to be substandard, simply that non-profit organizations usually have some signs of being unable to obtain finances for everything that would like to do. This is most certainly not the case for Angel Heart. For some reason, I found that thought comforting. I like the thought that I am contributing to something that is established in what they are doing and what their purpose is. We walked into the door on the right which led us into a room full of cubicles that serve as offices for the people that work at Project Angel Heart, it looked as though there were a couple of people that had earned the luxury of having their own offices which could be found along the wall in the same room. Although it had the same feel as a corporate office in it’s setup, it felt like a place where people had more of a sense of community. It felt like a place where people came to work everyday to fulfill of piece of themselves instead of their checking accounts. There are few places where monetary gain is not the goal. It’s a strange sensation to figure out how relaxing it is to be in a place where money is not the focus; it decreases the tension in your body. I always forget how much that one aspect can change the way the enironment makes you feel. After telling the lady in the office we were DU students, she kindly answered our questions and led us to the kitchen.
When I was told that I was to be doing a “food preparation”, I did not envision working in a state-of-the-art kitchen, staffed and sterile. The majority of the people working in the kitchen were middle age adults; the exceptions being David, Jake, myself, and the girl who stood to my right. The head chef, at least I believe that’s what he was, asked us to help to finish peeling the carrots. Initially, David and I peeled the carrots then chopped them up into bite size pieces. Though after we looked around, we realized all the carrots on the table were whole carrots. Our realization hit us just as the woman on the other side of the table informed me that you were only supposed to chop off the ends of the carrots. We thought the industrial size knives had been for chopping. I blushed quietly and turned my focus back to the task at hand. Peeling carrots, though far from being an exciting task, became a competition between Jake, David, and I. Though two or three carrots into it, I realized they peeled carrots far faster than I did. I withdrew for my own safety, rushing my task would only lead to me accidentally hurting myself with the sharp object. It was better for me to take it slow.
After the carrots, we had the privilege of ladling soup into Styrofoam containers, putting the tops on, and placing them in the crate type boxes. Five soups bowls by six soup bowls, two layers deep, each crate held sixty single servings of soup. The amount of soup they had prepared was astonishing. We could only ladle the soup containers three-fourths full so that they don’t explode during the freezing process. I found it interesting how meticulous they were about keeping the different types of soup separate, the amount of food in each container, and the general process of tasks throughout the kitchen. David, Jake would ladle the soup into the containers and cleanly as possible and I would place the tops on and put them in the crate. Even though casually assembled, forming a team to increase our productivity was something that came to us naturally. Since we arrived late from the traffic, we were all assigned to the same table and thus at ease to form this assembly line technique. I briefly spoke to the girl on my other side, but she had volunteered for an assignment from school as well. I began to ask her the different questions that I was considering during my shift in the kitchen. I asked her what community service meant to her and if she volunteered her time often. She didn’t have any meaningful answers for me; she merely shrugged her shoulders, giggled, and repeated that she was required to volunteer for school. We packaged the soup for so long that my arms began to ache, but before I could complain it was time for cleaning up.
I was assigned to the task of cleaning the tables with soapy water and then drying them with a rag. Usually I would only clean the surface of the table, but here that was not the case. The head chef specifically told me to clean in between the tables and on the sides because that’s where the things that can made the clients sick live. There were a couple of women who were mopping the floors around us as we continued to clean the kitchen. Despite how many times I tried to be friendly to them, they refused to look me in the eye or bother responding once. They would talk to the other clean-up staff, the man who worked with the dishwashing machine in the back, and of course her boss, but she would not speak to any of us. It was strange to think that someone in such a friendly environment could be unwelcome and altogether unresponsive to any attempts of friendliness. Tom, the head chef, made us cinnamon rolls as a treat; they were covered in frosting. I helped finish mopping the floor and putting things away and finally it was time to go home. I can’t say that time went by quickly, but I enjoyed my time preparing food for Project Angel-Heart.
Part Two:
Volunteering helped me to remember that I enjoy giving to those less fortunate. Though our generation has been raised with the mantra “time is money” in our ears, service work is undeniably satisfying. After volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, I realized that I would like to volunteer on a constant basis. At Project Angel-Heart, I did not feel as strong of a pull to return. The atmosphere was lovely and the people were informative and sweet natured, but I didn’t get the same sense of accomplishment walking out the door as I did when I participated in mission trips and Habitat for Humanity during my childhood. Though I enjoyed preparing the food, it made me realize that I prefer to participate in the more action-based part of service work. I like seeing the progress we’ve made building a house or reconstructing the roof. I believe the delivery part of the service project will prove to be much more satisfactory to me. Physically giving them the food would be a much more meaningful and personal experience to me. The contact between the volunteer and those they are helping is what helps me see the good we’re putting into the world. Even though I know preparing food is the first step to the process, the interaction with the people is what intrigues me most. I believe this realization will help me to pick organizations I will enjoy participating in next time I choose to volunteer.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Last course blog reflection
Here's Shaun's reflection and question for the rest of class:
Our objective for the quarter was to focus on the issues of illness, civic engagement and the rhetoric of the public good. We have volunteered for Project Angel Heart, thus taking part in service learning. Hopefully we have been shaped by our experiences. For my final paper, I argue that service learning should be institutionalized into the curriculum of higher learning. It provides an opportunity for students to apply course concepts to the real world. For me, I was able to apply leadership techniques that I learned from the Pioneer Leadership Program into civic programs. I believe that service learning puts the student (or even the professional) into a friendlier environment where they are encouraged to support others. If an individual is not primarily concerned with their own self-interest, then he can operate as part of a more cohesive team. They can then take those practices, that state of mind, back into the business world. I argue that civic engagement along with service learning can change a person’s frame of mind, and it even has the potential to change society. If colleges seize the opportunity, they can better shape and prepare their students for the real world. If the leaders of tomorrow have a better grasp of what the world looks like, then they can make more of a difference. Civic engagement undermines the selfishness that accompanies capitalism. America has become extremely individualistic and self-centered.
We focused on civic engagement this quarter and examined the perspectives of respected philosophers. Based on our learning, do you agree with my argument, that service learning should be institutionalized into the college curriculum? What are your personal views on the subject? What are your experiences? Do you think that service learning has enhanced your educational experience?
Our objective for the quarter was to focus on the issues of illness, civic engagement and the rhetoric of the public good. We have volunteered for Project Angel Heart, thus taking part in service learning. Hopefully we have been shaped by our experiences. For my final paper, I argue that service learning should be institutionalized into the curriculum of higher learning. It provides an opportunity for students to apply course concepts to the real world. For me, I was able to apply leadership techniques that I learned from the Pioneer Leadership Program into civic programs. I believe that service learning puts the student (or even the professional) into a friendlier environment where they are encouraged to support others. If an individual is not primarily concerned with their own self-interest, then he can operate as part of a more cohesive team. They can then take those practices, that state of mind, back into the business world. I argue that civic engagement along with service learning can change a person’s frame of mind, and it even has the potential to change society. If colleges seize the opportunity, they can better shape and prepare their students for the real world. If the leaders of tomorrow have a better grasp of what the world looks like, then they can make more of a difference. Civic engagement undermines the selfishness that accompanies capitalism. America has become extremely individualistic and self-centered.
We focused on civic engagement this quarter and examined the perspectives of respected philosophers. Based on our learning, do you agree with my argument, that service learning should be institutionalized into the college curriculum? What are your personal views on the subject? What are your experiences? Do you think that service learning has enhanced your educational experience?
Monday, May 26, 2008
Service Learning Log 1
During this shift we delivered meals to the people with deadly illnesses that cannot
support themselves. This is a great idea that truly helps out the community. Project Angel
Heart is a very good and beneficial nonprofit that truly has the public’s best interest in mind.
Upon arrival I was expecting a long briefing process but this did not happen. We walked in and
all we really had to do was sign a few forms and we got our route map along with our food. A
nice woman took us through the forms with a smile on her face. She thanked us and we were
on our way. Every stop went very smoothly. We had a little trouble finding the first house but
after that everything went very well. Each person we encountered was very friendly and
appreciative of the food they received. We did not sit around too much and chat with anyone;
we kept our eyes on the prize.
Delivering meals to people who were less fortunate then myself did not make me feel
that I was changing the world. I didn’t feel that I was totally changed as person, nor did I feel
that I was any better of a person. I was simply a person in a position to help others that seized
the opportunity. I did not feel like a savior nor was a I one. I am a kid that helped out a few
people in need. I did not stop hunger in Denver but I helped stop it. I dedicated my time which
was enough to help a few people in need. In fact the biggest impact I made that day was not on
the city, nor was it on myself; it was the people I served. I gave a few people meals that they
need to get through there tough weeks. I felt good about what I accomplished that day but I
couldn’t help to think… “It’s really easy to help people in need and what if everyone in the city
contributed to stopping hunger?” This is a question that I will probably not lose sleep over but
it is a pressing issue. I learned a lot about the power of service that day and how much of an
impact it has on the people who are served. That in fact may have been the best feeling I felt
all day.
Service Learning Log 2
On this sunny day the other volunteers and I spent our time helping out the less
fortunate by preparing meals. This was a very fulfilling and good experience. I had a lot of fun
doing this. On this day there were about eight other volunteers. Some people were chopping
vegetables while others were cutting meat. My job was to fold tortillas and put them into
plastic bags. There were roughly five hundred tortillas so this was quite a big task. This was not
with classmates and other volunteers. This made the time fly and gave me something to do
while I folded tortillas. When I first got there I washed my hands. After doing this an intern
chef assigned me my task and showed me how to do the job. After my briefing I sat and did my
task of folding tortillas for most of the day. Halfway through my shift one of chefs made nachos
which gave me a great break from folding. It was around dinner time so the nachos really hit
the spot. Everyone finished their tasks around 7:30. At this time we began the cleanup
process. My job was to throw things away and wash some of the tables. Other volunteers had
to sweep and mop the floors while the chefs transferred the food to the huge walk in freezer.
After the cleanup process I washed my hands again, said my good byes and left Project Angel
Heart feeling good about myself and the situation.
I have done a lot of service work in high school through different organizations and my
church. I really enjoy doing this kind of work and I feel that I benefit from it as well as the
community. This experience did not really shape my values but it did reinforce them. I realized
that I am very lucky because I am not dying from a deadly illness. I have my health and I am
very lucky. Because I have been so blessed I feel that I am obligated to serve the less fortunate.
We were all created equal so I feel that it is my duty to help people out because they are just
like me. This experience really enriches my learning at DU because I learn things from service
learning that I may not be able to learn in a classroom. Overall this was a very good experience
and I am glad that I did it.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Service Learning Log 2- Keren
Date of Shift: May 1, 2008 Hours worked: 3.5
On Thursday night, Austin, Michelle, and I set out to be ambassadors for Project Angel Heart’s Dining Out For Life at Chez Jose in Cherry Creek. We dressed up nicely, and had our ambassador bag ready to go. Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were all a little taken a back by the environment. It felt very much like a fast food restaurant, rather than a nice family restaurant, which we all seemed to be expecting. We approached the staff about why we were there, but there was no manager on duty. We were pretty much on our own.
After giving the bartender a “Dining Out For Life” We set up our own corner toward the back of the small restaurant, where we laid out our materials for convenience, and prepared for the job. At about six o’clock, we began approaching tables. Michelle and I approached a table as they were waiting for their food. I began explaining what Dining Out For Life was for. Having little practice approaching customers this way, I ended up talking for a long time. It seemed that the table lost interest. Still, we left the envelope there and told them we would be back to pick it up. I felt pretty intrusive, as Chez Jose is a fast food restaurant, where it seems that people want to be in and out of there fairly fast. Michelle helped me understand the effectiveness of speaking quickly and “to the point”. She approached a couple of tables, and speaking quickly worked well, as she presumed. This way, if people wanted, they could ask more questions. And if not, they were not disturbed by our approach.
Unfortunately, Austin didn’t have much luck getting people interested in what we were providing. In fact, with one couple he approached, the man said, “I’m not interested, thank you.” However, when Michelle and I approached a table near by him, he was intrigued, and asked us to return to him to tell him more about the service. It was interesting to discover that gender can play a role in effectiveness of community service.
On the other hand, many people were cooperative, in that they immediately realized the good cause we were taking on. Some people quickly said “Sure, I’ll donate”, while others inquired about every possible detail of Project Angel Heart before agreeing to donate.
In relation to my growth as a community volunteer, I learned that informing others about a service organization, in this case, through being an ambassador, can be both rewarding and upsetting. Fortunately, when it is rewarding, I was able to respond. For example, I could thank the person for their interest, time, and help. I could smile, and tell them we appreciate their help. However, when people shrugged me away, it was not easy. If I was a solicitor, it would be different—but I’m not. I was simply trying to make others aware of the simple things they can do to help their community members who happen to be in extremely difficult living conditions. It is so tempting, when someone interrupted me with “Not interested, thanks”, to insist on them giving me a few more minutes. Unfortunately, that is not how to go about the job. Being rejected is definitely a tough part of this job. Being accepted, and appreciated though, is quite enjoyable.
Being rejected taught me that sometimes, I need to accept that people have different values; ant there is no way to change that. These lessons are important because in the real world, I will work with people of various backgrounds and views. Letting opinions and values get in the way will hinder success within group work.
On Thursday night, Austin, Michelle, and I set out to be ambassadors for Project Angel Heart’s Dining Out For Life at Chez Jose in Cherry Creek. We dressed up nicely, and had our ambassador bag ready to go. Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were all a little taken a back by the environment. It felt very much like a fast food restaurant, rather than a nice family restaurant, which we all seemed to be expecting. We approached the staff about why we were there, but there was no manager on duty. We were pretty much on our own.
After giving the bartender a “Dining Out For Life” We set up our own corner toward the back of the small restaurant, where we laid out our materials for convenience, and prepared for the job. At about six o’clock, we began approaching tables. Michelle and I approached a table as they were waiting for their food. I began explaining what Dining Out For Life was for. Having little practice approaching customers this way, I ended up talking for a long time. It seemed that the table lost interest. Still, we left the envelope there and told them we would be back to pick it up. I felt pretty intrusive, as Chez Jose is a fast food restaurant, where it seems that people want to be in and out of there fairly fast. Michelle helped me understand the effectiveness of speaking quickly and “to the point”. She approached a couple of tables, and speaking quickly worked well, as she presumed. This way, if people wanted, they could ask more questions. And if not, they were not disturbed by our approach.
Unfortunately, Austin didn’t have much luck getting people interested in what we were providing. In fact, with one couple he approached, the man said, “I’m not interested, thank you.” However, when Michelle and I approached a table near by him, he was intrigued, and asked us to return to him to tell him more about the service. It was interesting to discover that gender can play a role in effectiveness of community service.
On the other hand, many people were cooperative, in that they immediately realized the good cause we were taking on. Some people quickly said “Sure, I’ll donate”, while others inquired about every possible detail of Project Angel Heart before agreeing to donate.
In relation to my growth as a community volunteer, I learned that informing others about a service organization, in this case, through being an ambassador, can be both rewarding and upsetting. Fortunately, when it is rewarding, I was able to respond. For example, I could thank the person for their interest, time, and help. I could smile, and tell them we appreciate their help. However, when people shrugged me away, it was not easy. If I was a solicitor, it would be different—but I’m not. I was simply trying to make others aware of the simple things they can do to help their community members who happen to be in extremely difficult living conditions. It is so tempting, when someone interrupted me with “Not interested, thanks”, to insist on them giving me a few more minutes. Unfortunately, that is not how to go about the job. Being rejected is definitely a tough part of this job. Being accepted, and appreciated though, is quite enjoyable.
Being rejected taught me that sometimes, I need to accept that people have different values; ant there is no way to change that. These lessons are important because in the real world, I will work with people of various backgrounds and views. Letting opinions and values get in the way will hinder success within group work.
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