- The author was excited but nervous to participate in a service learning project working with at-risk children at Reeves Terrace Park through an organization called City Life Club. - Each Friday, the author and a small group of students would go to the park to play games with 10 children from low-income homes in the neighborhood. - The experience opened the author's eyes to the challenges these children face and how much joy a small act of kindness, like an Easter egg hunt, could bring them. The author was rewarded by making a positive influence and plans to take lessons from this experience into their future career as a teacher.

1. City Life Club at Reeves Terrace Aleah Duren [email_address] April 22, 2010 EEX 4070-0M01

2. Early Perceptions I was excited and nervous entering into this service learning project. I was not sure what to expect or how it was going to go. However, it went very well and I learned a lot about myself. My thoughts and views about things were also changed.

3. Introduction to setting Reeves Terrace Park Spending time with the children.

4. Demographics

5. Personal Demographics I have interest in impacting children’s lives. I feel at times that many children are limited in their goals and told they cannot do things or pursue a certain profession because of their success or economic background. I want to be that person/teacher in a child’s life that encourages them to pursue their dreams and not limit them in their ability. This experience of working with at risk children has taught me that children want someone to genuinely listen to them and hear their thoughts. These children have also taught me that spending time with them is enough.

6. Engagement Activities Traveled to Reeves Terrace park every Friday afternoon to participate in City Life Club. Played Frisbee, football, basketball, and other games with children in neighborhood. Went to park with a small group of students from the Central Florida Wesley Foundation.

7. For this project we originally planned a block party for the children’s families and plans fell through. This lead us to have an Easter egg hunt for the children on good Friday. City Life Club was started by my friend Lee. He spent a summer in Atlanta, Georgia working with at risk and under privileged children. When he came back to school in the fall, he decided he wanted to reach out to the children in Orlando. This lead him to start city life club where we spend Friday afternoons with children at Reeves Terrace.

8. Participant Demographics The majority of the participants we served were of African-American or Latino backgrounds. The age of these children were two to fourteen-years-old. Each of these children were at risk and from low-income homes. Each Friday we had about ten children.

9. Reflection of my experience This experience has affected me in many ways. My eyes were open to how many children come home from school to an empty house and hang out by themselves until their parents come home. The experience that had the most impact on me was how excited the kids were about the Easter egg hunt and how each of them asked when we were coming back when we left to go back home. Knowing I have had a positive influence in a child’s life was rewarding. The thing that I will take away from this experience is even if this program was just for one child, it would be worth it because they had a positive influence and encouragement in their life for three hours of a day.

10. My academic learning was impacted through this experience by realizing that I am taking classes that will help me help children who do not come from positive home environments. I should not float through my classes not only trying to do well but to take something from each one that will help me in the future. My approaches to teaching have also been affected because I will have to remember when I send certain forms or homework pages home that I may not see them for a couple of days. I will also have to remember that it would help at risk children better if time was given to complete homework in the classroom rather than sending it home so they can ask for help if needed. This whole experience taught me that children not only want someone to play and interact with them but mostly to listen to them and hear their thoughts. They want to feel valued. As a teacher I will have to keep in mind that what I have to say is important but I need to take the time to listen to my students and hear their thoughts.