What is service learning?
This short info clip has been created at a different university than the one I go to.
My Thoughts about the benefits of Service-Learning
(I wrote this on April 11th.) After reading Susan's speech and the condensed notes of it, I realized how many of the benefits resound with me. I know I'm a compassionate person since I was young; I had adults in my life who shaped me with their encouragement and guidance to make sure my compassionate self grows bigger and better. I had opportunities over the years for me to practice my compassion and my loving side keeps getting stronger and hopefully better at responding to help with other people's needs. Since I have developed and strengthen my spiritual faith, when I give myself to God, he also gives me the strength and wisdom to continue to use my compassion into my work and into my life.
I like the concept of community-based learning/service learning because this benefit the local community, the student and the university's relationship with the student and it's relationship with the local community. If everyone at Marylhurst signed up for this course once in their academic time here, students start to share with each other what they learned and experienced, this would a wonderful way to bond with each other. When we are all excited to give back, we continue to showcase our compassion. We are doing this not just to fullfill any requirements, but we service so others can benefit.
This quote resounds with me the strongest:
• Research has shown that those who give emotional support reap health benefits, and
people involved in helping others through community activities live longer. When we
feel compassionate or loving our heart rhythms actually shift, transmitting signals that
sooth our bodies.
It's so natural for me to give emotional support. I understand how hard life can be so when I support someone emotionally, this person can manage life better. I'm a good listener too. For example, I support my students' emotional state and sometimes their parents too at my after school care program job. I coached and taught different emotional intelligence skills such as how to manage one's anger to be able to speak to someone and how to watch out one's tone of voice to better communicate calmly one's needs and wants. As for the parents, sometimes I have to comfort the single parents of some of my charges since they show up feeling stressed and other emotions. I show my support of them as adults and how hard it's to be a single parent. I empathize with their children since I also was raised by a single mother growing up. By supporting these parents' emotional needs, it makes it easier for them to transition to meet their children happily and not let their work or whatever life's stresses interfere with their relationships with their kids.
I still have a lot to learn myself. I know I have a high emotional intelligence but I also have a couple areas within it that I need to work on. Currently I am participating in heavy self-care regimen such as prayers and listening to positive music so I can better meet my own needs. I learned over the years that it's okay to self-care; if I don't do that, I won't have much to give back.
My Service Learning Project
I am doing my service learning at a local school in SE Portland. I am working with a first grade newcomer who recently immigrated from Vietnam with her family just a few weeks ago. I have never worked with a newcomer first grade student with no previous English skills. (The newcomers I helped with English acquisition was with my own relatives who has immigrated here over the years. Though they had some English language skills before coming to America.)This is going to be a good challenge to help me professionally. I have worked with English Language Learners (ELLs) who are elementary aged students previously but they were at a higher English language acquisition level. By the way, I have only been there twice; I'll be going there again tomorrow morning.
My questions about my service learning project are: How can my services benefit the school community specifically? How is my presence going to impact the newcomer?(I'm hoping it would be for the better. Since I don't speak Vietnamese, I have only my smiles and non-verbal communication to help me connect with the student. I am working to gain her trust so we can really work together in her English language acquisition.) Will I inspire and encourage teachers to find better strategies to teach newcomer students? Learn along with me as I post what I'm learning throughout this term.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Summary of what Compassion is
I just want to share what my classmates and I collectively came up about compassion for the Compassion in Action:Service Learning Seminar course. Our instructor summarize our thoughts:
As we look into compassion on several levels and enter into our work in the work in our communities, the topic of self-compassion is bound to come up. We want to help "be the change" and we want to see progress in both ourselves and the causes/social change work in which we have engaged—now!I like how my instructor Susan provide some wise words alongside our comments and learning. When she said about changing negative words to more positive words, she is reinforcing what I'm learning from my Action Research instructor Janice on word choice. If we use negative words, it won't help us to move and grow in a healthy way. If we change our perspective and use more positive words, we can actually change for the better.
For most of us, self-compassion is one of the most difficult practices and is a continual process or journey. This has been expressed in a variety of ways in many of [on Moodle postings]—and is reinforced through spiritual teachings and thousands of self-help books. I paraphrase and quote here from our site (anonymously): It is easier to care for others than for myself. I feel guilty if I care for myself. Self-care is really difficult for me, I have never been good at it. I feel exasperation with an inability to change bad habits.
I feel moved to share something that has helped me in my own personal practice of compassion for self. Whenever I find myself thinking about a fault or weakness I "see" in me, or feel impatient with myself, I deliberately shift these terms (fault or weakness) in my head to a "vulnerability" or "opportunity for growth." It has been my experience that this softens the "self talk" and helps me to have deeper or renewed compassion--for self and others. (Of course, sometimes the use of fault or weakness is actually accurate -- but I always stop to think about it instead of just automatically blaming or beating up on myself.)
Likewise, when I interact with difficult people, people who project and lash out, or continually complain, I try to turn my ideas around these situations, too. A complaint is a "longing unfulfilled," and when people are unpleasant I allow the benefit of the doubt—perhaps they are spiritually bereft, are ill, feeling downtrodden, just suffered a personal loss (such as the loss of a loved one), and so forth. So in this way, I also try to anticipate and "hold" others' vulnerabilities, too. This is not an easy practice, and like many of you also spoke about in your posts, we are not always successful. (Back around to self-compassion.)
We can’t go outward with great compassion—or even write about it for that matter—unless compassion resides deeply and lovingly right where we nest, whatever our nest looks like (single, married, partnered, children/no children, still living with parents, etc).
Of course, I am not suggesting that none of us be involved/become involved in outside causes with which we resonate and through which we wish to help create positive social change! We need to continue with the "outer work." But we cannot forget the "inner work"--which begins with us personally and ripples outwards to our intimate others, our extended families, and then into our communities and the world.
This is not easy, and it takes continual practice and vigilance. And it is some of the most rewarding and necessary work toward world peace.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
A Kaleidoscope definition of Compassion (World Religions)
Below is a continuation of defining compassion with world religions in my compassion service learning course. We have discussed our definition previously through the mainstream American (secular) belief and the Christian viewpoint.
All the religions mentioned has touched on what I understand what compassion is. Though, I feel more a connection to what Susan Skog said, what the Dalai Lama said and the Judaism says on compassion.
First, Susan Skog states, "Compassion...is about letting others so affect us that they crack open our vulnerable places. They touch our pockets of pain, and in that solidarity we can say, 'I feel your pain because I have been there before' ' (Skog, 2001). When Ms. Skog used this phrase "letting others so affect us that they crack open our vulnerable places' I felt a connection to how to explain what I see myself doing. Actually I am using the word "compassion" as my guiding question as part of my M.Ed portfolio. I feel that over the years, I have nurtured this compassionate side with the help of others. God has given me a great heart for people especially the ones in need. I feel I fuel my compassion gets bigger when I do many compassionate acts as well as continuing my relationship with my God.
Second, Dalai Lama thoughts on compassionate acts explain on how I see myself interacting with others. He said, “When we act out of concern for others, our behaviors towards them is automatically positive. This is because we have no room for suspicion when our hearts are filled with love. It is as if an inner door is opened, allowing us to reach out. Having concern for others breaks down the impediment which inhibits healthy interaction with others” (Dalai Lama, 1999). Though, he does make it sound easy that others would accept this genuine gesture. However, I have learned that I have been rejected sometimes. At times, the other person won’t be able to accept any compassionate acts when s/he has their own issues interfering with being open with you. Sometimes, some people may misinterpret your kind actions. I am learning to let that go and still remain kind toward that person. I may not fully understand what hurt in that person’s life but I can empathize with it. It helps that I have God to pray to so he can watch and care for that person better than I can.
Furthermore, the Jewish term “mitzvot’ as in loving one’s neighbors as myself as well as being kind to strangers really resounded in me. This really connected to my Christian faith. When we are able to actually love our neighbors and be kind to strangers as we wanted in ourselves, we bring in compassion into our communities. Truly I believe that compassion is needed to have healthy communities. Life is hard but when we are all compassionate, we can assist in each other burdens. With love and care, living isn’t so bad.
In conclusion, compassion requires you to lift off your eyes and see with the other people’s eyes. We would have to feel empathy toward the other person’s needs and issues. Compassion also requires us to act kindly to benefit someone’s needs. In doing so, we want to help someone in need and not do these acts as a selfish reason in expecting something good comes our way. ***************************************************
Resources: Ancient Wisdom, Modern World by Dalai Lama
Radical Acts of Love:How Compassion is Transforming our World by Susan Skog.
All the religions mentioned has touched on what I understand what compassion is. Though, I feel more a connection to what Susan Skog said, what the Dalai Lama said and the Judaism says on compassion.
First, Susan Skog states, "Compassion...is about letting others so affect us that they crack open our vulnerable places. They touch our pockets of pain, and in that solidarity we can say, 'I feel your pain because I have been there before' ' (Skog, 2001). When Ms. Skog used this phrase "letting others so affect us that they crack open our vulnerable places' I felt a connection to how to explain what I see myself doing. Actually I am using the word "compassion" as my guiding question as part of my M.Ed portfolio. I feel that over the years, I have nurtured this compassionate side with the help of others. God has given me a great heart for people especially the ones in need. I feel I fuel my compassion gets bigger when I do many compassionate acts as well as continuing my relationship with my God.
Second, Dalai Lama thoughts on compassionate acts explain on how I see myself interacting with others. He said, “When we act out of concern for others, our behaviors towards them is automatically positive. This is because we have no room for suspicion when our hearts are filled with love. It is as if an inner door is opened, allowing us to reach out. Having concern for others breaks down the impediment which inhibits healthy interaction with others” (Dalai Lama, 1999). Though, he does make it sound easy that others would accept this genuine gesture. However, I have learned that I have been rejected sometimes. At times, the other person won’t be able to accept any compassionate acts when s/he has their own issues interfering with being open with you. Sometimes, some people may misinterpret your kind actions. I am learning to let that go and still remain kind toward that person. I may not fully understand what hurt in that person’s life but I can empathize with it. It helps that I have God to pray to so he can watch and care for that person better than I can.
Furthermore, the Jewish term “mitzvot’ as in loving one’s neighbors as myself as well as being kind to strangers really resounded in me. This really connected to my Christian faith. When we are able to actually love our neighbors and be kind to strangers as we wanted in ourselves, we bring in compassion into our communities. Truly I believe that compassion is needed to have healthy communities. Life is hard but when we are all compassionate, we can assist in each other burdens. With love and care, living isn’t so bad.
In conclusion, compassion requires you to lift off your eyes and see with the other people’s eyes. We would have to feel empathy toward the other person’s needs and issues. Compassion also requires us to act kindly to benefit someone’s needs. In doing so, we want to help someone in need and not do these acts as a selfish reason in expecting something good comes our way. ***************************************************
Resources: Ancient Wisdom, Modern World by Dalai Lama
Radical Acts of Love:How Compassion is Transforming our World by Susan Skog.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Learning from the Native American culture
Note: In the blog, I can only report what I'm learning. I won't be able to share anything of what my classmates are learning and saying since we have a confidential clause as part of our community norms. By the way, I'm no expert on any Native American cultures and tribes. I can only share what I am learning or have known from books and from Native people.
In my service learning online class, we are learning about compassion in what we do in our work, our service learning projects (volunteering) and our lives. Since we are living here in America, we can learn a lot about compassion and forgiveness from Indigenous North American Spiritual Traditions. My instructor Susan Carter said, "Since we are looking at compassion from various world religions, I thought it was also appropriate to honor the people on whose land we stand--the Native American peoples.In the Lakota worldview there is a phrase (which is also a prayer) with which you may be familiar--"Mitakuye Oyasin," which has been translated into English as "All My Relations." This prayer of oneness demonstrates a worldview which holds that all creatures, such as people, animals, and birds, as well as such "things" as water, grasses, and rocks are all considered "relations." If we apply this to our discussion of compassion, this extends compassion from the inner world of each individual outward to the outer world--to all others, the Earth, and the cosmos. If we are related (as in "relations" or "related to") then we are also not separate; we are all interconnected. Most (if not all) indigenous peoples hold such a worldview."
By the way, each native would want to call themselves differently as a whole group (outside of their tribe names); they are Native Americans, American Indians, and for the ones in Canada, they called themselves First Nations peoples. Before you identify someone, let them self-identified what they want to be called based on their individual preferences.
Here are two youtube clips named "All My Relations":
My instructor Susan Carter said about these videos, "you will be able to view two YouTube videos (which are short, a bit over 3 minutes each) that beautifully express compassion and forgiveness from a Native American/American Indian standpoint. You will note that they move from Native American/American Indian ancestors (past) to the present, and gradually include the larger world community (even the exterminators and oppressors)." How do I respond to these videos? What did I learn about compassion and forgiveness from this tribe?
From what I learned, the community is a huge part of a Native American cultural lifestyle. Many uses drumming, singing/chanting, and dancing to bring everyone together to celebrate or honor someone or something. From the title "All my Relations" and from the speaker addressing his/her audience, it's important to remember one's ancestors and love ones who has past away. These people has played a part to shaped an individual's and the community's identity. The people in your life currently play a big part in supporting and encouraging you in this life's journey. When we are connected with each other, we can relate with each other and in turn, we want to be there for each other which is where compassion comes in. It's hard to be compassionate with another human being if you can't relate to the other and have no connection. I believe a celebration or a community activity can help bridge people to connect with each other so when someone is in need or celebration support, you can be there for that someone. Basically a healthy community would need celebration and bonding time.
In my service learning online class, we are learning about compassion in what we do in our work, our service learning projects (volunteering) and our lives. Since we are living here in America, we can learn a lot about compassion and forgiveness from Indigenous North American Spiritual Traditions. My instructor Susan Carter said, "Since we are looking at compassion from various world religions, I thought it was also appropriate to honor the people on whose land we stand--the Native American peoples.In the Lakota worldview there is a phrase (which is also a prayer) with which you may be familiar--"Mitakuye Oyasin," which has been translated into English as "All My Relations." This prayer of oneness demonstrates a worldview which holds that all creatures, such as people, animals, and birds, as well as such "things" as water, grasses, and rocks are all considered "relations." If we apply this to our discussion of compassion, this extends compassion from the inner world of each individual outward to the outer world--to all others, the Earth, and the cosmos. If we are related (as in "relations" or "related to") then we are also not separate; we are all interconnected. Most (if not all) indigenous peoples hold such a worldview."
By the way, each native would want to call themselves differently as a whole group (outside of their tribe names); they are Native Americans, American Indians, and for the ones in Canada, they called themselves First Nations peoples. Before you identify someone, let them self-identified what they want to be called based on their individual preferences.
Here are two youtube clips named "All My Relations":
My instructor Susan Carter said about these videos, "you will be able to view two YouTube videos (which are short, a bit over 3 minutes each) that beautifully express compassion and forgiveness from a Native American/American Indian standpoint. You will note that they move from Native American/American Indian ancestors (past) to the present, and gradually include the larger world community (even the exterminators and oppressors)." How do I respond to these videos? What did I learn about compassion and forgiveness from this tribe?
From what I learned, the community is a huge part of a Native American cultural lifestyle. Many uses drumming, singing/chanting, and dancing to bring everyone together to celebrate or honor someone or something. From the title "All my Relations" and from the speaker addressing his/her audience, it's important to remember one's ancestors and love ones who has past away. These people has played a part to shaped an individual's and the community's identity. The people in your life currently play a big part in supporting and encouraging you in this life's journey. When we are connected with each other, we can relate with each other and in turn, we want to be there for each other which is where compassion comes in. It's hard to be compassionate with another human being if you can't relate to the other and have no connection. I believe a celebration or a community activity can help bridge people to connect with each other so when someone is in need or celebration support, you can be there for that someone. Basically a healthy community would need celebration and bonding time.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Learning about myself /Crazy first week of Spring Term
I had my up and down moments throughout this week. I didn't get much rest over Spring break. I only had the Easter weekend. One of my instructors emailed us an syllabus. I read it over the weekend and started to panic. I wasn't able to go onto my Moodle account since the IT team was upgrading. When I finally access it, I read the syllabus/plan for my Compassion in Action:Service Learning Seminar and I panicked. Both courses I will do a lot of work. I reminded myself to take a step at a time.
On Monday at 1:15 pm, I felt this calmness coming outside and inside myself. I knew it was the Holy Spirit who heard my cries and came to give me the calmness. He assisted me by focusing my attention to where I needed to be and what to do. He gave me words when I couldn't think of any on my own. When I arrived to work, I was calm and happy. I enjoyed a fun afternoon with my kids; amazingly they are pretty good even after being gone from school for Spring Break. God is good; he placed me where I needed to be to flourish in my professional life (and maybe a tad bit with my personal life). I have co-workers I trust and we work together well. We support each other emotionally and mentally. If one of us can't communicate with one of our charges, one of us would go over and assist with that child. I have an amazing boss who cares and I feel heard.
With this new found calmness, I was able to focus on my school work. With the Spirit's help, I was able to prioritize what to do each day without overwhelming myself. In grad school, I'm learning to respect my own process; sometimes I'm am impatient on how slow I process things when I feel a pressure to hurry up. It's okay to remind others that I need a little extra time to think and do.
Something happened Wednesday night when I received a feedback from someone. I thought we were kind of close friends. She sees us more like acquaintances. The problem maybe that when I see or hear someone feeling stressed, hurt, sad or whatever, I act like their best friends to comfort or encourage or support. I realized not everyone is comfortable with that. Normally I do better with face to face relationships. But since I think I forced some friendships over Facebook, hmm, it means I need to stop. It's not healthy. I knew better. I am realizing how lonely I am. For the last ten years I have been praying to find best Christian friends who are similar spiritual faith level as me and I do need human support to maintain my faith.
I do have one best friend but she doesn't share my faith. It's okay. I love her a lot; I won't trade her for the world. I think God has placed her in my life as I am in hers; I think this was my prayer request I had since I was 12. It took me thirteen long lonely years to find a good friend like her. She's wonderful since she understand I do need other close friends who share my faith. Not many people can really accept me with my oddities. She said that I kind of remind her of Sheldon, the odd-ball character (creator interview mentioned Sheldon has Asperger's Syndrome) from the Big Bang Theory show. I can be funny without realizing it. The difference from Sheldon is that I have feelings and I'm in touch with them. I do put my heart on my sleeve. I do care if I affect people the wrong way. God has given me a compassionate heart; I am learning to use it purposefully with his direction. Sometimes I do get emotional. What I need from people is to continue to be patient and kind; sometimes gently point me to the right direction or give me reassurance when I need it.
Wow, this blog entry is a bit more personal than I originally attended. I usually try to focus on what I'm learning and thinking, how I feel about certain concepts and other school-related topics on here. However I will leave what I am thinking about in my personal life. It's funny how a small part of my life can affect me in how I process information and feelings. I will get past this but it would take time. It's important to create a balance in one life to stay content. On the good points, I am solid with my relationship with God, good with school and professional life and pretty good with my other relationships. It's just a small part is finding best Christian friends to fill up my life.
I'm glad that last night I had a chance to see my best friend. Her advice to me is that,"Just let go. Surround yourself with people who care about you and truly accept you. You don't need negative people or people who don't truly understand you in your life. You are a good person with a kind heart. I'm your good friend." We ended up making each other laugh and I even brightened her day.
What I hope to accomplish with my personal story is the ability to assist others who are alone out there. My messages are: You aren't alone. You will find like-minded friends who care about you even with your quirks. Even with one best friend in your life, it does help make life tolerable and even enjoyable. No wonder I feel a deep connection with children who struggle with friendships; I ended up coaching and guiding them to make friends. These kids will come to me and open their heart out when they want to be heard. Not just them but also other young students may need to be heard; they also come to me. This is why my compassionate side is really awesome and we do need more compassion in this world.
On Monday at 1:15 pm, I felt this calmness coming outside and inside myself. I knew it was the Holy Spirit who heard my cries and came to give me the calmness. He assisted me by focusing my attention to where I needed to be and what to do. He gave me words when I couldn't think of any on my own. When I arrived to work, I was calm and happy. I enjoyed a fun afternoon with my kids; amazingly they are pretty good even after being gone from school for Spring Break. God is good; he placed me where I needed to be to flourish in my professional life (and maybe a tad bit with my personal life). I have co-workers I trust and we work together well. We support each other emotionally and mentally. If one of us can't communicate with one of our charges, one of us would go over and assist with that child. I have an amazing boss who cares and I feel heard.
With this new found calmness, I was able to focus on my school work. With the Spirit's help, I was able to prioritize what to do each day without overwhelming myself. In grad school, I'm learning to respect my own process; sometimes I'm am impatient on how slow I process things when I feel a pressure to hurry up. It's okay to remind others that I need a little extra time to think and do.
Something happened Wednesday night when I received a feedback from someone. I thought we were kind of close friends. She sees us more like acquaintances. The problem maybe that when I see or hear someone feeling stressed, hurt, sad or whatever, I act like their best friends to comfort or encourage or support. I realized not everyone is comfortable with that. Normally I do better with face to face relationships. But since I think I forced some friendships over Facebook, hmm, it means I need to stop. It's not healthy. I knew better. I am realizing how lonely I am. For the last ten years I have been praying to find best Christian friends who are similar spiritual faith level as me and I do need human support to maintain my faith.
I do have one best friend but she doesn't share my faith. It's okay. I love her a lot; I won't trade her for the world. I think God has placed her in my life as I am in hers; I think this was my prayer request I had since I was 12. It took me thirteen long lonely years to find a good friend like her. She's wonderful since she understand I do need other close friends who share my faith. Not many people can really accept me with my oddities. She said that I kind of remind her of Sheldon, the odd-ball character (creator interview mentioned Sheldon has Asperger's Syndrome) from the Big Bang Theory show. I can be funny without realizing it. The difference from Sheldon is that I have feelings and I'm in touch with them. I do put my heart on my sleeve. I do care if I affect people the wrong way. God has given me a compassionate heart; I am learning to use it purposefully with his direction. Sometimes I do get emotional. What I need from people is to continue to be patient and kind; sometimes gently point me to the right direction or give me reassurance when I need it.
Wow, this blog entry is a bit more personal than I originally attended. I usually try to focus on what I'm learning and thinking, how I feel about certain concepts and other school-related topics on here. However I will leave what I am thinking about in my personal life. It's funny how a small part of my life can affect me in how I process information and feelings. I will get past this but it would take time. It's important to create a balance in one life to stay content. On the good points, I am solid with my relationship with God, good with school and professional life and pretty good with my other relationships. It's just a small part is finding best Christian friends to fill up my life.
I'm glad that last night I had a chance to see my best friend. Her advice to me is that,"Just let go. Surround yourself with people who care about you and truly accept you. You don't need negative people or people who don't truly understand you in your life. You are a good person with a kind heart. I'm your good friend." We ended up making each other laugh and I even brightened her day.
What I hope to accomplish with my personal story is the ability to assist others who are alone out there. My messages are: You aren't alone. You will find like-minded friends who care about you even with your quirks. Even with one best friend in your life, it does help make life tolerable and even enjoyable. No wonder I feel a deep connection with children who struggle with friendships; I ended up coaching and guiding them to make friends. These kids will come to me and open their heart out when they want to be heard. Not just them but also other young students may need to be heard; they also come to me. This is why my compassionate side is really awesome and we do need more compassion in this world.
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