Reflective Essay On Service Learning

During my time at the Honors College I have acquired a new perspective on service-learning, viewing it as more than just a requirement for a course. Four semesters have taught me the imperative nature and necessity of service learning for academic and personal growth. What I enjoyed most from my service-learning was how every semester builds upon previous experiences, thus, creating a firmly grounded foundation in service for years to come. For the Spring 2016 semester, I set out to perform my service-learning assignment at the agency Better Way of Miami, which is a nonprofit organization aimed at providing housing and rehabilitation facilities for homeless individuals in one of Miami’s most poverty stricken areas, Overtown. The agency offers a vast array of services ranging from living quarters, to substance rehabilitation, to even job placement. In essence, it provides a safe haven from the surrounding toxic environment. Their goal is to redeem these individuals who were deemed unfit for society and prepare them to lead normal and
Service-Learning assignments reveal how the theories discussed in IDH leadership courses, are applicable in our everyday world. I learned that effective leadership in conjunction with a culture of integrity, is a crucial component to an organization’s success. Likewise, transparent communication between administrators, staff, and volunteers, is imperative for the proper functioning of an entity. For example, during my service, a pressing issue came up involving finances. I witnessed how the head administrator called an urgent meeting and every employee took time off to be present. They communicated the problem and worked out a systematic plan of action in unison. This overlaps into my next point, that a component of a true leader is the humility to listen to the opinion of others, regardless of