During this event I I developed my ability to interact with different types of people, mostly with the special athletes. I have not had the opportunity to be around many people with special needs in my life, but this experience helped me understand what is needed out of me more. I learned that these special athletes have strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else. Many of them were very good at the event which I hosted, the bean bag toss. The organization helped me throughout my volunteer process because they made sure I knew my role and it was clear what the goal was for the event. The event was there to allow the athletes to have fun, and we just aided them in that process. This service did align with my personal values because I do believe everyone deserves a chance to be treated as a human being, no matter what happens. I think this event gave the athletes a place to just be themselves.
During my service at St. Ann, I had the opportunity to support individuals with special needs or disabilities. The girl I worked with was especially happy to have me there; she even asked to join my group for the field day, which I found incredibly heartwarming. We had such a great time together, and the experience felt very rewarding. This service aligned with my personal values, as I am passionate about helping the community, particularly children and those requiring special care. I truly enjoyed this experience and would gladly contribute to it countless times over. While working as part of a team wasn't mandatory, it made the experience even more enjoyable. The extra support was beneficial for the woman we were assisting, and I could tell she appreciated it. I would definitely volunteer with this organization again, as it pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to meet new people, and gave me valuable new experiences.
I enjoyed my Special Athletes Fun Day volunteer service at St. Ann. It impacted a huge community of special needs. Many contenders and organizers of the event showed lots of appreciation of our presence.I worked with the organizers and they were so pleased to have us there. Informing us on the history of this event and how it benefits the community. This event improved my skills of inclusivity, respect, and understanding. . I met an athlete who bonded and clicked with me immediately. I loved sharing this experience with her, I could see how it brought her so much joy to be surrounded and supported on her special day. This event really aligned with my personal values because I made sure to remain very respectful, by actively listening and cheering on the other athletes during the event. The service impacted me personally because I made sure to include other interactions and discussions during the event. My athlete wanted to venture around to see her friends at the event, I had no problem doing so because I love to see different perspectives of how this event impacts others. It brings together people from various communities while being inclusive to their special needs.
I had a fantastic weekend volunteering with the St. Ann Special Athletes Fun Day! This event has been giving back to its community for over 30 years by creating a space for fun and fellowship among special children and adults. Serving this extraordinary group taught me what it truly means to offer equity and inclusion to all people, no matter their disabilities, whether they be visible or invisible. Thanks to the staff and volunteers, I am sure that we were able to offer the kids and adults who attended a chance to enjoy themselves and feel proud of their accomplishments!
Through this experience, I improved my organization, time management, and communication skills. While at St. Ann's, I assisted with setting up the activities, distributing water, working the frisbee throw station, and cleaning up afterward. From my understanding, there were a few shifts in this year's Special Athletes Fun Day programming. Therefore, there was a definite adjustment period of figuring out how each event worked, when breaks were, when we needed to send score sheets, and how to check people in before proceeding with the activity. However, by the 3rd round of play, we had developed a system that suited the athletes, announcers, and coordinators. Nothing that we could not resolve!
Thanks to this opportunity, I became well acquainted with a few St. Ann staff and volunteers and met more UoM Emerging Leaders who helped make the day memorable! I also volunteered alongside a few of my good friends that I have met since coming to college, so it was exciting to work together in this service environment. Ultimately, I would be more than interested in returning next year to support this occasion as it represents a cause I value and was a delightful time.
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
I learned how to work with the public through the St. Ann's Special Athlete field day. The skills I learned include serving and catering to others efficiently and engagingly.
How did your service influence your understanding of social or environmental issues?
This service opportunity reminded me that in the work field, one may have to work with clients who have special needs. I learned how to cater to special needs clients despite the potential social barrier.
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
During volunteering, I worked with a team at the Frisbee throwing station. Being a part of a team significantly improved my experience. We were able to tackle obstacles as a group, demonstrating the strength of collective effort in overcoming challenges.
How did your service contribute to the mission or goals of the organization?
My service contributed to the mission of St. Ann by providing a supportive, encouraging, and positive environment for the special needs participants.
What unexpected challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Despite the unexpected challenges, such as the disorganized itinerary of the field day, we maintained a positive attitude. This not only ensured a fun environment for the special needs participants but also added a touch of joy to the service experience.
Participating in the St. Ann Special Athletes Fun Day was a gratifying experience that helped me develop new talents, widen my perspective, and contribute to a worthy cause. I learned the importance of flexibility, patience, and support by working with a kind and driven athlete. My ability to interact with people from many backgrounds was improved by assisting her with activities and encouraging her to pursue her own objectives.
My viewpoint on community involvement was altered by this event, which demonstrated how tiny acts of kindness, such as a high five or words of encouragement, may promote inclusivity and confidence. Working together with other volunteers highlighted how effective collaboration is in fostering a positive and empowering atmosphere.
The goal of the event, which was to honor and celebrate the elderly special needs community, struck a deep chord with me since it matched my own beliefs of respect and inclusivity. My dedication to helping my community was strengthened by volunteering, which also served as a reminder of how crucial empathy is to fostering relationships. Through personal development and a revitalized sense of purpose, this experience was both enlightening and transforming.
The St Ann Special Athlete Fun Day Volunteers was an amazing experience. I volunteered to help set up the event, be a coordinator for a game, and be a part of clean-up duty. It was rewarding to be a part of such a special event. This experience challenged my problem-solving abilities by allowing me to devise solutions to problems that could have destroyed the frisbee game. Without a doubt, each problem we encountered we conquered them, and St. Ann special athlete fun day challenged my problem-solving skills also because I was handed unexpected situations that required quick thinking and creative solutions. Being around this community I learned that they all have each other's back and have huge hearts. They wanted to create an event that made the special ed kids and adults happy and that showed their true heart. It's amazing how events like these can bring people together and show strength, support, and passion. I was part of a team of 2 other emerging leaders and it impacted my experience abundantly. Working together as a team greatly enhanced my community service experience. It allows you to collaborate, share ideas, and solve problems. Being a team allowed us to organize a successful game and make a greater impact on the community.
In addition, I plan on continuing to volunteer with this organization because it reminds me of Best Buddies and Special Olympics. This year I couldn't do Special Olympics summer camp due to transportation issues and it broke my heart. The St Ann Special Athlete Fun Day Volunteers made me feel like I was back at summer camp with my Special Olympics kids and adults. However, we did have unexpected challenges. The game was supposed to go by four rounds and color numbers, but the event didn't go as planned. On the sheet, there was only a spot for one red, one green, one blue, one white, and one yellow. The church wanted all of round 1 red to go first, and the sheets weren't written like that we figured out a way to overcome our problem. We have each candidate a different frisbee and write their names in the other slots. It was a great experience to showcase my leadership skills.
I attended the St Ann Special Athletes Event on Saturday September 21st. At the event me and some of my fellow emerging leaders ran the bean bag toss event. This challenged our problem-solving abilities as we had to come together as a group and divide the responsibilities of writing down the athletes’ score and then having them stay in line and wait their turn. We came together and as a result the rest of the event went very smoothly after we established each person’s role. This experience opened my perspective to how happy something as simple as a small event can make people. This field day made the athletes so happy that all you could see was people with smiles on their faces. I met some of the emerging leaders in the 2024 cohort at the field day. These relationships could be important as these will be my colleagues throughout my time at Memphis. I also may see the colleagues that I met at other events/service events in the future. I had a wonderful time at this event and look forward to volunteering again next year. I had a wonderful time at this event and believe that it was an amazing event and will encourage my colleagues to attend in the future. An unexpected challenge that I faced would be the difficulty in communicating to athletes that were nonverbal. It was difficult to communicate with a few of the athletes, however my colleagues and I overcame them by trying to aid the athletes in the bean bag toss by helping them throw the bags if they were not able to.