Homeless Reflection

The project that I chose to do for my service learning project was the homeless experience. The idea of this project was to show the students what it is like bring homeless for a night. We had to go around and inform people about the challenges that face the homeless and collect donations to help the homeless. After that we had to spend the night in a box outside.

I feel a little bad for the homeless after doing this project because I only experienced it for a night, whereas they have to deal with the weather night after night. The entire project made me feel sympathy for the homeless. Also that the homeless never really complain about their situation.

In total it took about two and a half days to complete the project. From calling relatives and friends to ask them to donate money to help the homeless, to trying to find a box big enough to fit my big ass in. Also the whole slepping in the cold didn't help at all.

There weren't that many challenges that I had to face to complete this project. The one that was the most hassle was trying to find a damn box big enough for me. No matter where I went, they either didn't have any boxes or they had crushed hem down for recycling.

I learned that not every homeless person is a vagrant or a drain on society. Some homeless people are average families that lost their home to a natural disaster. I learned that I have a pretty good life and that there are others that are much worse off than I am, so I should stop my bitching about how hard my life is and look at someone else's life.

I learned how to speak to people in a door-to-door situation. Also that most people don't understand the homeless problem in America today. Also that most people don't want to do anything about the homeless problem.

I believe that the experience fulfilled the course objectives completely. If I didn't have to sleep outside for a night then I probably wouldn't understand how homeless people live every night. Also that it SUCKS to sleep in a cold box.

I would recommend this project to any of my peers who are interested in learning about the homeless. I think that the only way to learn how the homeless live is to experience it yourself. That's why I don't like going to soup kitchens. I believe that this project is an effective way to teach students about homelessness.

Homeless Pre-flection

When I think of the homeless and the hungry I feel bad for them because they have nothing in life. Also that they are looked down upon because they live this lifestyle. Most Americans don't understand the homeless problem in America. And because of this the homeless aren't getting the help that they deserve.

If I were homeless I would be depressed all of the time, probably suicidal, and very undesirable to be around. Also I would probably sleep in a ditch or under an overpass on a highway. Or I could go with the stereotypical answer and sleep in a box.

The different causes of homelessness are: loss of job, foreclosure on a home, getting thrown out of your home as a child. Also if you go to war and come home and can't find a job to support yourself, you can't afford the home that you live in at the moment.

Some of the basic needs that human beings have are: Breathing, Drinking, Eating, Excretion Sleep, Shelter. These are some of the physiological needs. Some other needs are: secuirity of the body, employment, of the family. There alot more, If you are curious then look them up!

Anyone can become homeless. All it takes is a single event like a tornado or a hurricane to destroy your home and if the insurance company doesn't help you then you are screwed. Also If your home is the target of a serial arsonist then you are screwed.

There are many things that you can do to help the homeless, you can help out at a soup kitchen, donate to a service that will help get the homeless the fod and clothing that they need. Also you can volunteer your time to get to know a homeless person. That itself is a very unique experience to have.

For my service learning I chose to do the homeless experience. This is where the student goes out and collects money to donate to a certain charity. Then to cap it off the students who chose this project will sleep in a box overnight.

My feelings about this project are ones of apprehension. The only thing that I am worried about is the weather. I mean if it starts raining then I am going back to my car to sleep. I have got plenty of blankets to keep me warm fo rthe night, the cold is not a problem for me.

My Life

I was born December 31st, 1989 in Detroit Michigan. For the first few years of my life my family and I lived in a house that my dad rented from his dad. When I was about one or two years old, we moved into a bigger house. For the next eight or nine years I went to a Catholic grade school in Redford named St. Valentine. After grade school I went to Detroit Catholic Central High School. For the next four years I went to school hung out with my friends and learned how to play the guitar. Which I am still learning to this day. During my junior year at school I started to look at where I wanted to go to college. I looked at some schools that were way out of my price range, I looked at some that just weren't right. I decided to go to Madonna because it was close, also that it was cheaper than the other schools that I had looked at, and also because my mother is an alumni of Madonna. After all that was said and done, I decided to major in music education.