I just took my Cell Bio final but what moved me to write this blog was a short discussion that I had with one of my fellow Cell Biologists while waiting for the final. I was talking about not having 10 blogs and I was saying that it would be wrong to write another one today since I did not go volunteering and so to speak do not have a "current occasion". However my fellow student convinced me that the main part of this assignment was to complete 10 hours, which I did. Since I have completed those 10 hours I have a "right" to write a blog. In addition as a athlete you are always taught to never give up and fight to the bitter end, so this blog is basically my "heart" for cell biology (or good grades;-) fighting to the end.
I would like to go back to my last blog and emphasize that I did mean it when I was saying that I would like to volunteer past my 10 hours and "actually" volunteer in the sense that I do not get anything from other people (such as points towards my grad) but only from myself (satisfaction with myself).This finals week however was busy again and I dont think I will find the time that I need in order to volunteer before leaving for Germany. I will be flying back to my family next thursday after a year's absence. I am very excited to do so but I also would like to do something for society over there. This volunteering opportunity made me more aware of my social responsibilities as mentioned in the last blog. Yet it may be time to do something for my home country Germany. Please dont get me wrong after living in the US for a total of about 6 years I consider it my second home. But then again home is home and there is nothing comparable. People many times ask me where do you like it better what is it that you miss about Germany. I always answer I miss home. Even the bad annoying things about it is what I miss and I know there is no place on this world where I will get this same feeling. On that a little more personal note I would like to wish everyone merry christmas and a happy new year and please enjoy your time with the ones you love!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Volunteering is over
I have completed my 10 volunteering hours and with finals coming up I dont think I will be volunteering any more this semester. Meleah asked me whether or not she should take me off her emailing list and I said no. I do not really know why I did that because I doubt I will go again even next semester just because I doubt I will have time. Then again I feel like I got something out of it and that maybe I should do it again. I think the mere fact that I was helping other people and getting a view of what is going on at the MCC affected me positively. It was actually the first time I volunteered in a clinic and probably one of the first times volunteering in general. I think it increased my social responsibility feeling. By that I mean that I became more aware of the fact that as being a member of society I have a responsibility to help the ones in need. Before I felt like that was not really my problem but now I feel like its part of leading a good life to help others.
I think that was my main gain from this whole project. I really did not learn anything new about biology but I guess I was not expecting to after I made the decision to volunteer at the MCC. The problems treated there are more psychological or social problems.
I also enjoyed working together with Devin, Heavenly and Misbah. It makes the experience even better if you can share it with someone. I only think that maybe I should have gone with them more often.
I have to make some critical observations however about this project. The main one is the time aspect. I had a difficult time trying to incorporate the volunteering into my schedule. I know its only 10 hours and that should not be very hard but at the same time I feel like 10 hours of volunteering is not enough to help properly or really get a good experience. I felt bad doing the mere minimum but at the same time I just did not have enough time so that I ended up volunteering but still feeling like "a lazy bum". Maybe one could give us more time(e.g. christmas holidays) and increase the amount of volunteering hours or just drop it completely. These are my thoughts on it, yet without it being required I know I would not have done anything and I would have missed out on the earlier described experiences.
Therefore all in all I think I gained something out of it.
I think that was my main gain from this whole project. I really did not learn anything new about biology but I guess I was not expecting to after I made the decision to volunteer at the MCC. The problems treated there are more psychological or social problems.
I also enjoyed working together with Devin, Heavenly and Misbah. It makes the experience even better if you can share it with someone. I only think that maybe I should have gone with them more often.
I have to make some critical observations however about this project. The main one is the time aspect. I had a difficult time trying to incorporate the volunteering into my schedule. I know its only 10 hours and that should not be very hard but at the same time I feel like 10 hours of volunteering is not enough to help properly or really get a good experience. I felt bad doing the mere minimum but at the same time I just did not have enough time so that I ended up volunteering but still feeling like "a lazy bum". Maybe one could give us more time(e.g. christmas holidays) and increase the amount of volunteering hours or just drop it completely. These are my thoughts on it, yet without it being required I know I would not have done anything and I would have missed out on the earlier described experiences.
Therefore all in all I think I gained something out of it.
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