Stephanie Boulware

 According to various sites on the Internet, service learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting that combines academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service, frequently youth service, throughout the community.  In other words, Service Learning is using volunteer work in combination with the classroom to increase student learning.

 Service Learning is important for many reasons. Service Learning allows for a student to gain materials in way different from that of a typical classroom. Not only is service learning good for the student, the servicing that the student is providing labor to the community, without the need of a wage.

 Inside Classroom  Different learning environment  Material is gained through different forms of learning  You receive a good feeling knowing that you helped out.  Outside Classroom  Provides community with free labor  Provides student with skills that could be useful outside the classroom  You receive a good feeling knowing that you helped out.

Valdosta State Cheerleading Through the VSU Cheerleading Squad is where I get most of my community service. Every college athletic is required to do a certain number of community service hours. However, being a part of the cheerleading squad also requires you to make appearances, which constitutes hours over the requirement amount.

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need. Valdosta State Cheerleading team spilt the into two teams of 25 and worked on a local home in Valdosta. We stayed there for four hours each, resulting in eight hours of community service for the team. This was the roof that we shingled during the time we were there.

C.O.A. Cheerleading Competition C.O.A. is an acronym for Cheerleaders of America. Cheerleaders of America is a nation wide organization responsible for hosting various cheerleading and dance competitions around the country. Selected cheerleaders from Valdosta go the one of these competitions per year. This year’s competition was located in Macon, Georgia. We all were given specific tasks like selling tickets, working the merchandise table, registering teams, and escorting coaches. We spent almost 11 hours at this competition; meeting at 7:00 in the morning and not leaving until 6:00.

Blazer Baseball Special Needs Event. Valdosta State University Baseball team hosted a Special Needs Event for the all children of Valdosta. The event was hosted at one of the home baseball games at Billy Grant Field. We were scheduled to work from 12:00- 3:00 in the afternoon. We, as Freshmen Year Experience students, were in charged of running the activity stations. The stations consisted of face painting, a duck pond, a frog pond, and moonwalk.

 College Clinic  This clinic was where high school seniors and any transfer student could come and learn what is required for tryouts for the squad.  Kiddie Clinics  This clinic was a clinic for children with ages ranging from 3 to 9. We taught cheers, chants, and a dance to these girls. We also provided the girls with snacks and games.

 I love participating in Service Learning. I enjoy trying new things and meeting new people, and service learning has allowed me to do that. The feeling that I get knowing that I helped out not because of anything other incentive than love, fuels my desire to continue service learning.