Destiny Johnson/St. Stephens Elementary School

Destiny Johnson

1. Where the student volunteered their time?

I volunteered my time at St. Stephens Elementary School in St. Stephens, SC where I was mentored by Terneika Dingle. I chose this particular place because I have done my senior service learning project there as well as other community service assignments. I am familiar with the staff and they are all so passionate about their students. This school is located in an area of poverty and most of the children in this school are affected by poverty. I know what it was like growing up in a low-income home. It really does affect how well you perform in school. This school is known to participate in all kinds of service activities to better their students as well as the families. For example, in October I participated in a #DeviceFreeDinner where students and parents had dinner at the local Wendy's without using any of their technology devices. Wendy's provided the families with free frosty's for participating. They make the necessary steps to care for families as well that will influence how families interact with their children.

2. How the service activity reflected concepts learned in the HDFS curriculum?

One particular activity I participated in with the school was the Trunk-or-Read Reading Fest. St. Stephens Elementary partnered up with the "Reading Partners of SC" to help make reading a treat for students by providing books during Halloween. Students were to visited the trunks of cars to receive books on their reading levels'. If the car they chose did not have their reading level, they were to say "I like to read" in order to receive candy instead. The parents who showed seemed to really enjoy this because it was unlike any Halloween event they had ever participated in.  There was also face painting, music, nail painting, popcorn, music, etc.

3. How the student networked with other professionals while participating in the activity and what they gained from that networking?

During the days I volunteered I spoke to a lot of the staff about my future plans and what I wish to achieve after graduating college. I learned about a lot of possible places I could seek employment in the Rock Hill area. I remember us discussing how the most effective way to find out about jobs is through networking so I used this to my advantage. 

4. The potential effect the service activity and or the service organization

can have (or does have) on the community.

 The school developed their own "Basket Brigade". Baskets of Thanksgiving foods were created to donate to families in need during the holidays. The families are not selected by need but are required to register to receive a basket. On November 21, before Thanksgiving, the staff selected individuals to go out and deliver the baskets to those who were elderly or did not have transportation. Although I could not attend during delivery, I participated in the registration part of the program. There were about 70 participants. I thought this was a really great thing to do since most of the families were of low-income. It is a way to show parents that the educators care.

 

5. A general reflection on the assignment (e.g., reactions, feelings, life lessons)

I really enjoyed working with the staff. They were really caring and loving. The treated their students as if they were family. Every small service made a difference in someone's life. I also loved the idea of giving books to the children to read. I remember being in a school where a lot of the students were below average in reading.