Goal 2

Introduction

The second goal of the Honors Program is to exhibit a commitment to awareness, involvement, community, and service, which is crucial to building up a sense of civic responsibility that we all, as citizens, possess in helping our community with the best aid that we can provide. Also, it allows us to interact and be more aware of different problems that other individuals within our community are going through.

Outcome 1: Enact solutions to real-world problems for individuals or society

I have accomplished this outcome through a volunteer project assigned in the HON 395H- Citizenship and Service course. For this project, we needed to volunteer individually or through an organization that combats  different real-world problems that affect several communities with efficient solutions. I chose to volunteer in the Outreach360 organization as an online English teacher for Hispanic middle school students because I identify as Hispanic and am aware of the lack of access to affordable and good quality education in Latin America.

During this project, I went trhough training by qualified professional educators so I could provide the best quality to my students, I followed the curricula given to me, but when I finally interacted with my students, I molded it depending on their strengths and weaknesses, I was provided with feedback every week that helped me to improve my teaching skills. 

I believe this experience made me value education even more since the impact provided will last longer than tangible objects, and what they learn will allow them to get more opportunities in this competitive world.

Outcome 2: Reflect on a civic effort which addresses civic responsibility and citizenship

I accomplished this second outcome through my citizenship paper assigned in my HON 191H- The Honors Community course. For this assignment, we had to identify a problem in our community, volunteer in an organization that combats it, and research through credible sources to write the paper. I chose to participate in a dog enrichment volunteer opportunity at a local animal shelter called Sauris Valley Animal Shelter, where I would fulfill different duties to relieve the stress whose sheltered dogs experience through physical activity, treats, and affection. 

It is crucial not only to provide our help to other human beings but also to other creatures like dogs that go through difficult moments while waiting to be adopted. This experience made me realize that community is not only the people you are surrounded by but the individuals in general. So, we are also responsible for providing our services to them, mainly because they are not as capable of expressing their hardships as humans do. 

Conclusion

Committing to being more involved in the community allows us to be more aware of situations that other individuals are going through and that we, as citizens, can and should contribute to helping others through services since they will impact others' lives. What I have learned in the Honors Program has helped me create, develop, and keep working on my civic responsibility to keep giving back to my community the efforts others do for me.