Service Learning

Service Learning Questionnaire

1. What are your talents? 

      Mountain biking 

      Piano

      Tennis

2. What do you enjoy doing? 

      Mountain bike trail building

      Driving

      Piano

      Tennis

3. What skill or talent would you like to improve? 

      I would really like to continue to improve my piano skills to eventually be experienced enough to play as a side job if I ever need money

4. What are you already doing that could be part of your service learning programme? 

     I think trail maintenance volunteering could count towards my service learning. I am also planning on performing piano at an elderly care facility later this month which also may count. 

5. What would you like to be involved in? 

     Last year, my family decided to do a food bank volunteering thing at The Neighborhood House. We worked with the food storage facility and sorted items into boxes and delivered to communities in government subsidized housing nearby. I would like to do that more because it was fun and pretty rewarding

6. Describe a time when you helped someone else or helped with a cause? 

     See above

7. Describe a time when someone helped you? 

     Other than my parents who help me everyday, I think the assistant coach for the tennis team has really helped me a lot. He worked on my tennis skills over the past few months and really prepared for this season. He would also assist me in the gym whenever I needed.

8. About what issues do you have concern or feel most passionate? 

      I think making sure children get proper nutrition is something I feel very passionate about. With the obesity rates skyrocketing amount children over the past few decades, I think making sure schools and parents are providing their children with good nutritious food is essential to developing a strong generation. No child should ever go hungry as it limits their growth as well. 

9. What would you like to learn more about? 

        I would like to learn how I could get more involved in mountain bike trail building/maintenance volunteering

10. What have you always wanted to try but haven’t yet? 

        I’ve never actually done trail maintenance while being supervised and part of an organization. I would do my own on my local trail that I built (which was turned into a walking by THPRD), and really enjoyed the shovel therapy. 

11. What other questions may help? Write down two and answer them.

           What kind of flexibility do you have in your schedule for volunteering?

                  Right now I do have tennis, but I also don’t have a job so weekends are usually free if I'm not planning on mountain biking or skiing. During the summer, I plan to have a job, but ill also be going on a fair share or mountain biking trips or just general road trips with friends (first summer since we can drive other people). Hopefully ill be able to make time for some volunteering, however.

The activity that best emphasized the outcomes described in 3 and 4 would easily be the food bank box prep. Starting with 3, prepping boxes in a timely manner, while reducing mistakes meant that each packing group had to be an efficient "machine". At first it was difficult to put together the contents quickly, but through experience, my group and I worked toward creating a system that had each of us gathering a specific type of item from the storage shelves. This way, we would get familiar with one area and would hence find things faster. Working in a group where this is possible was crucial to achieving the tasks of packing one box every 3 minutes. However, working with a group can be hard as not everyone thinks the same as you, meaning your ideas may not be taken as seriously and you'd hope. While this can be challenging, it's necessary to take multiple perspectives to create the "correct" method of doing things. 

For outcome 4, preparing these food boxes opened my perspective to all the people who were really struggling in our society. Coming from a complete family who've never had to rely on government-subsidized programs, seeing all the people thankful for the boxes was very heartwarming. In those moments, all I wanted to do was help those people as many either struggled with mental health, or were parents of young children. It just went to show how tough the world can be, especially on the people that the world relies on, the working class. 

For outcome 1, I need to mention my involvement in Lake Oswego mountain bike team. I was a rider for the team since 8th grade so I've essentially grown up with them. From post pandemic me: a scrawny, pale young teen gamer, LOC transformed my life. They gave me strength, confidence, friends, connections in the bike industry, and skill I'll take long past high school. I learned many skills throughout my time on the team, and it was a pleasure to bring those to other young riders. From tips on cornering, climbing, and descending, to the less useful skills such as wheelieing and manuals, I was able to give back to the team that had given me so much. Additionally, engaging in education on minor bike repairs and maintenance helped riders keep their bikes running smooth and fast.  

Outcome 5 was experienced in my trail building and maintenance experiences. While trail maintenance and construction is great for all the athletes seeking thrilling rides, it's impossible to deny the environmental impact. Despite trails be made specifically (often as the expense of the quality of the trail) to avoid tree and plant removal, it's an unfortunate inevitability with the sport. Luckily, most trails are simply small strips through the woods so damage is small, but it's something to consider regardless. Ethically, this is a concern and I always felt bed when I would need to take out a small tree or bush, but the affect on riders, and especially young ones is so worth it. I remember seeing  young children out riding trails I had created. As they scooted along on their push bikes, with their dad in close tow, I couldn't help but feel I had finally done something I was proud of. 

Finally, outcome 2 was checked by every other activity on the log, but I specifically enjoyed the bike collection at Trek Bikes in Lake Oswego. This was especially impactful because not too long after, I began working for Trek Bikes at that very location. Receiving donated bikes and supporting the cause of getting bikes for kids who couldn't afford them was so empowering for me. I've been fortunate enough to always have a bike I could ride, and more recently multiple bikes worth more than some cars. I really enjoyed supporting this cause.