An Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog! Throughout the next month or so, I will be updating this website often with my experiences while on Hawken Project.  I am so excited that the time has finally arrived – it’s been months in the making. Without further ado…let’s begin!

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“The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

With project starting in 1 week (can you believe it?!), it’s finally starting to feel real. Albeit, my mind is still primarily focused on upcoming AP tests, final project presentations, and a math final, I still cannot contain my excitement for next Wednesday!

In this blogpost, I thought it would be best to introduce myself and explain my project to you…

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So, what exactly is my project? Why did you chose it?

In essence, I am doing a service project. I will be working at Menorah Park, a living center of senior citizens. It is located in Beachwood, OH and is about 15 minutes away from my house. In fact, I have passed by the large, brown “MENORAH PARK” sign an infinite amount of times in the past 18 years. But, I never really had a connection to the facility until about a year ago when I came to the realization that at the same time as I gaining my own independence, my grandmother was losing a lot of her own. I was originally distraught that the sleep overs, trips to Dunkin’ Donuts, and games of bingo of my childhood were gone. I refused to visit my grandma because I thought that as soon as I stepped foot in her new home – Menorah Park – I would have to accept that those happiness-filled days of my childhood were over. But, eventually I overcame my stubbornness and stopped by one day…and boy, did I make a good decision. Yes, I still sometimes feel nostalgic for those days. Although things will never truly be the same, I’ve realized that even though she has lost much of her own independence, I have gained much more of my own. It is with this fact that I decided on volunteering at Menorah Park.

I visit my grandma quite often nowadays and each time I stop by, I am reminded that I often take my life for granted. I let little inconveniences ruin my day: friends getting on my nerves, not wanting to go to sports practice, not wanting to clean my room when I get home, etc. Yet, I could tell that any of these elderly residents would do anything just to have the mobility, social interactions, and independence I so often complain about it. But, even though they declined from what they used to be, I’ve found that these individuals are eternally optimistic, compassionate, and appreciative. In my experience, spending time around senior citizens gives me more perspective on life and simultaneously puts a smile on my face.

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Ew…service! Why CHOOSE to put yourself through that?

I know many of my classmates cringe at the thought of doing community service for 3 weeks, but I cannot wait! One extremely transformative experience in my life has been the Homelessness Intensive. Working with this underappreciated community got me to thinking…a lot. Throughout this course, I completely changed my mindset on community service. No longer was service that mandatory day twice a year that felt pointless. No, it was a responsibility of mine to give back to a country and community that has given me so much (even if I don’t recognize it that frequently…). Seeing the impact of my work fills me with a feeling that can’t really be described or achieved by doing anything else. The way a person’s face lights up when they feel someone genuinely cares about them is an image that really sticks in my mind. As I write, my mind is flooded with the smiles of Lonzell, an impoverished kindergartner fighting homelessness with his 6 other siblings, and Catherine, a mentally disabled basketball player at the Metzenbaum center. Overall, I chose to do a service project this spring not because I need it on my college resume or to “look good,” but because I want to share some of the amazing experiences I’ve had in my life with those who haven’t.

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Okay, so what’s your essential question?

Here is my essential question (and some supplemental ones!):

• What can I learn – both about myself and life in general – from working with the elderly population?
• What are some of the struggles that senior citizens face in their daily life?
• How are we different? How are we the same? 
• How are the effects of memory loss on an individual’s life? How do they handle these changes?

I hope to answer these questions (and more) during my time at Menorah Park!

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What will you specifically be doing there?

Menorah Park is a huge facility, with many different pavilions/sectors for a wide range of senior citizens. For my project, I will be working with Kimberly Skerl, an activities director, in the memory-loss unit. In general, I will be keeping the residents company and helping run fun activities in which they can participate. These may include things such as bingo, music performances, games, etc. I will be at the facility from 8:30 am to around 3:00-4:00pm every day.

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Are you doing anything in preparation for your project?

Because I will be working in the memory-loss unit at Menorah Park, Ms. Skerl recommended that I read a fascinating novel about a woman who experiences early-onset Alzheimer’s disease named Still Alice. I have heard amazing things about this book and can’t wait to dive right in! I’ve included a link to the movie trailer below if you are interested in watching! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXrZ5iiR0o 

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Wow…I really can ramble! Anyways, I hope you are ready to enjoy reading about this journey on which I’m about the embark. The possibilities are endless!

Sincerely yours,

Bailey