Service Hours

     For my service hours I attended two of the special needs events and helped out with them here on campus. The first one that I volunteered for was the special needs fun run. I first helped with set up. I was surprised at how well organized the event was and also how official everything about it was. I spent a lot of time putting together the bibs with the numbers for our runners. I hole punched and put safety pins on them. What I liked about this is that they looked exactly like how they would look at a real race so I knew that those who were participating would feel special and accomplished as they completed the race.
     After I helped set up I was sent down to the finish line to finish decorating and to cheer on the runners and hand out medals as they crossed the finish line. As I helped I was able to learn more about the special needs program on campus and all of the fun things that they do. Then the runners started to come around the corner. It was amazing to see the looks on their faces as they crossed the finish line and were congratulated. I met this one guy named Jason. I don't know what needs Jason has but he is so fun and full of life. He gave me a hug and then asked my name. I told him and then he told me that we are best friends forever. It was such a sweet moment and such good memories as I got to get to know Jason and talk with him. You could tell how much that race had meant to him and how proud he was of himself. The spirit was there and it was an amazing thing to be a part of.
     The second thing that I did was attend the extravaganza. They needed more people to come be the audience and to cheer the performers on. It was such an amazing thing to be a part of. To watch these people perform something that took them a while to learn and then to watch their faces light up as we clapped and cheered was so heartwarming. Also how much better our world would be if we just cheered each other on no matter what our struggles and trials are. Wouldn't we feel more encouraged and lifted? I know that is what being a part of the audience did for those that performed and I think that everyone should have the opportunity to fee like that. I hope that next semester I can be more involved with the special needs activities here on campus. They are truly run with the spirit and do so much good.