Reflecting On Your Experiences
Reflection is what turns your volunteer experience into a learning opportunity! By taking the time to reflect on your experience, you can better understand your expierince, appreciate what you and others are doing to make a difference, and learn about how this experience relates to your life. If you don't reflect you are also not making an intentional connection between your coursework and your work in the community. To reflect on your own, use the guide below.
WHAT?
- What do I expect to get out of this experience (purpose/goals/ideas)?
- What did I observe during my first visit?
- What is the agency's mission? Goals?
- Are there other agencies in the community that have similar goals?
- What part of my service experience was the most challenging? Surprising?
- How was I of service?
SO WHAT?
- What am I learning about myself and others?
- What impact did today's visit have on me?
- What is the relationship between my "community service world" and my "other" worlds?
- Have any of my values, opinions, or decisions changed through this experience?
- What has surprised me about myself, the agency, and the people that I work with or interact with?
- What did I get out of this experience?
NOW WHAT?
- Is it important to me to stay involved in the community? Will I continue to be of service?
- How will my efforts working with this agency contribute to social change? To my career?
- What did I learn and how can I use that in my coursework and future career?