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We worked with the MMCC and participated in activities with kids in 1st and 2nd grades. The kids chose which activity they wanted to do which included arts and crafts, dancing, and more. My group did a dancing class in the atrium with the kids where I learned how to better work with children, understand them, and talk to them. The experience expanded my understanding of service learning as well as volunteering because it taught me more about the goals of community centers such as the MMCC. The goals of the MMCC are to provide affordable opportunities and resources such as education systems, food, gifts, cards, activities entertainment, internships or jobs, cooking programs, singing and dancing lessons, after-school programs for homework, tutoring or further education, and general financial support. Additionally, another major goal for these community centers is universal access to build communities, volunteers, socializing, and personality development. During my service learning experience, fun opportunities, specifically dancing, were provided for children after school, which included snacks, as well. I can contribute to the community in the future, by volunteering to participate in activities, similar to this one, to help out kids through tutoring and art, while still making sure they have a fun time. Also, I can donate to local organizations, help out at a food bank, work with animals at an animal shelter, tutor kids at schools near me, buy groceries, food, or drinks from local markets, and babysit, dogsit, or catsit people’s kids or pets for free.

Ellery Herman

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There are various words of wisdom, advice, and lessons that I would want to share with an incoming Middle School student to help them understand the importance of service learning. Firstly, I would tell them about the importance of education. Horace Mann students are able to enjoy an extensive and rich education, but some others are not as fortunate. We worked with the MMCC and education is one of their priorities. A proper education helps people build vital skills and accumulate important knowledge that will later help them find jobs and a source of income. I would also share with them the importance of personality building, which is another one of the areas that MMCC specializes in. Personality building is another critical part in the a person's development, especially a child's. It allows people to grow into who they are and be able to understand and explore various interests which helps them live a full life. I would share with them the importance of food confidence, community, resources, and so much more. The last thing that I would tell them is that they could take just a couple hours out of their day every once in a while to help provide people with both education and personality building. I would say that spending that time to contribute to service learning changes not just hours of people's days but their entire future and lives. This is a critical message for rising middle schoolers to hear becasue it lets them start they service learning journey early, allowing them to help change even more lives.

- Natalie Zeitlin

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My words of advice to incoming middle schoolers would be to have an open mind. When I was in 7th grade a lot of people told me that service learning really was not fun. I was super worried that no one I knew would be there and that I would hate it. However when I was in the atrium waiting to go to Van Cortlandt park, I discovered that a lot of people I knew were there. Looking for trash in the park makes you realize how much there was. We were also given some history facts about parts of the park. We saw a super dead and old tree and estimated how far the roots went out in the ground. We also saw 14 stones that were over a century old. There was a nationwide competition in the United States of America for samples of stone. The stones arrived in New York and stayed there for a year. Whichever stone lasted the longest would be used to build Grand Central Terminal. Service Learning can really change your view on the world and inspires you to do the same things outside of school. It allows students to grow and take the things they learn inside of school and apply to the outside world. I hope that you will have the same experience as me and have the same amount of fun as I had.

-Araxi Kuhn

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Some advice I would be glad to share with an incoming middle school student is to make sure to engage and really care. This is very meaningful to these kids and it will not only brighten their day, but also make your time much better. These kids are often much younger than we are, so they believe that us older kids are “cool”. They look up to us and if you are engaged with them and become friends with them it will make their day. I know that when I was in 1st grade I thought all of the older kids were so cool. Now looking back, I want to make these kids feel good about themselves being friends with the older kids. Also, if you are engaged it will be a much better time for these kids. They come here to play around and learn skills like arts. To make their time meaningful and to maximize fun, just stay engaged and have an open mindset. Yes, these kids may be immature at times, but remember they’re in 1st grade. Stay patient with them and if you need to calm one of them down, use a calm tone and give them a friendly reminder. Remember, you are the one that they look up to, you are the leader in this class.

-Jake Zeichner

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The wisdom and words of advice I would give to the incoming Middle School students is to keep an open mind, and try to make the biggest impact you can. My task was to work with the MMCC and participate in arts and crafts with young kids in the lower division. The MMCC does a whole lot for those in need including providing support, whether financial, with food, or if someone just needs a friend. You don't need to worry about helping someone financially, the MMCC has that covered but you can easily clean up a few things at Van Cortlandt, or entertain and interact with kids from Public schools where you have conversations and give advice. Also, remember you can have fun yourself while helping others. I got to make some arts and crafts myself while talking and engaging with the kids from public school, and I enjoyed doing this. I also enjoyed learning from the public school kids. Service learning is meaningful in many ways by helping those in need, whether it's a person, animal or an area. There are many ways to help and it is meaningful to help those in need to make a good change in their life whether good or tiny, but from my task on 10/28/24, it was meaningful to collaborate with people from other schools while providing them with activities and snacks. Overall it was a fun experience and I good time chatting and collaborating with the kids, and I hope you guys do too.

Jayson Patel

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During my service learning, my group and I worked to clean up Van Cortlandt Park. We worked with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, and their representative taught us so much about the park and its flora and fauna. I learned to respect nature and always help maintain local parks because even the smallest deed can have a big impact on the world and the people around you. To incoming 8th graders who will participate in service learning next year: it's actually quite interesting and a very fun experience. You will learn a lot from it and it might change your outlook onto certain issues. It certainly changed mine - I never really realized how polluted NYC's parks are, and collecting a full bag of trash really helped me understand that. Further, prior to the park cleanup, I didn't know that the Bronx was the least funded borough out of the five, and that that means that Van Cortlandt really needs and benefits from the help people like us give it. To close this out, I just want to leave one last message to those who will follow in the footsteps of the many before them who have participated in the service learning: every small action can cause big ripples and it is important to care for the environment - always be dedicated to helping our parks!

Liam Kojuharov

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For the many upcoming middile school students i would like to give them the advice to put 100 percent into everything including service learning. The reson behind this is that middle school is 100% harder and more time comsuming that the lower divison. And not putting 100% effort would be viewed as subpar. Another picei of advice that i would give to upcoming middle schoolers is to express their ideas and share thier emotions with other people. This will help you thriughout your middle school career and life becuase it will help you with empathy whch will brin you closer with your teacher but also help you connect with charecter and istorical figures. My final piece of advice would be to get closer with your advisor. They will benifit you throught middle school by helping you mavuer throught diffecult classes and help you make the right chocies on dilemas.

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A few words of wisdom, or advice that I think would be helpful for an incoming middle school student would have to be that every single thing big or small makes an impact and it matters. An impact is just something that changes things and everyday people make impacts. The choice is whether or not your impact will be good or bad for the community.

Last month during the service learning activity I went to Van Cortland park to pick up trash and learn about the history of the park. The walk was great and picking up trash was fun but it brought my attention to how such a small group of people can make such a big difference.

The Service Learning community may seem pointless or a waste of time and effort but at the CCVA every person is valued and passionate about working for a better future for the world starting with the Bronx.

Every piece of work, or time, or focus, big or small, being given to community service and helping your community creates a difference. Creating a difference may be difficult and seem so out of reach but it is actually much easier than you think. A change makes a shockwave whether it's in your family, your friends, schoolmates, or the world it matters. This world is riddled with issues, one person cannot do it on their own. Homelessness, hunger, climate change, health, unemployment, and gender equality are there just to name a few. These big issues can all end if everybody comes together and tries. This is what the Service learning community is fighting for. This is why sacrificing your time and applying yourself to help others is so important.

Helping others also just makes the world a better place to live in, imagine somewhere beautiful with no homeless people and no struggle while that future may be a far away dream you can become a stepping stone to help it become a reality.

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I learnt a lot through my service-learning experience this year and I feel like some of it is definitely important to know. My service-learning group worked with the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC). The MMCC helps people of all ages with dedicated programs on a variety of different things like engagement and participation, teen centers, education, finance, social life, and diversity. Since we partner with them, sometimes students from HM go to Bronx public schools (associated with the MMCC) to help the kids, and sometimes they come to HM. In my service learning activity, a group of young kids, mostly first and second graders, came to HM to be at different stations. There was a room for dancing, homework help, STEAM, and more. I chose to help out the kids in the STEAM room, and it was really fun! We helped the kids make a contraption that could stop a water balloon from popping when dropped, much like an egg drop. I also helped a lot near the end, where I opened their coverings and told them if the water balloon survived. For most people it survived! Overall, this was a really fun experience and I learnt a lot from this. However, some of the biggest advice I could give is to not dread service-learning activities, and try to make the best out of them along with giving others a good experience. Additionally, even if you might not like a certain activity, there are so many other ways to do service and help out in the community. Even if it’s not your specialty, don’t think of service learning in a bad light. Finally, service learning is really important in terms of helping out the community. We are very lucky to go to a good school and have a great education, but that does not mean that everybody has as many educational opportunities along with other opportunities as us. Service learning is just one way to help others that don’t get those opportunities and programs as much.

-Krish Motwani

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My service learning activity was HM 246. This took place in Lutnick and about 8 8th graders and a bunch of upper school students did after school activities with younger kids. I did arts and crafts but there was also dance and other subjects. The assignment was to create a safe creation to wrap an egg in that would prevent it from cracking when it fell. They were given a bunch of materials like plastic bags and sponges. I learned that I enjoy helping people learn and watching them discover new things. I had to learn when to step in and help and when to let them work on their own. For example, when one student needed help cutting their pipe cleaner, instead of just taking it and doing it for them, I asked how they think they should do it and then showed them the easiest way to cut it. I also learned how to be attentive and look around the room for people who needed help because often times they didn’t ask for it but could definitely use a little bit of support. It was a great experience to see their thought processes and I remember doing this exact same activity in 3rd grade. I was really impressed with all their thinking. One thing I did well was not drifting off into side conversations with my friends and staying on topic. Something I could improve on is being more aware of when to step forward and step back in terms of helping the kids out.

- Leo Xia

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For my service-learning, we, along with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, helped clean up trash in Van Cortlandt Park. A piece of advice I would share with an incoming Middle Division student about how service learning can be meaningful is to go in with an open mind, because it feels good to do something that helps positively impact people’s lives, and lives in general. When we went to Van Cortlandt Park, we were taught that it lacked a lot of federal funding, and so volunteer groups like the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance are being formed in order to compensate. When we went, we managed to clean up a large amount of trash, and it was nice knowing that this meant that visitors to the park would be able to enjoy it more, and that we were probably saving local wildlife from eating this trash. Additionally, it helped me understand more about service-learning because I learned it can help teach us more about our communities and about ourselves, and that it can help us make an impact. When we helped clean up the park, I learned a lot about the history of Van Cortlandt Park, and I felt like helping there brought me closer to the area. I also felt like, in a world where there are many big issues, and that there is practically nothing I can do to help, this service-learning gave me a way to help and made me feel like even the smallest things I do can help make a difference. Overall, I felt like this was a very positive experience that I feel like everyone should have an opportunity to do.

- Fernando Rivera

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As a member of HM Lead, I was able to help wrap gifts for the Mercy Center. Sixth Graders were given the role of buying gifts for families living in the South Bronx, and when they had arrived, my peers and I all made our way to the atrium. There, we saw hundreds of gifts, all waiting to be wrapped. After two hours, every single gift was wrapped with colorful paper, not one left behind. These two hours had a huge impact on my life. I felt joy that I didn't expect from wrapping gifts. The thought of people receiving presents that they normally didn't get put a smile on my face. This feeling has motivated me to continue volunteering in the future. One way I can do this is by helping out at my local temple. I can serve food, and help decorate the temple for holidays. I won't be able to do this every single day, but I can still contribute to the community in other ways all the time. For example, if I see a piece of trash on the street, I can pick it up. This itself is helping the community, and that is what service learning is all about. Helping people and the community out in any way possible!

-Ishaan Shah

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During my service learning experience, we worked with HM246 as an afterschool program. I helped some younger students with their homework and assisted them in the art studio, where they made sculptures with model magic. Firstly, I learned that I enjoyed helping the students, especially with their homework. For example, when I was helping one student with their math homework, the first problems took longer, but after I gave them advice and tips, they got the hang of it and were breezing through the other problems. I felt proud since I saw them doing better and better after each problem, and I enjoyed this feeling after helping the students. I also learned about how different schools work, like the resources teachers use to assign homework, and these were even new to me when I was assisting the students. I also learned some of the interests of the kids there, for example, one was really into Sonic The Hedgehog, which helped me understand and learn about the younger students. I also gained knowledge by observing the students, as some were very quiet and preferred to do things themselves, while others were very chatty and outspoken. I also had some challenges during my experience, which included how I should help the kids. While helping the kids with homework, I realized I had to slow down a lot, since the kid didn't do work as fast as I do, and preferred to take their time, which was something I had to realize. I also had to know when and when not to step in and help the kids. I knew that I couldn't just give them answers, since they would never learn, so I decided to teach them how to do it and let them do it themselves, where from there I would check over their work. Also, during art, I offered some brainstorming ideas for those who didn't know what to make, but past that, the kids didn't want me to help them at all. They accepted some of the brainstorming ideas but made it clear I could not help them while making the sculpture. I had to adapt to best help the kids, and I didn't have it perfect the first time I tried to help. Overall, I learned a lot from this experience, and I enjoyed helping the kids.

Amir Berengut

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This service learning experience changed the way I think about volunteering. Before, I thought volunteering was just about helping others in ways that might feel like a chore or something you don’t enjoy. But after teaching a dance class to kids in an after-school program, I realized that volunteering can actually be about doing something you love. I’ve always enjoyed dancing, and it felt great to share that passion with the kids. While I was teaching them dance moves, I was also learning from them. I became more patient, improved my communication skills, and learned how to make learning fun and engaging. Seeing the kids’ excitement when they learned something new made me realize how much even small efforts can mean to others. I now understand that volunteering isn’t just about giving your time; it’s about connecting with others and making a positive impact on their lives. It’s about sharing your talents and creating a sense of community. Teaching dance showed me how powerful it can be to share something you enjoy, and how it helps others grow and feel more confident.

In the future, I want to continue volunteering in ways that help others feel seen and valued. Whether it’s teaching dance, tutoring, or helping out at local events, I plan to keep finding ways to give back to my community. Volunteering can be about using what you already love to make a difference in people’s lives, and I want to keep doing that.

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For me, service learning is a time to others happiness before yours. By this, I mean do your best to make sure e kids your working with a having a great time. It’s also important to make sure the children are aware that you want them to have fun, enjoy their time with you, and feel welcomed into the HM Community. Another thing you want to do is make sure the kids aren’t bored, because as I observed, some were. I felt bad seeing this, I wanted all the children to realize the opportunity they were being given by being able to spend time at HM, both having a great time, and creating valuable memories. The last piece of advice I can add is to enjoy the moment, you might not think it’s all that great when it’s happening, but when it’s over you will surely miss it.

-Adrian Abdy

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There are countless words of wisdom or advice I would give to an incoming middle schooler to help them recognise the significance of service learning. For the service learning experience I did, I worked with HM246 to teach first and second graders from other schools in the Bronx dancing, arts and crafts, STEAM and more. First, I would explain why service learning is so important. I would tell them that service learning is a chance to address real world challenges. Whether it’s helping the environment, helping those in need, or just working to support the community, every effort matters. I would tell them that showing kindness or lending a helping hand makes all the difference. I would help them understand the importance of food, water, access to education and other necessary resources. I would tell them that not everyone has access to these things and how we should be mindful of this. Here at Horace Mann, students get a fantastic education including development of critical thinking, problem solving skills, a supportive learning environment and a focus on social and emotional growth. I would tell this incoming Horace Mann student that not everyone gets this type of education, and we should be aware of that. Second, I would tell them to approach it with an open mind. Service learning often introduces people whose lives and challenges may have been very different from theirs and it is a great opportunity to build empathy and understanding for others. Third, I would tell the student to collaborate with others. Many service learning projects require group efforts. I would tell them to listen to others’ ideas and opinions, and support each other. Lastly, I would tell this student to have fun. Service learning is not just about completing tasks; it's about finding joy in helping others and making the world a better place. Service learning not only helps others but also helps one develop moral values and skills they can use in their everyday lives. It is so important to understand why service learning can be meaningful in the world as it not only helps one become more thoughtful, compassionate and kind, but it also inspires others and can leave a lasting impact on the world.

Raina

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To be honest, before I worked with HM246, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to service learning and volunteering. I thought of it as something to get over with so you can go on with your life. But after working with kids and learning about STEM together, I realized how meaningful something as small as devoting a single afternoon to teaching can be. These kids really want to learn- they love trying new things and working with older students, and an act that seems small to you could mean the world to them. Just try to keep an open mind- if you go in believing that you’ll hate it, you won’t get to enjoy the experience to the fullest. I personally loved this activity, and even if you don’t, the genuine happiness on the kids’ faces will still make it worth it. I also got to meet some of the upper division students through volunteering, as well as become closer with some of my friends. Whether it’s cleaning a park, providing teachers and students with the education they can’t afford themselves, or spending an afternoon dancing, making art, or learning with younger students, just remember that this isn’t supposed to be a chore. It’s about having fun and finding some of yourself while helping others. Provide for those that have less than you, donate your time and extra resources, get a better idea of the world we live in. Sometimes we all get caught up in little problems, and service learning is a great way to see the bigger picture. Every contribution counts, and if everyone just devoted a single afternoon to working with others, the world would be a much better place.

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Here is some advice and words of wisdom I would like to share with up and coming middle school students. First of all, keep in mind that most people do not have the resources that we have. Most of us here have such an abundance of those things that we don't even consider them in our daily activities. We do those service learning activities to help those in need so we should treat it as so, not as a chore or another assignment for school. Second, we should approach everything in a neutral mentality and rid ourselves of biases. Many of you may have heard bad things about service learning or think it’s boring or annoying. Instead of doing that, go into the activities with an open mind. This way you’ll learn much more and have a much better experience. These organizations provide many opportunities that are normally not available. For example, the steam lab and the laptops we take for granted here at HM aren’t a common resource for other folk. It may not impact you a lot but doing these service learning activities could potentially change peoples lives for the better. Most of these tasks aren’t boring at all. Helping out the little kids was a fun opportunity to be the teacher and the older one that most haven’t really experienced, at least not with complete strangers. Helping others will grant you new perspectives on service learning and also change their lives. This is what I would tell incoming middle schoolers about service learning.

-Bruce

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During HM246, I had the opportunity to work with children, which turned out to be both rewarding and challenging. At first, I felt unsure about how to connect with them or if they would respond well to me. However, once I started interacting, I realized that what mattered most was showing kindness and enthusiasm. One key lesson I learned was the importance of patience. Kids can be energetic and easily distracted, so I had to stay calm and guide them without getting frustrated. For example, during our dance activity, the kids struggled to participate. So, I encouraged them to try a different approach, and when they succeeded, their excitement was amazing. Moments like that reminded me how small efforts can make a big difference. Another takeaway was how much responsibility it takes to be a role model. I made sure to be respectful and encouraging. I also learned how to communicate clearly and adjust my approach to suit their age and interests.

This experience helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I realized how fulfilling it is to help others, even in simple ways like listening or offering encouragement. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for teachers and caregivers who dedicate their time to nurturing young minds.

Overall, working with kids taught me about leadership, compassion, and the value of service. I’ll carry with me this experience and hope to repeat it in the future.

Ana'Li Martinez

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When I went to the HM246 after school program, I was with young children. I believe that they were in Kindergarten. I had to help them learn a dance choreography to a Kids Bop song. Something new I learned was that children can be unmotivated at many times, but you need to try and motivate them. Something else I gained was some patience with children because of the way they acted. There was one boy who was quite rude, but I was still patient and kind with him because he was just a little kid. A challenge we faced was that only 2 kids out of the 5 were actually participating. The other 3 were running around and did not want to contribute and learn the actual dance. The other students and I had to try and tell the kids to be motivated to dance. We told them how fun the dance was and how it would be a really cool dance to learn but they still ran around and didn't listen. They listened and came to dance after we told them a little, but they were still unfocused and would run off after a bit. There was one girl who listened for the whole duration and actually did the dance. She was very sweet, kind, obeyed the instructions, and stayed for the dance. She did the dance at the end and it looked so cool. When the other kids came to try and do the dance at the end, they were very confused and only knew a few parts and did not do the dance.

-Anna F

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After completing three years of service-learning, I would have a variety of things to tell an incoming Middle School student to help them understand the importance of helping our community. In 6th grade, when advisories gather and wrap gifts/necessities for the Mercy Center, I gained insight on the different needs and wants of certain underprivileged communities. In 7th grade, when advisories packed and delivered food for a local food bank, many of my peers and I learned about food deserts in our country and community. Finally, in 8th grade, there were a variety of service-learning opportunities. My group worked with the MMCC and worked with highschoolers to teach fun classes to younger kids after school. My sub-group taught dances to a group of 1st/2nd graders. I had many takeaways from this, but the greatest was seeing so many young kids eager to learn a new skill in a different environment. This showed me how new experiences are beneficial to all children, and not only those who can afford certain programs. In summary of all three years of middle school service learning, I connected with the community, gained insight on the struggles of many people around me, developed new skills, and more. Not only are you able to help others and learn things yourself, but service learning is also fun and makes you feel accomplished. I just want to emphasize to students that will eventually participate in service learning, which is not just a school requirement, but a way to help communities, have fun, and learn.

-Kaia Manges

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The stereotypical outlook on service-learning generally involves defining it by boredom, a waste of time, or perhaps even being "pointless." However, my own experience, and those of my peers, disprove this. My service-learning experience involved partnering with Friendly Fridge BX, whose mission is to provide necessary resources to disadvantaged families. Throughout several areas of the Bronx lie fridges that contain free food for those who need it. Before working with the Friendly Fridge, my view of service-learning was the same as the statement at the beginning of this post. However, actively participating in something that benefits others gives you a feeling of purpose. Although I have never done a service-learning experience before, I initially did not expect it to radically change my view of volunteering. Still, the Friendly Fridge's actions towards ending the pressing issue of hunger in the Bronx––and its ability to include students of more advantageous backgrounds, truly reflects the ways in which we can help each other. This is the epitome of service-learning, and that is the aspect that has altered my outlook on it. Perhaps this may be the switch for several people, including myself, to stand up and contribute more to their community. All of our collective experiences, especially those who went to the Friendly Fridge, experienced hands on what it is like to be good and giving (per the Mission Statement). I can continue to give to the world around me by taking small steps: participating in in-school service-learning projects, and devoting time to recognizing the problems around me, and providing solutions to them. Partnering with the Friendly Fridge is the first step in this direction.

Mason Collado

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This experience expanded my understanding of service and volunteering as I learned more about how things have changed since I was a kid. Because I was helping kids as young as 8 years old, almost half my age, I thought they would be stuck on simple equations, yet when I looked at their work, I saw just how much school had changed since I was in their grade. I think this is an example of being able to adapt every single time you volunteer as every citation is different. For example the kid worked on their Homework as mentioned above, and after that, we helped them with an egg drop activity that I thought was very interesting for them to learn, to see how slowing things down by using mechanics and items given to them, certainly things I had not learned when I was their age.  They learned alot from doing this activity, especially in oly 30 minutes, and most importantly they had fun. This changed my view because I originally did not think I was coming to make kids laugh, but rather only help them with their Homework, and this act of kindness made me feel good about myself. I can continue contributing to my community now and in the future, by volunteering in school such as in the MD pop ups, or outside of school, at food banks, fundraisers for these wonderful organizations and so much more. I think that volunteering wherever you are is a wonderful experience as you get to meet others from all different backgrounds, under one cause to help others which I think is very interesting. - Ethan D'souza

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My 8th grade out-of-school service learning activity was HM 246. HM 246 is a service learning program at Horace Mann. Students from the upper division spend a few hours with students from Mosholu Montefiore Community Center to help with homework and fun activities created for the students. A few 8th graders joined this program to help students with their homework and a fun egg drop activity. During the first part of the program, the upper division students, 8th graders and I helped the students with their homework whenever they needed help or were confused. Then, we moved on to interactive and educational classes like STEAM, arts and crafts, and dance. I did the STEAM class, and the students had the task of using different materials to prevent their egg from breaking when the egg was dropped. From both of these activities, I learned when to step in and step out in terms of helping the upper-division students and Mosholu Montefiore students. This was important because sometimes the upper-division students needed help setting out the materials, but other times they needed space to explain or help students. We wanted the students to have independence but also assistance if they needed it, so I learned how to balance both. One challenge that we encountered was that we were running out of time to do the egg drop before the students left. We overcame this by having a few 8th graders at the bottom of the egg drop to speed up the process. HM 246 was a fun service learning program to participate in because it was amazing to see the students understand their homework and have fun with the activity.

Riyyan Patel

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My 8th grade out-of-school service learning activity was HM 246. HM 246 is a service learning program at Horace Mann. Students from the upper division spend a few hours with students from Mosholu Montefiore Community Center to help with homework and fun activities created for the students. A few 8th graders joined this program to help students with their homework and a fun egg drop activity. During the first part of the program, the upper division students, 8th graders and I helped the students with their homework whenever they needed help or were confused. Then, we moved on to interactive and educational classes like STEAM, arts and crafts, and dance. I did the STEAM class, and the students had the task of using different materials to prevent their egg from breaking when the egg was dropped. From both of these activities, I learned when to step in and step out in terms of helping the upper-division students and Mosholu Montefiore students. This was important because sometimes the upper-division students needed help setting out the materials, but other times they needed space to explain or help students. We wanted the students to have independence but also assistance if they needed it, so I learned how to balance both. One challenge that we encountered was that we were running out of time to do the egg drop before the students left. We overcame this by having a few 8th graders at the bottom of the egg drop to speed up the process. HM 246 was a really fun service learning program to participate in because it was amazing seeing the unique and creative ideas they had, and the 8th graders got to help the students which made us feel good.

Riyyan

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Volunteering at the Friendly Fridge in the Bronx has significantly expanded my understanding of service learning by showing me how much a small effort can positively impact others. The friendly fridge is not just a special place because of the amazing things that it does for the community but the people who worked there every day, don't just prove that it's a commitment to the community, but they proof that it's ongoing commitment to the community. I realized that even simple tasks like organizing food, providing meals, and handing meals out to individuals can make a huge difference in the lives of people. At the friendly fridge, I saw firsthand how access the food can alleviate some of the challenges faced by those who do not have kitchens, or have limited financial resources for groceries. This has taught me that service learning is not just about giving, but it is also about actively contributing to the well-being of others in such a meaningful way. My time with the friendly fridge reminded me that there are many ways I can continue to give back, whether it's through direct volunteer work, supporting local food initiatives or simply being there for others in need. Moving forward, I plan to stay involved in my community by volunteering regularly and helping to ensure that no one has to face hunger or isolation. Additionally, I want to encourage others to get involved by showing them how even small contributions can have a lasting and positive impact. By staying engaged and aware of the needs around me, I can help build a stronger and healthier community for everyone.

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The stereotypical outlook on service-learning generally involves defining it by boredom, a waste of time, or perhaps even being "pointless." However, my own experience, and those of my peers, disprove of this. My service-learning experience involved partnering with Friendly Fridge BX, whose mission is to provide necessary resources to disadvantaged families. Throughout several areas of the Bronx lie fridges that contain free food for those who need it. Before working with the Friendly Fridge, my view of service-learning was the same as the statement at the beginning of this post. However, actively participating in something that benefits others gives you a feeling of purpose. Although I have never done a service-learning experience before, I initially did not expect it to radically change my view of volunteering. Still, the Friendly Fridge's actions towards ending the pressing issue of hunger in the Bronx––and its ability to include students of more advantageous backgrounds, truly reflects the ways in which we can help each other. This is the epitome of service-learning, and that is the aspect that has altered my outlook on it. Perhaps this may be the switch for several people, including myself, to stand up and contribute more to their community. All of our collective experiences, especially those who went to the Friendly Fridge, experienced hands on what it is like to be good and giving (per the Mission Statement). I can continue to give to the world around me by taking small steps: participating in in-school service-learning projects, and devoting time to recognizing the problems around me, and providing solutions to them. Partnering with the Friendly Fridge is the first step in this direction.

Mason Collado

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For my service learning, we gave food and clothes to the local people at the nearby Friendly Fridge. We gave out fruit and bread for the food and donated clothes. I was one of the people manning the food station. We ensured everyone got some by limiting how much each person could get so someone couldn't just take it all. This experience helped me understand that many people aren't that fortunate in the world and by helping them we can create a better environment for everyone. Even though many of the people who came to the Friendly Fridge spoke mostly Spanish, I could understand that they were grateful for the food and clothes that they got for free. I have already done some other community service like helping seniors and working a food drive which also helped me realize that things many people take for granted, some don't have the luxury of having those things whenever they want them. If everyone did just a little thing to help others every day, it would make a huge difference in the long term. I am Catholic and some people have set up community service for people who want to help, so in the future, I will go and do any that I can to help people in need.

- William Chang

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For my service learning experience, I went to JASA, the Jewish Association Serving the Aging. The non-profit agency is like a senior home, serving older adults from all over the city. For our experience, we made bracelets with the seniors. This was my first time making bracelets, so it was a bit challenging at first not knowing what I was doing, but with the help of others, I managed to understand what to do. I was sitting an elderly woman named Ling who was very experienced at this and helped me a lot. She talked about her huge love of art and was guiding me through the process, so I credit her for the creation of my bracelet. From this experience, I gained a new skill in making bracelets. I don’t wear them or use them at all, but it was good to learn because if I ever need to make one for something, I can use what I learned from this. That is what I think is really good about service learning, as you can learn something new from it. Aside from making the bracelets, it was also a good experience to talk with a senior and ask her questions that could help me in the future. The biggest challenge I had during the experience was that Ling was not the best English speaker, and I had trouble communicating with her. Despite this, she still managed to get her ideas through and help me create the bracelet with her artistry skills. This was another example of a good learning experience because I had managed to communicate with someone even when it wasn’t easy, which is something that is important to learn. Overall, this experience was fun and worthwhile as I learned many new things.

- Rishi Bhutra

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There are a couple lessons that I learned while participating in this year's service learning experience that would help an upcoming MD Student understand how meaningful this is. At Horace Mann the flik staff helps provide us with nutritious and healthy meals every day.  Outside of Horace Mann, many people struggle to afford healthy groceries which brings in the importance of the Friendly Fridge. The Friendly Fridge is a pantry and fridge located just outside of the Horace Mann campus on Manhattan College Parkway and their goal is to minimize the waste of excess food and reduce stress to people who tend to struggle finding accessible nutrients and food. Through participating in this round of service learning for me it highlighted the many struggles that many people face in this country. At Horace Mann we tend to underestimate the amount of people that face food insecurity because we have all the resources at our school. With that I recommend that the upcoming MD students take their time and put care into this service learning experience because these meals and resources that are placed at the Friendly Fridge could change someone's life. Another thing that I learned from this experience is how easy it is to donate to the Friendly Fridge and it only takes a short amount of time. This shows me that all of you guys can change someone's life with just 20 minutes to donate a carton of milk or a rice and bean kit. This service learning experience allowed for me to understand the importance of not wasting food and it will allow me to make changes in the future.

Matthew Sherman

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What words of wisdom, advice, and lessons learned would you want to share with an incoming Middle School student to help them understand how service-learning can be meaningful?

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How did this experience change or expand your understanding of service-learning and volunteering? How can you continue to contribute to your community in the future?

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Describe what you learned about yourself during your service-learning activity. What new skills or knowledge did you gain due to this service-learning experience? What challenges did you encounter during the project, and how did you overcome them?

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As you walk into today's activity, capture one quote you will reflect on. What about this quote resonated with you and why?