Personal Action Plan

What did you observe?

On my day off I wanted to go out to eat at a nice restaurant but decided to volunteer a few hours at a homeless shelter to help serve their lunch meal. When I called the receptionist to explain my assignment they were very appreciative of my time and my willingness to help. They told me to not wear my nice clothes and dress comfortable. I used my GPS to find the location which was not in the best area of town. When I walked through the door the small location was overfilled with people of all ages and all cultures.

Why was this situation out of your comfort zone?

Initially I felt out of my comfort zone. First of all being in a bad part of town made me a little nervous then as I walked through the doors and stepped into a small room that was overfilled with people from all ages and all cultures my anxiety level increased. There was no area for a receptionist and I did not know where to go to start my volunteering. I saw a line of people so decided this was where I needed to go. Once at the front of the line the man assumed I was there for the food pantry and was very short with me. Once I explained I was there to volunteer he lead me in the right direction and the founder of the shelter made me feel very comfortable and appreciated.

What did you learn?

I learned about my comfort zone and how it feels when you are not in it. However I also learned that if you change your perspective on the situation you can easily become comfortable in any situation. Once I was with the founder of the shelter she made me feel so comfortable and appreciated. She made me feel that what I was doing there made a great difference in these individuals' lives and gave me a deeper appreciation for everything that I have in my life that I may take for granted. I was very humbled by this experience.

What perceptions changed or remained the same about the people observed?

I am thankful that this experience changed my perception of the population that needs homeless shelters. Prior to this experience I assumed that this population did not work because they chose not to. I always thought that there are thousands of jobs out there that anyone could get. Now I realize that there are other factors that may prevent them from getting a job or maybe they have a job but their income still does not meet the financial demands of life. I cannot make a snap judgment about anyone because I do not know their story.

What types of things did you notice about the people? Did you witness any socially conscious individuals? What traits did you see?

I noticed a variety of different people. Some people were dressed and groomed very poorly while others were dressed appropriately and were well groomed. Most people were very polite and appreciative. They continuously said please and thank you and offered their