Blog 24: Independent Component 2

I, Carly Griffin, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work."


I chose to spend both of my independent components completing additional service learning hours at Straight Talk, Inc. with my service learning mentor, Shelly Lummus. 


I knew that when I first started doing service learning in the office of Straight Talk, I would need to earn a lot of trust with the administrators of Straight Talk in order to be granted access into the actual rehabilitation houses with the patients I was studying. For this particular component, I logged 36.5 hours of service learning, a majority of which was completed at Gerry House in Santa Ana with Mrs. Lummus supervision. While there, I was able to see how the patients responded to certain treatments. While I was not able to work directly with any patients for privacy and safety reasons, a few of the counselors were able to share new counseling techniques they were trying out and how patients were responding.  


Being able to see how differently patients would respond to similar treatments led me to choose my second answer, tailoring a treatment plan to fit the individual needs of a patient, as my best answer. Before completing this independent component, I thought that my first answer, offering counseling and testing services to the patient, their partners, and their family, was my best answer. Having this amazing opportunity to see how real-life patients were each so drastically unique really changed the way I viewed my answers to my essential question. 


Log of Hours 

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Approval

For Independent Component Two, I plan on completing an extra 30 hours of service learning. I am currently completing my service learning at Straight Talk under Administrator, Shelly Lummus. 


I am confident that there will be no problem for me to complete the thirty hours required for the independent component. I have been volunteering a few days a week since the beginning of September, and I have already completed a large portion of my required hours. 


Since Straight Talk is a counseling and rehab center that primarily focuses on drug addicts, I get an up-close look at what goes into treating an HIV+ drug addict in rehab. Straight Talk has two rehab "houses" dedicated to HIV+ patients, and the individuals that run these houses are more than happy to give me any information I may need if I ask. Unfortunately because I am not 18 years old, I am not able to volunteer directly at these houses. However, I still feel as though I am answering my EQ thoroughly through my Independent Component.  

Blog 15: Independent Component 1

Click Here for Log of Hours

I, Carly Griffin, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.


Literal
Going with the short summaries provided on the log, I mainly helped the office in whatever tasks they needed assistance on. 


Interpretive
More service learning allows me to gain a better perspective as to what goes on "behind the scenes" at this non-profit geared towards helping drug addicts with HIV. The patients have a very limited group of supporters willing to help them, and working with a couple of those extraordinary people has really opened my eyes to the struggles this group faces every day just to survive.


Applied
Learning first-hand about what patients and caregivers go through to rehabilitate an HIV+ drug addict is truly a new experience that I would never gain through ay other type of research. The more time I spend at this facility, the more information I gather to share/research further throughout the remainder of the Senior Project. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

For Independent Component One, I plan on completing an extra 30 hours of service learning. I am currently completing my service learning at Straight Talk under Administrator, Shelly Lummus. 


I am confident that there will be no problem for me to complete the thirty hours required for the independent component. I have been volunteering a few days a week since the beginning of September, and I have already completed a large portion of my required hours. 


Since Straight Talk is a counseling and rehab center that primarily focuses on drug addicts, I get an up-close look at what goes into treating an HIV+ drug addict in rehab. Straight Talk has two rehab "houses" dedicated to HIV+ patients, and the individuals that run these houses are more than happy to give me any information I may need if I ask. Unfortunately because I am not 18 years old, I am not able to volunteer directly at these houses. However, I still feel as though I am answering my EQ thoroughly through my Independent Component.