Capstone Reflection

The Capstone Project was a great experience for me to help out my community while learning new skills along the way. Working with other at every site helped me become more social, open, and outgoing, which will help prepare me for a future career. Working with others also taught me how to be a leader in the groups that I was in, and how to share my ideas with the rest of the group while still incorporating theirs. There were times during the project when I would have to think quickly, or I would have to think outside of the box to make something work. This happened when we were making fences and my partner kept on splitting the wood. We realized that if we cut the pieces of wood to be thicker, the pieces were less likely to split while we were hammering.

The main challenge that I faced was scheduling. This was partly because I have a lot of work from my two AP classes, and also because volunteering with Habitat for Humanity takes up a full work day. Saturdays were the only days that I was available to volunteer (other than some days off of school), but volunteer positions on Saturdays were often filled quickly. I also felt really busy going to school five days a week and them volunteering on the weekend (or doing some other school-related project/task). Another challenge I faced was that I was really shy when I first started volunteering, and I wasn't really good with talking to new people. However, I became really social by the end of it because everyone was really kind and open towards me, and I realized that I shouldn't feel afraid to talk to them. The work itself was really challenging, and it was especially hard to work out in the sun at Habitat Terrace, but it was very rewarding at the end.

Despite all of these challenges, I was motivated to do my best each time I volunteered because I knew that I was contributing to a good cause for people that deserved good homes. Not to mention, I felt really great after overcoming these obstacles. I remember feeling really accomplished at the end of each volunteering day, and feeling an overall sense of happiness when I volunteered there. I noticed that I began looking forward to volunteering each time, and it felt really great when the coordinators remembered me, or when I recognized familiar faces from regular volunteers.

Senior Project Hours Update: Habitat Terrace

Saturday, May 4, 8:30am - 4:15pm at Habitat Terrace, San Francisco
Number of Hours: 8.75
Total hours completed: 33.25

This was the second day that this site was open to volunteers. It looked like an empty lot at first, but after looking around, I noticed that they had started digging trenches and there construction flag markers to show where different things were going to be built. I was curious about what we were going to do for the day, because it seemed like there was going to be a lot. The entire day was spend building fences for the neighbors' yards. This was the first time that I did any construction like this and I definitely underestimated how difficult it was going to be (not to mention, it was hot outside). Nevertheless, this was one of the most enjoyable days that I had while volunteering with Habitat GSF. The AmeriCorps workers gave me advice on different ways to improve my technique when building the fence, and it really helped. I was happy at the end of the day to look back and see that the hard work that everyone put in paid off.

Senior Project Update: ReStore

Wednesday, April 17, 9:00am - 1:00pm at the ReStore in San Carlos
Number of hours: 4
Total number of hours completed: 24.5

I had the day off from school because I don't have a sixth period, so I decided to do some hours for my senior project. Since 7555 Mission St. is already finished and there weren't any other building sites to volunteer at on this day, I decided to volunteer at the ReStore. I didn't know too much about the ReStore before I arrived there, but I learned that they receive donated furniture, appliances, etc. and sell them at a low price. All of the proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity's current and future building projects. I thought that this was a good way to use donation that they couldn't necessarily use on the sites, and I would recommend other people to shop here instead of buying new furniture.

I started off by sweeping around the ReStore (it's actually a warehouse, so it's really big) and it took a very long time. I was surprised by how tired I was from the sweeping alone, and I was pretty glad when I was done. It was pretty boring. Afterwards, I helped one of the coordinators there make a cork-board for the ReStore and I helped make a sign that said "Design with Restore". She was really kind and she told me that the cork-board was going to have different clip-outs of eco-friendly design ideas from magazines and the internet.

Senior Project Hours Update

Saturday, March 30, 8:30am - 4:15pm at 7555 Mission Street, Daly City
Number of hours: 8.75
Total number of hours completed: 20.5

This was my second day at the site, and I began to be more open with talking to new people. Everyone was friendly (just as the people during the other two times were) and I personally felt that it was easier for to have conversations. I felt more confident when I was introducing myself and meeting others, which shows how volunteering has started to help me socialize with people that I am unfamiliar with. This day was mostly spent cleaning the condominiums to prepare them for the families to move in. The rooms had to be finished by the end of the day

Senior Project Hours

Saturday, March 23, 8:30am - 4:15pm at 7555 Mission Street, Daly City
Number of hours: 8.75
Total number of hours: 11.75

This was the first day that I volunteered on a building site with Habitat for Humanity. This site was started around 2 years ago and is now almost completed. Due to this, there weren't any construction jobs to do, and we mainly just inspected the panels and windows and scraped off paint that got on them on accident. We also moved materials (such as paint, ladders, etc.) from the top floors to the garage.

Senior Project Hours (backlogging)

I forgot to log this earlier, but I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, February 23rd from 9:00am to 12:00pm (for a total of 3 hours). This day was a "Park Beautification  Day", which happens every 3rd Saturday of the month. We worked at a park called Youngblood Coleman Park in the Bayview of San Francisco. We arrived at around 8:45am and met up with organizers and other volunteers that were  there to work with Habitat for Humanity. We learned that it was the  birthday of one of the coordinators, and that the majority of the people there were volunteering as her birthday request. My mother signed up and also volunteered with me and worked alongside me throughout the day. The main work was moving branches that were already cut from bushes and trees and moving them to a designated are so they could later be picked up by a truck. We also cleaned up litter and leaves, which made my mother worrisome because other people were finding a lot of needles. I got to talk briefly with the woman whose birthday it was, and she was very kind. After the volunteering session was over, lunch was provided (sandwiches, veggies, and chips).

I Found Belonging in a Crowd

I will never forget the first show that I went to. It was the first experience that I not only heard the music, but I also felt it. It was in a small room on 18th and Mission, filled with young adults standing shoulder to shoulder, waiting for someone to make the first move and turn our anticipation into organized chaos. It wasn't like going to a large venue and seeing a metal band, nor could it be labeled "punk", for the music had a different tune to it, and the people there looked just like average "normies".

This was my first introduction to a subgenre of punk music called "hardcore punk", which would grow increasingly important to me, and that I am still deeply connected to today. Although at the time I was just another face in the crowd and I didn't know the bands too well, I felt a strong sense of belonging while listening to the fast music and watching others dance and jump off the stage. The whole show was surreal, and it really seemed like something that would only happen in a movie. I was absorbed into the energy that the bands and spectators displayed, which seemed to spread throughout the room and into my mind.

What was different between these people and friends I had before that were into punk and metal were that many of these people were more interested in the government and social issues. Between sets, people were lined up in front of tables to buy shirts, records, patches, etc. Along with band merchandise, there were also insightful zines and pamphlets, one of which was specifically about veganism. Many people in the hardcore scene also recognize as being "straight edge", which is a commitment to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

The bands and people at this show, and every show that I've ever attended were very welcoming and open-minded. I know that no matter where I go or how I change, the hardcore scene is where I belong.