Journal Entry - Week 1

What do you hope to get out of this class?

From 2011 through 2017, I served as an Assistant Pastor in East Syracuse, New York, and in Swedesboro, New Jersey. I thoroughly appreciate the time that I spent in both settings, but I also found myself unfulfilled in a number of areas, with one major one stemming from my inability to work firsthand fulfilling the physical needs of those throughout the community. I found myself constantly presented with opportunities to provide assistance, with no real training or understanding of how to see those important challenges met.

As I have gone through the program here at Wilmington University, I have learned many new skills and attributes that will greatly assist me as I move forward in my career with a focus on connecting my background of faith with the human services. Through this course and my upcoming practicum experience, I hope to learn more about how to make a difference in the community by addressing the concerns found in the best way possible.

What do you hope to be doing?

Through my experience at the Community Food Bank of Citrus County, I hope to experience the ins and outs of an important community resource in the lives of many residents throughout this geographic region. I am thankful that I have been able to meet with my supervisor and to communicate with him prior to our start. Some of my personal goals include assisting the Food Bank with new sign-ups, increasing the viability of the programs currently offered, and improving the efficiency of communication with regional partners and sites. While these are my desired goals, I recognize that these may not be the areas that the Executive Director, John Autry, would like me to focus in on. I recognize this and I commit to be willing to “climb the mountain,” and to do what I am asked to do.