NSG 4076 Week 4 Journal – Bi-weekly Practicum Journaling Part 1

This week, I did not need to meet with my targeted aggregate population for the capstone project. Instead, I opted to spend the week volunteering in various church activities designed to meet the community’s needs. One activity I participated in was volunteering to prepare and distribute hot meals to the homeless. The church had organized for a group of us to volunteer our time over the weekend to ensure that the homeless in downtown Tampa would have a hot meal as they felt the love of the community around them. Another activity I participated in over the week was a drive. Markedly, this drive aimed at ensuring that the community’s less fortunate had the school supplies they needed. The community was urged to donate items such as backpacks, pens, pencils, and notebooks. All these resources would then be used to support children whose families could not afford these items, thus ensuring they had all they needed to focus on school. Lastly, on Sunday, I took the initiative to attend church early. On this particular day, I offered to help set up the church by arranging the chairs. I was also keen to ensure that I provided transportation to churchgoers who had difficulty finding a vehicle to get to church. Therefore, most of my week was spent caring for the people in my community.

From this practicum experience, I could see the relationship between my practicum experience and the Healthy People 2020 objectives. One of the key overarching goals of Healthy People 2020 is to create a social and physical environment that promotes health for all (Healthy People, n.d.). The attainment of this particular objective was especially evident as we fed the homeless over the weekend. During this event, I saw the church play its part in ensuring that those around them had a healthy meal in a comfortable social environment. Additionally, as I volunteered with other church members, I was constantly in awe of how many people were willing to share what they had with those around them. Through these events, I was reminded that, at times, what others might need is not money. Instead, people around me might be looking for someone who cares for them unconditionally. I also learned that reaching out to those in need is also a healthy practice since it enables one to see what he/she can offer those in his/her community. As a result of these experiences, I have decided to take an active role in volunteering to help others, which makes me feel hopeful and excited about future activities.