Kingsolver and I

My project has been going well throughout this summer. With a few minor set backs and a end result that was unexpected this project has kept me happy and on my toes, just like the residents at Canterbury. I have been able to do what I wanted from the beginning of my project, only on a smaller scale then I was hoping for. In the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle ,by: Barbra Kingsolver, her family had their own idea of a project lasting throughout one year. Both, me and the Kingsolver family wanted to help other people from the beginning. But, as the project kept moving along it ended up having benefits for ourselves as well as others.

The main goal of my project was to help other people have a brighter day, and I believe I accomplished this by giving my time at Canterbury, as I've said in my previous blogs. Kingsolver wanted to help local farmers and organic producing farms rather then supporting industrial factories by buying massed produced foods from the grocery store. She accomplished this by growing her own food and buying from local farmers and the framers market near her home. She also helped others by writing her book to teach other people about the reasons behind her decisions. By doing this she has transformed other peoples food habits. I now know that I want to have my own garden and try to eat more locally produced foods, especially when I am older and buy my own food because for her book. I believe that both of us achieved what we wanted from our projects, hers on a greater scale then she originally imagined, and mine on a smaller one.

Not only did we both help others but we also helped ourselves in the process. During my project I have met many nice people and found a work ethic within myself that I never knew was there. This job has also helped me feel good about myself, that I'm a better person now and that really does make me feel good. Every time I walk out of that building I'm smiling and I feel good about what I did for the residents that day. Not only do I feel better about myself but I also have good recommendations for my resume and applications for future jobs and collages. Also, I like working at Canterbury so much that I think when I'm ready for a job I'm going to apply there. Kingsolver helped her family by having a greater understanding of where their food comes from and they are all more appreciative of the food they do have. Also, With their new diet her family is healthier by not having junk food in their diets. This project also saved them quite a bit of money for the food they were producing themselves.

Kingsolver and I have helped ourselves and others because of the life changes we've made. All of us have gained new outlooks on life and we have changed our lives forever. This is going to be a continuing "project" for us. I knew I would always want to help others but this project really pushed me to actually get out and do what I've always wanted to. Now that I have I wont go back to just dreaming of helping I will actually get out there and do it. I think this is how Kingsolver also feels. She had said in her book that making this change is something she's always wanted to commit to and now that she finally has she will never go back to the way she was living. Not that the way she was living before was bad but this way is just better.

I want to thank everyone who's continued to read my blogs and the people who have supported me throughout this. I also want to thank Mr. Wilson  for giving us the opportunity to choose projects that interested us. This gave me the push I needed to get out there, do what I've always wanted and start what I feel I need to as I grow into my last two years of high school.

Thanks again for everything,
Melanie

A new years resolution, that came six months late.

My time at Canterbury has still been going great. Today I went back to bringing books to all of the residents in assisted living. I actually got three takers! Three women took out a variety of books. So I was very pleased that my time was worth while. I also got to talk to many of the residents and I can just tell from the smiles on their faces that I was sharing my time with people who appreciated it. Yet again, near twelve of the residents were away on a picnic so there were not as many people to talk to.


Afterwords I was scheduled to go into the bingo hall but it was cancelled today because of the picnic outing. So, I offered to help some of the lady's at the front desk of the assisted living. They didn't really need anything from me so I decided to go to Dawns office to help her with paper work. She graciously accepted my help and she was shocked at how much work I got finished in the hour I was in her office.

My project started off with the goal of helping others. But, with an underlining goal of helping myself by being taught valuable lessons. Making myself a better person doesn't only come from helping others but also finding ways to change things within my life and mind. I am now thinking I should have broadened my topic by choosing to change my life in many different ways. Even though I didn't choose that as my topic I have been changing Little things in my life through out this summer. Truthfully, I believe of all the things I have tried to change by far the will to help others has shined through. My experiences at Canterbury have given me such an amazing outlook on a working environment and an amazing opportunity to help others in a wonderful place. I would absolutely love to work at Canterbury and that's something I like to have, to be able to be happy with my job.

This project has given us all an opportunity of fulfilling a "New Years Resolution", type of goal that for some has failed just like many of these type resolutions do. But even if you don't have the desired outcome you wished for, has the project been a failure? I believe not! It has still given you new outlooks and ways of thinking. It has presented you with problems and solutions that, I bet, have taught you more then if your project went exactly how you thought it would.

So, I congratulate everyone on their projects continuing success!
--Melaine

Happiness

Last week I asked for some ideas of places I could go to donate my time in a positive way. I got two different ideas, Grace centers of hope and adopting a family. These were two great ideas but sadly neither worked out. Grace center of hope is located in Pontiac and they serve the homeless with a meal, a safe, warm place and someone to talk to about problems including addiction. This is an amazing organization but my Dad wont let me go to Pontiac alone. Adopting a family is choosing a family to raise money for to help them with everyday expenses and saving up for the children's Birthdays and other holidays. But, as I specified before, I don't want to add money into this equation. I want to see what my time can do to help others, creating smiles on others faces. Money is not the source of happiness.

"Happiness is in the heart not the circumstances."

--Anonymous

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

--Buddha

Reach Out

I'm still working as a volunteer at Canterbury on the Lake. I love it there, I feel like I'm making a difference even if it is in a small way. People keep commenting on how willing I am to do anything I'm asked and how they can't believe what a hard worker I am especially for being so young. I think that is an important attribute to have and I've always felt I would have difficulty being a hard worker. But with everyone telling me that I am one already, it makes me feel good that this has come so naturally to me. I'm also happy that I'm learning these things before I have a job (which I hope to have one by next summer maybe at Canterbury:).

Even though I feel really good about working at Canterbury, I still feel like I am not doing enough. Like I'm not making a big enough difference in enough peoples lives. So, how do I change that? Will I ever feel accomplished? I believe I will never feel completely accomplished, I'll have moments when I accomplish cretin things and then I will feel good about what I've done. But, I will always want to do more then I have/am. This is because (as I have previously mentioned) my life is all about helping others. I want to help people learn, change, understand, and feel better. This is one reason I want to pursue the carrier of being a psychotherapist. To help people find the happiness thats within us all. To reach out to people all over the country, and if possible the world! :D


So, my dilemma... what do I do? Does anyone have any ideas on what else I can do for charity? Please if you do leave a comment or e-mail me at MelanieLCaples@yahoo.com.
Thankyou for everyones help and support!

--Melanie

What I Feel I Have Accomplished So Far.

I love helping people out, it really gives me a sense of purpose. I failed to mention that befor this whole endeavor, I continued to be an e-mail pen pal with two different men that were deployed over seas. They Greatly appreciated my time and loved hearing from somone living back home. Both are safely out of the war now. One is currently living in Michigan and the other in Florida.

This wasn't any burden on me. It took only a small amount of time to wirte the letters and it was just like having a conversation with one of my friends or family members. The difference was to see the reactions I got from this simple converstion, that gave me an amazing feeling. I believe that no matter your feelings on a war the U.S. is in we as citizens should always support our soldiers. They are giving years of their lives, to protect ours. This is worthy of at least appreciation from the people they are serving. I'm hoping to find more men or women that are in need of some human communication.

At Canterbury I have made a handful of people. I believe, truly happy over the three days I have been there so far. This makes me truly happy to see that I've made even the smallest difference in someone's life.

One woman that I sat down and talked to for over twenty minutes told me that she has no one to talk to because her family is busy and lives a couple hours drive away. She explained how glad she was to have someone to talk to and how she couldn't believe that at my age I was willing to give my time. But, that is truly what I live for is to help people and change their lives if only for a couple seconds. Just long enough to send a smile their way.

I met another lady who told me a very unfortunate story about her life (That I think she would rather i didn't broadcast to the world). But, she gave me advice that I will never forget. You have to set goals in your life and know what you want to accomplish. Planning your life out isn't necessary, but to set goals that you want to accomplish and having structure of how to carry out those plans will keep you going where you want to get in life.

What I want to accomplish during this project is to get the chance to see what my time and only my time can do to help people and so far my time has created smiles and cured loneliness for at least a short amount of time. It has not only given to others but its provided me with a simulation of a working environment and has shown me that things aren't as difficult as they may first seem.

I'm very excited to see that my time and mind will lead to next! I'm sure it will lead to many lasting memories and learning experiences.

--Melanie Lynn

My First Day

My first day at Canterbury was today! :D I think I did amazing and I absolutely loved it!

Well first things first I only got lost once, so that’s always good. I only had to ask two people where I needed to be.

I went in, signed in and met with Kathy. She brought me to the room where I got the cart that I needed to bring the books, CD's and puzzles around to all of the residents of the assisted living portion of the community.

I went to every room but twelve or so residents were out to picnic for lunch. A few of the residents were busy doing other things. But the majority were there and allowed me into their rooms. Only one man took out a CD.

One lady let me in and we talked for twenty minuets about her family. Sadly she's blind and is forming Dementia. This is why she couldn't check out any books but she was glad I could come in to talk with her and she said shed be looking forward to me coming next week.

The reason most of the residents didn’t take out books is because they aren’t used to me coming to their homes. I'm hoping once I start coming regularly they will begin to open up and take out books they’d like.

After this adventure I went to the bingo hall and helped mark off some peoples bingo cards and then helped with cleaning up. I met a very sweet older lady during this too. This is the conclusion of my first day.

I wont be able to say any names of the people I have met living in the community because of the HIPPA law. This law states that anyone working in the medical field can not divulge medical information about any patient. When I speak of residents I will only write pronouns in place of their names.

--Melanie Lynn

TB Test

Monday afternoon I had to go back into Canterbury to get my TB test results. The TB test was just a little shot they gave me in the arm during my interview. Everyone who works in health care has to get a annual TB test, so its a common occurence.

TB is short for Tuberculosis. If you have this disease your arm will form a rash showing that your body is having an immune response to the shot after two days. No suprize that I passed with flying colors:)

It only took a second for the nurse to glance at me arm and record my results. But it took me about seven minuts to actualy find the right room and four to find my way back to the parking lot. But everyone was very patient and kind getting me to the right place.

Getting lost just to get my test checked made me even more nurvous! I was very worried that I was going to get lost during my first day.

My Interview

My interview at Canterbury on the Lake went so much better then I expected.

So, I went in and the lobby was beautiful, with all old fashioned furniture that I later came to find out has all been donated by the inhabitants of the community. I think the lobby intimidated me even more then I originally was walking in.

I filled out my application and then met with Kathy Krause. She was a very nice lady full of enthusiasm for her job. When I gave her my resume she seemed happily surprised to see I had one. She simply asked me about my hobbies and what times I could come in. Before I knew it she was assigning me three different jobs that I will be performing two days a week.

On Tuesdays I will go in at 1:00pm and go to every room to offer the residents books, DVD’s, CD‘s, and different types of puzzle games that they can check out for a week. After I go to every room on the first two levels I then go to the bingo hall to help out. This should take anywhere from two hours to four. On Thursdays I will go in at 9:00am, and on these days I will be escorting the elderly to their hair appointments at the salon that they have in the community.

Kathy then gave me a tour of the entire community and its much bigger then I expected. Inside they have three different levels of living. These consist of 74 independent living apartments, 39 assisted living apartments, and a 140 bed health care facility. It also contains a chapel, hair salon, dentists/hand, foot, ect. doctors office, three restaurant type food serving areas, and recreational rooms. So as you can imagine its going to take some time to remember where everything is.

I'm very excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to begin my work! I feel so far the most important thing to remember is that I’m in their house. This is where they live, so being polite and energetic is going to be the most important thing during this experience.

--Melanie:)

Searching for an opportunity

In order to begin my project I needed to find different charities that would be willing to accept me as a volunteer.

I started with the internet and found some volunteer opportunities that interested me like: Hugs for humanity, and the Humane society. So I refined my search to helping people. The reason for this is because I want to see what my time, mind and out look on life can do to help others. I don’t want to collect money I just want to understand what some human interaction can do to put a smile on someone’s face. I believe the best way to cheer yourself up is to make some one else smile. Can I truly inspire others? Will people listen to my ideas learn from them, even if they don’t agree with them? Will they give me a chance?

So I e-mailed hugs for humanity but sadly they never got back to me. After two e-mails and a couple of days wait I decided to move on. This was only a minor set back that was not to be taken personally. So I asked my friends and family what else I could do. My friend Julie told me that she spent her time at Canterbury on the Lake. She gave me a representatives e-mail and her recommendation of me to the organization.

I e-mailed Kathy Krause and she e-mailed me back the next day to tell me about the living facility for the elderly and that she would like to interview me for a chance to spend my time there. When I called she was out of town so I left a message. Afterwards she called back and we set up an interview for Friday, June 25th at 10:45am.

I’m very excited about this opportunity and the chance to experience my first interview. I’m also pretty nervous but I'm sure I’ll do fine. I certainly appreciate this opportunity and I think she'll see that when we meet tomorrow. Between my professional look and attitude and prepared resume hot off the printer I feel ready to wake up and get going (before I’ve even fallen asleep).

Wish me luck! I'll be sure to tweet about the experience tomorrow!

-Love Melanie Lynn Caples

My Idea

Do you feel like your a good person? I've debated this question internally and its given me a bit of turmoil that I want to work out.

Life is simply a series of decisions we all make every second of the day. Our brain is constantly processing information that helps us make these choices. Even for the simplest activities like deciding were to go out to dinner. We evaluate the risks and benefits in hopes of making the right decision. Many times this is done subconsciously.

I believe I'm a good person as I'm sure most do. I avoid poor decisions and try not to let my emotions be taken into too much account. The thing is i feel regreatful that i haven't been the kind and generous person outwardly that i know i am. I feel as though i do the right thing and work through the problems i have with others and myself fairly well. Although many would say I am a good person at heart is this enough?

I've had many ideas for my summer project, from getting in shape to learning of others religions. But, with some thought i think i've finally come up with a great idea that will not only put a smile on my face but hopefully the faces of the many people whose lives i've touched through the course of the summer. I have really wanted to go out and donate my time in a creative and productive way with no money introduced into the equation. So, charity it is!

I'm doing this I hopes that the reactions I create from this decision will be of great help to others. I will not be collectiong money or buying toys for children. Instead I will be sharing my time, creativity and enthusiasm for life with others. This is all in hopes of becoming a better person and finding a type of peace the I feel i've been missing. Not to mention giving to toughs who truly need and are thankful for what I have to give. I feel this process will be a great success and I'm truly hoping to change lives including my own:)

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give" --Winston Churchill