Inclusion in Service by Abigail

Inclusion in Service by Abigail - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

Helping to promote inclusion goes beyond just volunteering, it is how you live. One major experience I have is living with a brother who has autism. Through having a brother with special needs, I have had many experiences with people with disabilities. I used to help coach my brother’s SNAP (Special Needs Athletic Program) basketball team. I am not good at basketball but what I can do is help the kids stay focused and when they are overwhelmed I can take them to the side and practice individually. My neighbor and I would also hold annual bake sales in order to raise money for Special Olympics. We would raise around $200 and donate the left over goods to the local police and fire stations.
I work at a summer camp and one of our main goals is to make sure that everyone feels accepted regardless of their background. I worked there for five weeks this summer and the kids in my cabins were of different races and cultures. I made sure everyone was included and not treated any differently. The last week of the summer is called Camp Corral. All of the kids have parents who are in the military. It is a very difficult week to work because most of these kids have difficult backgrounds and in one cabin they had to call Child Protective Services for four kids. Even though it was a hard week, it was rewarding to realize that at least for this week we could help them be who they are and they did not need to worry about being judged or what was going on at home.
Another experience with inclusion that I have is through hosting exchange students. I have had 5 individuals stay with me: Salva (Spain), Tessa (Czech Republic), Jared and Luis (Mexico), and Duru (Turkey). I hosted Tessa for six months during my junior year and am currently hosting Duru for the school year. Salva, Jared, and Luis stayed with me on weekends while working at the summer camp. Through the exchange student program, I have met many exchange students who I have enjoyed getting to know. They came from Spain, Germany, and South Korea. One of the things that I feel I should do as a host sister is make sure they are feeling included and that they are not worried about making friends. I have a fantastic friend group that are accepting and make sure these students feel welcomed. The exchange students are always so nervous about school and how people will feel about them due to the fact they are from another country. I do everything that I can to make sure that they feel accepted and included. People will ask me questions about them and their cultures and I always try to break down any stereotypes or stigmas which makes them feel more included.