Powerpoint Complete

Finally, one aspect of the project has been finished, with the blog still in process and the slideshow in need of some editing.  The powerpoint, which I began to construct at Ally’s house, has been made to match the blog, and includes 5 slides:

• Title Slide: “Quest Therapeutic Services” with our names (7) and a picture of the sign outside the service
• Introduction: a brief preview of what is to be expected in the next slides
• Hippotherapy: describes the therapeutic program and its purpose
• Special Olympics: describes the purpose and training ground of the Chester County Special Olympics
• Volunteers: describes what is asked of from volunteers, jobs, and opportunities

The powerpoint will be presented by the 2 groups in order to decrease redundancy for the audience.  However, the slideshow will also be presented by both groups, leaving the blog for our group and overheads for the boys’ group to be their own.  Hopefully the project will turn out well.  It seems that everything is going according to plan, but that usually indicates a disaster at the last minute!

The Project Begins

After school, Ally kindly offered to allow Stephanie, Jen, Mahjub, Dan, and myself to come to her house in order to work on the project.  Though we were able to complete the powerpoint, for the most part, much work needs to be done, and the fact that the project is due next week only makes the situation worse.  However, I’m sure we can pull through and accomplish this hefty task before it is too late.  Though I doubt the next few nights will include much sleep.

Another Class Meeting

During a class discussion, the group was able to decide on when to meet up in order to begin the actual project.  However, we ran into a problem: because we are making a joint presentation, the boys also need to work with us in order to figure out how this presentation will be presented.  Unfortunately, the boys disagree on this, and it seems that now we will be unprepared to formally make a joint presentation without their input; the presentation would fall apart with order and organization.  Fortunately, one of the boys may be able to come, so there should not be too much of a problem, though it will be difficult without the other two.

On the other hand, we have decided that meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) would be more convenient for our schedules.  Hopefully the project won’t take too long to complete and work out, but if so, Friday is always available as well.

A Few More Quirks to Work Out

During class today, we started to seriously consider our presentation and how we would come about doing it.  As Mrs. Kapp informed us that the audience would be bored with redundancy, both of our groups would present the introductions the Quest Therapeutics at the same time, in order to kill two birds with one stone.  However, we have been planning to meet at Ally’s house on Thursday in order to get started, and hopefully, one or two of the boys will also be able to come, though if all three were to show up, this would be best in order for everyone to contribute their ideas on the presentation, as well as to exchange pictures and ideas.

Unfortunately, it was recently brought to my attention that I will not be able to participate in Quest this coming Saturday, as I had prior commitments that were just brought to my attention.  Nevertheless, I have completed 13:30 hours of service, and though I will not be able to participate with the rest of my group on Saturday, this should not be a major issue.

Finding My Bliss

Again, I went to volunteer at Quest, though it was only Ally and myself, as Jen and Stephanie could not make it due to prior commitments.  The day went on about the same as the previous Saturday, though I was able to help more often because of the severe lack of volunteers (as compared with last week when there were seven of us at once).  Today, however, I felt more attached to some of the children, who, to my surprise, remembered me after only one meeting, and though I was not paired with the same people as last Saturday, I experienced a sense of satisfaction in being able to meet more of the amazing children who accomplished so much at Quest.

During the hippotherapy session, I sidewalked for two boys and two girls, who were both bright and excited to be at Quest, and as I interacted with them, I was truly surprised at how much they could carry out their conversations as any other normal child would do.  However, when the time came for Special Olympics, I was paired with one boy and one girl, each older than the previous four.  At one point during the first class, the boy I was leading slid from his horse, and though he was unharmed (thanks to the soft sawdust and my lightning fast reflexes), it finally occured to me how much the parents of these disabled children sacrificed in order to keep their children safe and unharmed from the dangers of the real world, as the children could not do it for themselves, due to their disabilities.

Being able to participate in a Therapeutic Center that existed for the sole purpose of helping children to grow and prosper in order to become mature adults has truly given me an insight into not only how difficult it is to raise a disabled child, but also how rewarding it can be when the hard work begins to itself pay off.

On Our Quest

As the day began, I prepared myself for getting dirty and a lot of hard work.  I arrived at Quest at around 8AM and there I met Stephanie, Ally, and Jen, along with Mahjub, Dan, and Mike who also decided to volunteer that day with us.  At first, Laura had us watch a few videos in order to become acquianted with the program, as well as the crucial tips we needed to know for sidewalking, leading, and what to do in the rare chance that a child fell from their horse.  Afterwards, she had the group enter the main area, where we were told how to groom a horse, along with being shown the area where the hippotherapy took place: a large, barn-like, hypoallergenic building with a window for parents to watch their children from the waiting room, as well as a few children already inside waiting to begin.

Because the two groups consisted of a total of seven people, we were able to help out a lot.  Dan and Mike were first to help out since they had already participated that previous Monday and were experienced compared to the rest of us, with the exception of Mahjub, who also participated once before.  Nonetheless, because of the large group, I was able to sidewalk only two children during hippotherapy, while other group members participated in sweeping, cleaning up, and cleaning deposits left by the horses.  The children were incredibly kind (and adorable!) and seemed to really enjoy the program and the people.  Eventually, each of us would switch jobs so we all experienced what it was like to work at Quest on a regular basis.

By the time it was 12PM, the seven of us relaxed for some time, and ate pizza for lunch, which was kindly provided to us by the president of Quest.  Unfortunately, Jen had made earlier plans at this time and regretfully had to leave early at about 1PM.

Later on, we were able to participate in Special Olympics, which consisted of a group of children ages 11-14, who were more experienced in riding and even competed in Horse Shows at Quest!  I had the great privilege of leading a horse named Peanut Butter throughout the three hours of Special Olympics, and although the child I was leading was very cooperative, unfortunately, my horse had some difficulties in listening to commands, and was lazy throughout the day.  However, the experience was enjoyable and enriching.

By the time 3:30PM came by, we were all ready to go home after 7:30 hours of volunteer work, leaving us at a total of half an hour that needed to be completed for the minimum service hours required.  Before we left, Laura also informed us that they would be lacking in volunteers the following Saturday, and if any of us were interested, it would be extremely helpful.  As I am available most Saturdays, I agreed, and now I am anxious to return to Quest for two more volunteer days!

Dilemna

In order to volunteer at Quest, we first must check with the managers in order to receive approval.  However, though the group has constantly been trying to get a hold of Laura, who is in charge of the volunteers, she has either called us back at times when we were unavailable or at school.  Likewise, whenever we have found time to call her back, she had also been unavailable.

A Proposal

As it was once again necessary to plan out the details of the project, Stephanie and Ally agreed to meet after school in order to draw up a draft of the proposal, while Jen and I worked on it via e-mail throughout the weekend.  After much time and effort, as well as countless e-mails and slight frustration, our proposal was finished.  However, because it was a group effort, we found it irksome that Jen would not reply to our e-mails.  Nevertheless, she was given the benefit of the doubt, and the proposal was completed through some tweaking and more planning.

Beginning Our QUEST

Overview of the Problem to be Solved:

The goal of Quest Therapeutic Services is to provide children with both physical therapy and emotional support through two programs, Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding. There are two aspects to the problems of these children: a practical aspect and a philosophical aspect. Practically, the special needs of the children hinder their motility, which affects their health and physical condition. Philosophically, the children need special care due to these disabilities, which limit their education. With its programs, Quest offers exercise, social, and educational opportunities through horseback riding.

 

Specific Action Plan:

By volunteering at Quest, we are assisting with its beneficial programs. In order to achieve the most from our experience at Quest Therapeutic Services, we plan on taking a tour of the facility. Afterwards, the four of us have planned on at least three different dates in order to perform the community service, for a total of at least 40 hours combined.  However, because many of our schedules conflict, some of the service days will be done with only half of the group, while at least one will involve the entire group. Along with this, we plan on videotaping and taking pictures of our time in the program, by either alternating with the technology or asking parents of the children to do so for us. At the end of the project, a copy of the video will be available for the parents of the children if they would like to have one.

 

Expected Outcomes:

Elie Wiesel stated, “The only way for us to help ourselves is to help others and to listen to each other’s stories.” Working at Quest offers us an excellent opportunity to apply ourselves in helping to improve the conditions of disabled children. As we associate with the children, we hope that they will share their thoughts and experiences with us, enabling them to gain more confidence as well as allowing us to get a sense of the experiences they have dealt with in order to live with their disabilities. Not only are we making a difference in their lives by providing companionship, but we are making a difference in our lives by broadening our horizons in this new experience.

Philosophical Quotations by Philosophers and Philosophical Thinkers

While preparing the proposal, I found time to research a few philosophical quotations to put in our project and I came up with the following:

• What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on? (Henry David Thoreau)
• When the pain is great enough, we will let anyone be doctor.  (Mignon McLaughlin)
• How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before stating to improve the world.  (Anne Frank)
• Look up and not down.  Look forward and not back.  Loot out and not in, and lend a hand.  (Edward Everett Hale)
• A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives.  (Jackie Robinson)
• When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.  (Eleanor Roosevelt)
• Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself.  It’s what you do for others.  (Danny Thomas)
• The wise person understands that his own happiness must include the happiness of others.  (Dennis Weaver)
• You will discover that you have two hands.  One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.  (Audrey Hepburn)
• Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.  (Abraham Lincoln)
• Time and money spent in helping people to do more for themselves is far better than mere giving.  (Henry Ford)
• The race of humankind would perish did they cease to aid each other.  We cannot exist without mutual help.  All therefore that need aid have a right to ask it from their fellow humans; and no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without guilt.  (Sir Walter Scott)

Stephanie and Ally have already picked some of their favorites, but I find myself leaning more towards the quotes by Anne Frank, Audrey Hepburn, and Sir Walter Scott.  Eventually we will come around to choosing one, as well as researching the philosopher or person who said the quote.  Hopefully Jen will reply to her e-mails soon enough, as we need to finish the proposal and get to performing the volunteer work itself.

Starting the Proposal

Though I was unable to stay after school, Ally and Stephanie volunteered to do so and were able to finish significant areas of the proposal.  Afterwards, I was able to edit and add my own ideas to the proposal, and we have been exchanging ideas and tips for the proposal via e-mail a few times now.  Unfortunately, Jen has not been available to reply to any of the e-mails, so it seems that she will not be able to contribute her part, however, I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was either occupied and unable to  read her e-mails, or had a computer problem and was unable to answer.  Nevertheless, we are in good hands for the project and have accomplished much.