Service-Learning Blog Post Clubhouse Network Inc.
Creator: Soumia Litim
The blog post includes some of my experiences at the Clubhouse Network Inc. I explain the work I did and some of my specific interactions I’ve had, as well as an example of the art I created during my time serving.
Over the past semester I have been volunteering at the Clubhouse Network Inc. I’m there on Saturdays when it first opens and students slowly trickle in, and at most so far it we had about five students. One of the weeks at the Clubhouse I was trying something new and created a piece of work through scratch board. Below you will see an image of the scratch board I created. I was working on my art and I notice this young girl around the age of 9/10 come in. She is a ball of energy to say the least. From the moment she walked in the room was lit up with conversation and laughter. She came in wanting to be creative and try making new things such as buttons or play monopoly with the other students. As I was leaving I was saying goodbye to everyone and I looked over at a few new buttons and I said “those are really nice”, and she said “thank you, I learned how to make them today”.
I was just amazed at how quickly and eager she was to learn and be creative and try new things. It didn’t matter if she failed the first time, she would keep going. Trying new things is a process and you’re not necessarily going to get it right on the first time. She had such a positive attitude going in because she didn’t know what she was capable of doing/making. She could have just stopped when she did it wrong, but she persevered and continued . Instead of her just being told what to do, she was trying out different methods and experimenting what might work or might not. Learning is not about just reading something in a textbook, but more so trying it yourself and not being afraid to fail, because when you fail you learn. I’ve noticed this theme in the Clubhouse, because it is set up so that anyone can teach everyone else. Age or qualification isn’t applicable here. The other week someone much younger than me taught me how to set up the button making machine. Just because I am older than them doesn’t mean I have the answers to everything, and just because she is younger than me doesn’t mean she doesn’t know anything.
I am learning that even though some weeks might have been slow with how much traffic trickles into the Clubhouse, the people that do show up see it as a safe haven. A place where they are allowed to be themselves and create art, and let their creativity flow with no bounds. I realize that this is a more positive alternative for students that might not be in the best situations, but they are making the right decision choosing the Clubhouse over participating in social ills, such as street violence and substance abuse. I engaged myself and formed relationships with students and was willing to try and fail. From the young girl that I met working on the buttons and trying new tasks to creating that bond with her even though it was a one time thing. I let myself be open to forming those connections and ultimately learning how to be more comfortable in trying and failing. I allowed myself to embrace the creative side in me and really see the magic of the Clubhouse.