Special Olympics Soccer Reflection

Although this was a relitivly short activity, I believe my experience was good for me and for those I helped. I spent two sundays, from 6 to 4, volunteering my time at the special Olympics soccer tournament. I must say that i really enjoyed my time there. One of my learning outcomes was eight, to develop new skills. I met this outcome by interacting with the special needs players, previously I have had very little experience with the mentally, or pysicly retarded. I did not know what to expect and I fell that at first i was tentative, but the athletes drew me out of my shell. In my first blog I say that I met and talked to one athlete in particular, this man really connectd with me and we talked for several hours that day. This interaction developed my understanding of some mental illness, and that most are simply superficial, many are high functioning, engaging wonderful people. My second outcome is very related to the first, it is eitht, dealing with issues of global importance. mental retardation has been, and is a struggle for millions of people and their families all over the world, regardless of nationality, reliogion, or ethnicity. This experience gave me a chance to understand what so many people cope with every day, the challenges that they face and overcome. In my second blog I speak about how I felt after the last day, and I found myself imagining having some kind of mental handicap to deal with. I fell I have a better understanding of mental retardation, and the struggle that many face each day as a result of it, although i do not claim to even imagine how hard this may make life for somepeople.