A Personal Reflection

Looking back to the beginning of January, for this Argument class alone, much has changed. I first had the opportunity to speak with my family, the Hooks, at the end of that month, and since then, have found myself thinking about them often. Right away, my family caught my attention and my heart. David is a single father who is unable to work because he has to give fulltime care to his four-year-old son, Tucker. As someone who came from a family of two parents and nine siblings, the Hook family seemed vastly different from my own personal life. While I trust that David and Tucker will benefit from the letter written on behalf to their governor and legislators, I believe that I’ve actually benefitted more from this whole experience.

If nothing else, working to serve the people of the Waiting List--like David and Tucker--has taught me what it means to really live ours lives for others. It isn’t enough to learn about the Waiting List or the End the Wait Campaign and think “wow, that’s unfair, someone should do something about that.” If service learning has taught me anything, it’s the importance of taking action. Sometimes the very act of trying means more than actually accomplishing a task. At the very least, it means that you cared enough to start the ball rolling.

I’m so happy that I was able to be a part of a program like this, because honestly, without this service learning class I would have had no idea about the Arc of Maryland, the Waiting List Campaign, or the End The Wait Campaign—all programs or organizations that are essential to so many Maryland residents. I don’t have anyone in my family who has a developmental disability, but through the Hooks, I’ve grown to understand that even though more attention or aid is needed to care for someone like Tucker, their disabilities don’t define who they are as a person. People with developmental disabilities deserve a chance to experience life the same way you or I experience it; and while I may not have known that three months ago, I certainly know that now.