Emily Fiss

I won't go into detail about my community service hours and experiences because it would turn this essay into a short biography! Instead, I'll share my absolute favorite. This was when I volunteered as a Child Watch Team Member at the Springvalley YMCA. The Child Watch Team Member is responsible for the care and supervision of children while family member(s) are participating in YMCA programs; assisting in the implementation of daily program activities; ensuring a safe environment and age appropriate activities; monitoring children and being aware of whereabouts at all times. Serve as a leader in customer service and program delivery; providing supervision of staff as assigned. As self-contradictory as this may sound, when you are placed with the responsibility and trust of watching the parent’s whole worlds for 2 hours once a day, you learn a thing or two. Patience, for example. Seeing and dealing with little human minds with all of their amazing ideas and messes causes a person to gain tolerance almost instantly if handled appropriately. I am also learning humility. It's aggravating when something goes wrong and you have to admit it to the elegant parents who have just returned from a workout. Nonetheless, as difficult as children might be at times, they will make you a stronger and more cheerful person at the end of the day.