**My Day With The Kids**:A Blog By Jacinda Whitley

         Working with the children Saturday was a very fun event. I was very surprised at the way the day went. My group of kids was very different from the rest. It was mixed with age groups from 10 to 16 and there was also a parent in the room. It was exciting to see how cooperative they were in making the skit as well. They seemed to really enjoy talking about and acting out the things they want to see change in their community.
        We did our skit was on “New Orleans public school systems,” and they loved talking about how they would change their schools if they could. It was a great experience to kids of all age groups be able to come together and work to make the day a day of learning and fun.

*Cant Live With Them, Cant Live Without Them*:A Blog By Jacinda Whitley

       I personally love kids. I am really excited about this service learning project with the Volunteers of America.  I have done several community service activities working with children from the children’s hospital to the school. No matter where I go I get lots of enjoyment working with the kids.

        I prefer for them to be six and under but I can adapt to different ages. I often volunteer at the school where my mom works at in Houston, Texas and the kids there are majority poor African American and Hispanic children. It always makes me feel good to get in there and show them that no matter where you come from you too can succeed. It really grabs their attention when I inform them that I too attended that school and grew up in that neighborhood, and  made it to college, which is a very low percentage.   I can’t  wait to share my enthusiasm about getting a higher education and trying to change the world one step at a time.

      One of my best experiences working with them was during my spring break and I was interviewed by a second grader on middle school and the steps to getting to high school. After the interview all these little seven year old’s ran up to me and I thought they were going to ask me more questions about school. Instead they asked me a million questions about having a dorm room, the color of my bedspread, the cafeteria food and other things. It was cute and surprising that they had an idea about college and was interested in the lifestyle. I felt good that I could give these little children positive advice about higher education and keep them interested in even higher education that I was originally talking about.

**Reaching the Children**: A Blog By Jacinda Whitley

           When it comes to teaching young children it is important to be able to catch their attention in order for them to be open and receptive to what you have to say. I think a good way to get the children to understand using there voice is to talk about issues they can relate to and make sure the vocabulary is appropriate for their age.  I would stress to them the importance of getting the most out of whatever grade they may be in and educating themselves fully. By helping them get motivated by education they  could stress to other kids preceding them or their family and friends what getting a good education did for them.  I would also stress the importance of joining positive groups and organizations in which they can learn to express their thoughts and  ideas in a positive setting. Helping  have  better understanding of involvement will not only help them find their voice it will help them use their voice.

**My Voice**:A Blog By Jacinda Whitley

The idea of using your voice and being heard is a topic that can’t be stressed enough in today’s society. I definitely plan on continuing the path I have started at Xavier University in order to let my voice be heard.  Being that I am a meek person, I couldn’t see myself  preaching or shouting to a crowd of people in order to be heard. I’d  rather  be heard through my actions and the way I carry myself.  I think people are influenced by what they see and if I am setting an example that is positive, I won’t have to yell or scream but I would be ableto speak in a soft tone and still be heard and respected. Finishing school and becoming a successful leader will not only illustrate how being  your own person can benefit you, it also gives those who are searching for their own voice a way to find it.