What I Learned

By Maria Clara Oliveira

I have learned the different methods that are taken place in programs for the homeless in order to ensure that these programs can actually have a positive imapct in the lives of those who are a part of the program. Before my experience I thought that programs that help with the homeless population were just there to give housing opportunities and to provide food for those unhoused, basically to provide a basic human essential need. However, after being part of the experience I get to know how these programs can actually change their lives for the better. One of the practices they continue on teaching is helping those unhoused to learn social and professional skills that could help them in a job interview. In fact, job interviews are a requirement for those unhoused to pursue as it will allow them to receive the benefits that the organization will offer for them. This surprised me because I believed all these organization only provided essential human needs for them which that by itself is good enough but the fact that they go above an beyond to even provide classes to help them get out of their economical situation shows how they truly care for their people and displays their effort to make a difference to their lives. 

At first, I was very scared to start in my summer experience. Entering an unfamiliar territory can make anyone afraid. Even with my fears, I decided to have courage and seek after my experience. I asked for information about the current state of the homeless in Central Florida, I tried to talk to people I met along the way to get to know about their experience in either working with the homeless or being homeless. This motivation to seek after and learn new information made me more confident in the purpose I have for this experience and helped me feel connected to this experience by making me want to take part in making a change to someone’s life.

I think my environment has remained the same throughout the summer. I have been working with the same type of people and doing the same activities as I did before. The only difference I would say is that I feel more comfortable being there than when I first began. The difference in comfortability makes the place that was a strange space become a familiar feeling. My interaction with my CBI made further understand the purpose of my experience and figure out different means to which I can help my community of interest. The relationships that are forming are of familiar and friendly sentiments which helps the Capstone take shape by making feel compassion for the people involved in my community of interest and the purpose of the experience overall.

My determination is a decision that I am making right now that influences my direction in the Capstone as it encourages me to seek for more questions and answers and to try making sure everyone’s voices are heard. Goals that I will set for my summer experience is to continue doing more research on my topic and try to talk to as many people as possible regarding their personal experience. I would say I still need to complete important requirements from the Capstone such as doing an interview but I so far begun my experience the way that I wanted to begin.

This picture of The New York Times completely represents how I feel as I go through this experience and maintain determinted.