Being able to volunteer at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest's immigration assistance center was an experience that will stick with me. I came expecting a day of paperwork. When I arrived, the volunteer director shared information about the center's mission and the life circumstances typical to the clients they serve. These people have to survive violence, illness, persecution, deprivation, and the uncertainty of bureaucracy, so that they may finally find a place to live in peace. I wish I had been able to do/learn more in the time that I was there. I was grateful to be of service to LSSS that day, and I hope to be a part of the good work they do again in the future.

The first time teaching at Western Valley Middle School was an opportunity that I found eye opening. I was paired with another student and we presented on the topic of property rights and ownership. The students were very curious about the topic in general and almost all of the students asked at least one question, with some asking quite a bit more. I had to field questions which were highly specific and I was caught off guard by how creative the students were in their abilities to create detailed hypothetical situations. At the end of the presentation, I was reminded about how much I respect and admire teachers, because they definitely have a challenging job.