Service learning

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I heard about the Polar Bear Plunge through my peers. Every year many of my friends would take the plunge and I would call them crazy; going into the water being 30 degrees outside is insane. But that was before I did some research about the plunge and found out what the plunge was really about, helping raise funds for the Special Olympics. I was in school one day and heard that Broadneck had a team for the Polar plunge, this was my chance. Thousands of seemingly sane people across Maryland and beyond will strip down to their swim suits in 40 degree weather to help a special cause for extraordinary people. I am one of those seemingly sane people to donate and take the plunge to help raise funds for the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics is an incredible organization; their sole purpose is to make a person feel equal, and give them that sense accomplishment. The Special Olympics is made up of 4.2 million athletes with intellectual disabilities including coaches, families and celebrities that motivate them and support them every day. We advocated for people with intellectual disabilities, a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills. During the course of this project I learned a lot about the subject, like Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and phenylketonuria are caused by genetic conditions. I learned that all the money that we have raised and people donated goes all towards the Special Olympics, to help give those kids to have the same opportunities to develop physical fitness and share personal skills with their families. Normally, when hear mental disability they think retardation, but it’s so much more than that. 1% of the... ... middle of paper ... ... Initially, I did not realize the benefit of the Polar Bear Plunge; however, this experience has taught me that this event is not for crazy individuals, but it’s more than that. This event helps fund the Special Olympics, making a very significant and memorable event. I’ve noticed many different types of people coming together for one cause, not caring about their culture, gender, and race. They unify as a community to help a special cause. I’m not positive what the future holds for the generations to come. I don’t know if its positive or negative, what I do hope is that, by the rate we’re going, not only adults, but teens and kids get involved with community service, not because they have to but because of altruism and out of free- choice. From the Dalton School’ mission statement “We must engage in community service because… we need our communities to survive.”

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