Not many courses in college offer field trips, but this advanced writing course does. English 315, taught by Professor Megan Paonessa, focuses on social change. In order for students to write about this topic, Paonessa brings them to either Hesed House or Feed My Starving Children to volunteer.
Rather than just reading about social change and seeing other people experience it, NCC students get to be involved with it. This opportunity gives students the chance to help out in their community in a way they may not have been able to before.
The English 315 class. Photo by Megan Paonessa
The students who attended the trip to Hesed House, the second-largest shelter in Illinois, participated in a walk for awareness and were given a tour. They were able to see what life is like there for the members of the community.
“Going to the shelter, seeing it as a group, bonding over that…allows you to talk more openly with each other,” said Paonessa.
Those who were not able to attend the trip to the Hesed House volunteered at Feed My Starving Children instead. Some students have helped out this organization before, but others had never stepped foot inside the building. Upon entering, students were given a hairnet and learned about what they would be doing during their time there.
As students started working at their stations, they began to bond with their fellow classmates. Soon the simple tasks they had to complete, such as scooping rice into a bag, became eye-opening experiences.
Photo by Maddy O’Connell
“This was my first time at Feed My Starving Children and I’m really happy I’m able to help out,” said Maeve Leahy, ’20.
Once the work was over, all volunteers were invited to pray over the boxes of food they had just prepared. Finally, they learned how big of an impact they made that day. The NCC students, along with several other groups of volunteers, packed 107 boxes of food. This amount of food is enough to feed 63 children for a year.
Now that each visit is over, the students will be using their experiences to write an article for Paonessa’s class. Their task is to relate social change to something regarding their major.
“Even if it doesn’t totally make sense with your major, I am hoping that the experience inspires a topic,” said Paonessa.
