Misericordia’s Fitness and Pool Center Through the Lens

A LOOK BACK of an Intern

Omar Zahra I B.S. Biochmeistry
INTRODUCTION
• The Social Justice Internship (SJI) is a
year-long experience where 13
students are placed in local Chicago
area non-profits.
• These include Misericordia, Catholic
Charities, ONE Northside, and
Girlforward
• We met once every few weeks in a
classroom setting to discuss community
building, leadership, and various forms
of reflection.
MISERICORDIA
• An organization that cares for persons
with mild to profound developmental
disabilities including many whom are
also physically challenged.
• 31-acre campus home to over 600
children and adults
• Contains many centers including the
Aquatic and Moore Fitness Center, a
Chapel, a bakery, a basketball court,
a greenhouse, and much more.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• As a result of interning at Misericordia, I
will be able to properly assess and run the
Fitness Center on my own.
• As a result of my internship at
Misericordia, I will try to get to know more
about the residents and create friendships
with them.
• As a result of interning with Misericordia, I
will learn to integrate various skills/
activities throughout my interaction with the
residents
THE FITNESS CENTER
• Maneuvering and working the
machines
• Interacting with all the residents who
come in and out
• Introducing myself to every resident
• Maintaining a consistent flow of lively
music
TASTE IN MUSIC
• It took me a while to get the hang of
the different types of music that
residents like.
• Most of the time they would only know
a phrase or two of their favorite song
and I had to try my best to figure out
what the song was. It was like a game
of trial and error.
• Occasionally I would play some music
to my taste and either a resident
would like and or they wouldn’t
THE OUTSIDE SEATING
• This was a favorite spot for many
residents whenever they first stepped
foot into the facility.
• The moment someone sat down I knew
that I was going to have to motivate
them to come into the Fitness room.
• Whenever residents finished working
out they would also sit hear waiting
for someone to take them back home.
ANSWERING THE DOORBELL
• One of the most rewarding aspects of
my internship was answering the
doorbell whenever it rang.
• Because we were connected to the
overall larger building at Misericordia
a lot of residents would come through
the Fitness and Pool Center.
• With every door that I opened I would
be greeted by a warm and welcoming
smile.
SIT AND BE FIT PROGRAM
• A major aspect of my internship was a
program called “Sit and Be Fit”.
• The idea of this program is to visit
various houses and to interact with the
residents
• This would include games like catch,
bowling, bingo, bean bag throw, or
others.
GETTING RESIDENTS TO GAGE
• The hardest and most rewarding part
was getting the residents to play with
me.
• The program was scheduled usually
during the nighttime so many patients
were ready to go to bed.
• I would attract the residents the
moment I started playing the music.
REFLECTIONS
• Checking up with the residents on a
weekly basis and getting to know how
they are maneuvering their daily lives.
• Most residents I would see on a
weekly basis and eventually the
residents came to know when exactly I
would be interning.
• Not only were they looking forward to
seeing me but so was I.
LESSONS TO LEARN
• This was my first time dealing with this
population and I came in with certain
assumptions.
• By the end of my internship those
assumptions were completely turned
upside down.
• I had not realized how valuable and
treasured Misericordia’s residents
were until I started working with them.
REWARDS
• I was able to build on my leadership
skills in team building.
• Most of the time throughout the “Sit
and Be Fit” programming I would have
about two other volunteers who would
help.
• Learn invaluable lessons about life
beyond school from fellow staff
members.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Being a valuable team member and
friend to most of the Fitness Center.
• Assisting the Power Lifting Team
achieve their goals of being more fit.
• Being given notes by the residents
whenever they made something in art
class.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special Thanks:
• To my Instructor- Andrew Miller, Center
for Experiential Learning
• To my site supervisor- Mary Ann
Zielke-Allen
• To all the residents as Misericordia