Rowena

Hello everyone!! My name is Rowena and I came all the way from Vallejo, California to volunteer with the DSC. I attended Sacramento State University with a degree in Economics and minor in Spanish. Like many students, I was (and still am) undecided about my career path. As a recent graduate looking for a job, I stumbled upon what I felt was a "perfect match" for me. There has always been a desire, what I'd consider God's calling, to leave my comfort zone to take upon a journey of spiritual growth and personal improvement. I did not want a corporate office job, knowing that I would feel unfulfilled with my life. I wanted to move somewhere, but I did not want to worry about where I'd live and how I was going to get around. The DSC provides all those things, along with a counter-cultural experience that will transform me throughout the year.

I live with five people in a modest, accommodating home with our purple mini-van (Barney). Community living is no joke! We share meals, ideas, frustrations, needs, our past experiences and address any issues that arise accordingly.

We are all learning together, and most importantly having fun!

My placement is at Ss. Columba Brigid Montessori School. One of the reasons I chose this placement was to figure out whether or not I have enough patience to become a teacher. I have a classroom of 20 children, most of whom are 3 years old. So far, I'm adjusting to the Montessori philosophy quite well and enjoy working with the kids. Every day is a challenge to help them stop crying (because they miss their mothers), to keep them from running, to engage their attention spans for longer than a minute, and the list goes on... They take a lot of my energy because they're excited and captivated by simple things, even a sponge soaking up water. What I'm beginning to understand is how the kids become my teachers. They challenge me to become more patient, to listen and to love unconditionally everyday.

return