Journal 9: Govenor's Mansion Performance

December 12, 2008 was yet another of Lovejoy High School's Orchestra volunteer opportunities. This time we were invited by exclusive invitation to perform Christmas tunes for the Governor himself, Sonny Perdue. When we got there we set up quickly in a room a short way from the front door and dove right into our playing. People touring the house walked by and very often stopped to remark on our playing ability, or to ask for a special selection. We were only too happy to oblige. We played from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm and then were forced to resign for another group had also been invited.

Unfortunately, we were not able to speak with the Govenor himself, but after our performance we were allowed to tour the house and get our own bird's eye view of the Mansion's magnificiance for ourselves. We all were complemented highly on our playing abilities.

Above all I learned from this experience that even rich people can be humble enough to reach out to the children, and that is a wonderful thing. Considering the bad publicity that has gone on and on about Clayton County, it made me feel very honored to be able to help in bringing light to our school system, even if it be through a few simple music carols. We can certainly say we made an impression because we were invited back to a special event later! That blog will come later.

From this experience I have gotten more confidence in my playing abilities and better at interacting with others.

12/12/2009

Total number of hours: 6

Journal 8: Publix Orchestra Holiday Performance

This is the first blog I have been able to post pictures for. On November 18th, the day after the Clayton County Honor Orchestra, I was also called to volunteer for a Christmas time performace at Publix in Lovejoy. We played from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 and actively encouraged the shopping audiences to sing along with the carols we played. It is clearly visible in the second picture that Santa was also a part of the evening celebration, so with spirit we decided to take a quick orchestra picture with him after our performance.

Through this activity I hoped to aid in giving off insiration for a wonderful holiday. I was perfectly delighted when some of the customers and even employees throughout the store came to sing with us and smiled as we played. In completing this activity, I have learned that celebrating the power of the holidays is not to be restricted mainly to sit down dinners and specific holiday parties, but it can be celebrated anywhere, anytime, and anyway. I must say, I was originally a bit disoriented when I found out our holiday performance would be in the produce department of Publix, but it turned out to be a fantastic night.

11/18/2008

Total number of hours: 2

Journal 7 :Clayton County Honor Orchestra Performance

November 17, 2008 was the day of the Clayton County Honor Orchestra, Band and Chorus concert. The actual performance did not take place until 6:00 pm, but the preparation that was put into it during the day was a life changing experience, to say the least. I found myself confronted by all sorts of talent. Musicians of my age range were brought to the Performing Arts center to rehearse for this motivating event. I found myself intruiged by the different musical learning styles of others, and challenged by not only their own talent, but the talent of many different directors.
The performance was directed by three different directors, and I found myself adjusting to their own styles quickly, yet maybe not without flaw. I hoped to achieve a broader musical knowledge through this experience, and can safely say that I accomplished the feat, but I know now that music is something that truly sets us apart from one another, even though it brings us together all the same. Music is something that everyone has in common, and yet finding two people with the exact, note for note, same tastes is nearly impossible.
Through this experience I found in myself more talent than I expected. My audition into the program allowed me a seat right up at the directors hands, which happened to be a lot closer than I expeced to find myself. And yet, all teh same I found that the competition was strong, and that evenb though there were many people behind me that may not have auditioned as well, every person in the ensemble had something about them that made them shine. The performance with other great musicians furthered my ability to appreciate people for their own hidden talents.

11/17/2008
Total Number of Hours: 10

Alex La Pierre Journal 5: Summer Library Volunteering

My summer volunteering consisted mostly of roaming around the shelves of our local library, helping children with thir needs and signing them up for the summer reading program. Encouraging young children to further their education through reading put a smile on my face and the bright faces of a few constant readers really put a spark in the light of my days. I hoped to be an encouragement to children to read but it seems as though my smile brought about even more in the children than just a need to obtain information from books. They seemed to really enjoy flipping each page to find a new adventure written upon it.

Patience is something I definately had to keep as every child is different and, with so many of them around, patience can trickle away quickly like water falling from a cliff. I have learned through my volunteering with children that the future of our brightest most encouraged children looks bright and that one person truly can make a difference in the life of a child. It was quite entertaining to even listen to the stories of the experienced librarians and hear their episodes of life.

I hope to once again volunteer at the library and bring smiles to children's faces once again next summer. There is more light in a happy child's eyes than there ever will be in the entire solar system.

Total hours: 15
Alex La Pierre

Alex La Pierre Journal 3: Celebrating America's Birthday at the Library

So, it has taken me a little while to return to the blogspot. But, now that I'm here, I can recollect on the memories of brightfaced children.

The Morrow library hosted it's annual celebration of America's 'birthday' on June 25th and 26th. Both days were spent teaching children about the history of our nation and letting them do crafts with our nation's most precious colors. Several of the volunteers, including myself, ran around with purpose putting smiles on little faces and gave much of our time to glueing crafts and fastening sequence pieces onto red, white and blue mats. With numbers of children reaching around 75, the serenity of the library was at best a whispering outside voice.

Working with the children has caused me to begin research on a possible major in child psychology. It was most interesting to me how the children seemed to pick up easily on my name and how contagious my own smile was to their visible countenance. One little boy came almost halfway across the library to ask me to help him, by-passing all of the other volunteers and adults. Nothing seems more fulfilling and intriguing making a child's day. In working with the children I have been inspired to research fields of study that will encourage children to become positive adults. This has been a most honorable experience and it is one that I hope to be apart of again in the future.

Total number of hours: 11
Alex La Pierre

Alex La Pierre Journal 2 (CAS)

Today was my second day volunteering at the local library. It really is so inspiring to see the children run through the door with excitement and not even start towards the computers but scatter to the shelves of wordly knowledge. I don't honestly remember children being so eager to read when I was younger. I recall thinking of the library as something similiar to a ghost town. Now I am proviledged to say that the reading bug has caught quite a few of our youngsters.

So this past tuesday as well as earlier today I was allowed to be included in the experience of encouraging good reading habits in children. Their smiles were completely intoxicating and I truly cannot wait until the next time I get to have with them. This Wednesday and Thursday should prove interesting also as the Morrow Branch will offer a two-day celebration of America's birthday that will be open to many children of all ages.

6/17/08 2 hours
6/21/08 1 hour 45 mintes

Total number of hours so far: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Alex La Pierre Journal 1

6/11/08

Hey everyone. Summer is definately here as the scorching temperatures outside are already making my celtic blood boil. Hope everyone is having a great time! I'll be volunteering at my local library for the summer and have already helped out some of my previous teachers. Can't wait to see what ya'll have accomplished.

Journal 6: Teacher Assitance June 3, 2008

My service completed for my seventh grade life science teacher on June 3, 2008 was definately a fulfilling experience. I never realized how much effort goes into preparing the classroom for the eager eyes of ready listeners, and for those few know- it- all kids with sly smiles and a reputation of disrupting lectures. I found myself immersed in cutting and pasting, cleaning, running errands, and being snatched up by other teachers who needed assitance as well.
Jonesboro middle school is not where I personally completed my middle school years, but as this is the school that my previous educator moved to, I chose to take the chance to meet and greet new faces, to broaden my spectrum of connections while earning knowledge from unknown, but reputable sources. I think a few of the teachers were astonished to see a rising high school junior back in the confines of a junior high classroom, eagerly waiting for the next task to be completed.
I worked from 12:30pm until 4:00 pm without breaking.

Hours: 3 1/2

Alex La Pierre Journal 4: Graduation performance for 2008 Seniors

It is a bit late to be documenting this community service project but, as I see it, every hour counts. Why should I exclude this experience?

On May 31, 2008 over 100 of Lovejoy's Senior class walked across the stage to accept their diplomas to the beat of our entire group of stinged instrumentalists. I myself added to the music by playing along on the violin to the tune of the very popular "Pomp and Circumstance." It was wonderful to see the faces of young people who have come such a long way in their twelve or so years of rigorous education. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their transition into the next stages of their young lives. This performance provided me the chance to act as a musical encouragement of future success and prosperity.

The time for this project spanned over a period of seven hours that involved set up, sound checks, and encouragement to younger players as well as graduating seniors. I'll never forget the relief on the faces of those who perambulated quicly off the stage to reach the final end of their hardwork and dedication to education.

Hours: 7
Date: May 31, 2008
Alex La Pierre