Misericordia, Heart of MercyJuan Barriga

UNIV 390

The Beginning

Before working with the residents, I had mixed feelings

Nervousness

Fear of doing poorly at my internship

Fear of not knowing what to expect

Fear if I won’t meet the expectations of others

During the Middle of My Internship

I began to:

Observe instructors and see how they interacted with the residents

See myself more as a leader than a follower

Develop close relationships with the residents and staff

Bring enthusiasm and engage residents in art/creative writing activities

Creative Writing Projects (St. Patrick’s Day)

Misericordia’s “Community Believers”

1. Quality of Life – Ensure a quality of life for members within the Misericordia community

2. Connection – Develop close relationships, whether personal or professional, among staff and residents

3. Spirituality – Develop a stronger sense of spirituality and by being morally good citizens

4. Responsibility – To take action, whether they are for projects, duties, and other obligations

Our Big Project:“What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Misericordia

Community?”

Creative Writing Projects (Spring Season)

Art Projects (Spring Season)

What I Learned

I learned the importance of being empathic towards others

I learned the importance of putting others before myself

I, too, valued the four values of being a community believer

I learned that these residents are no different from any of us

- They should all deserve the same dignity and respect just as anyone else

Even by caring and keeping residents company, it can make that much of an impact on their lives

I learned the importance of collaborative learning

I learned the importance of community building with staff and residents

I learned to keep close relationships with the Misericordia family

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” - Ernest

Hemingway

Thank You for the Memories, Misericordia!