C.S. Lewis said, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. I think that is true.” I think this quote shows how important it is to show the past in history to guide people’s morals, because what might seem like a great thought could in fact lead to destruction. I think it is very important to look at other people’s past mistakes and learn from them, and form morals that might not have been there before.
For my service project I decided to publish my story project on my Granddad. I did this because I thought my Grandads stories were really inspiring and it was kind of amazing that I am related to him and he has been through so much. I also had a fun time with the project and wanted to find another way to permanently put out all that I learned.
I think this service project helped me learn wisdom computer wise. I learned that is it technologically easy to publish a book, but that when you are publically putting it out there to honor someone you love, it is a nightmare. I found myself questioning, “am I doing this right?” “am I saying this wrong?”. There is an added pressure to have completely true and accurate information that is grammatically correct and flows, because if you get it wrong it is forever. You can never take it back, and to me that’s nerve racking.
I also think this service project helped me learn wisdom in that my grandad is old and frail and not what he used to be and he is not going to be around forever. This experience taught me that I need to check in on him every once in a while, or give him a call, and to be more active in his life other than family get togethers.
I also think this had an impact on my Granddad. His wife, my Grandma, died when I was very young and he decided not to remarry, so he is lonely most of the time, even though he does have friends that see him regularly. I got to spend a whole afternoon interviewing him and then a dinner, so I hopefully have made him feel less alone. I also hope he likes that there is a book being published about four stories of his life, which I think he is.
Overall this assignment did change my life. I now have a published book, I have gained knowledge about my Granddad, I have learned how hard publishing a book really is even though it looks easy, and I have learned that time spent with my Granddad is precious and should be practiced more often.
Here is my book info:
People are People
Authored by Sarah Nicole Mekeel
List Price: $4.99
6" x 9" (15.24 x 22.86 cm)
Black & White on White paper
26 pages
Black & White on White paper
26 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1519663832 (CreateSpace-Assigned)
ISBN-10: 1519663838
BISAC: Social Science / Discrimination & Racism
ISBN-10: 1519663838
BISAC: Social Science / Discrimination & Racism
Four short stories from Dale Eugene Mekeel's life concerning racial segregation in the South, and Native Americans.
CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5913833
