My LV experience
Living and working in Middle Swan throughout the past 6 months has truly been a rollercoaster. Alongside the constant battle with COVID and the subsequent restrictions, being thrown into the deep end within La Salle College boarding required a strong ability to work around a multitude of challenges.
Term 2 saw the boarding students being able to get out a lot more over weekends and saw us as LVs be able to get more involved in activities around the boarding house as well as activities outside of our standard Middle Swan boarding experience. One significant highlight was the ability to hold a karaoke night. On this particular Friday night, the students (and staff!) had access to a microphone and speaker, with one requirement for the night - to sing our lungs out and have loads of fun! This requirement was very quickly fulfilled with hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Barbie Girl and Let it Go among some of the most popular for the night. Being able to experience this joy all together among the staff and students was so great, in fact, that the boarding house made a permanent investment into this equipment so that it can be used more often to be able to bring the same level of joy.
Other highlights included watching the mighty Swan Districts ‘Swans’ play WAFL Football at Bassendean oval, being able to go out to the movies together, and taking regular bus rides in which we would end up along the coast watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean or kicking a footy at the beautiful King’s Park.
Term 2 also saw a significant increase in the number of students in the house. In the boys house, the number of boys increased from the 3 we had first-term to around 13. The girls' house reached its capacity of 20 students. This meant there was a great number of new names and faces to try and learn, as well as a multitude of personalities to be understood. This was a great change for us - there was no longer a dull moment in the boarding house and being able to create connections with students is worth the entire LV program on its own.
Last term, we also got more opportunities to accompany the boarding students along to off-campus excursions. These included taking a number of students to a Reconciliation Day Ceremony, as well as an experience at the Perth City Farm with the junior students which also involved many of them having the opportunity to use public transport for the first time (Which meant a ride on the ferry)!
My own involvement in the Education Support unit at La Salle College meant I got to go on a number of fun excursions with the Ed Support students. The highlight among these trips was the ACC Inclusive Fun Run in which La Salle students competed with Ed Support students from other schools in a 2km race around Jackadder Lake. This was an amazing experience where I got to develop bonds with the Ed Support students that I have the privilege of working with every Friday.
Living at home with two other volunteers is another unique challenge within the LV program. Moving in with two people that we had not known previously (apart from our online induction) provided a whole other dimension to what we had to consider while settling into our new home. In saying this, our relationships with each other have been able to blossom as much as our own selves, mainly thanks to us being able to share many challenges and work through them as a team. These bonds among each other are yet another invaluable part of our LV journey. Not only will these bonds stay with us, but our abilities to make these special bonds with others will continue to develop.
Through the Term 2 holidays, I had the privilege of returning to St. Michael’s College under the care of our Youth Minister, Sharina Rabusic, and our Director of Lasallian Mission, Robert Dempsey. In this visit, Sharina and Rob gave me the opportunity to share with the current Year 12 group about what I was doing in Middle Swan and how they can get involved with the LV program. This was also a great opportunity to catch up with some of my previous Year 12 teachers, who were curious about my journey through this program.
I appreciate having this opportunity to share personal experiences around the Middle Swan retreat in an article. In saying that, it is genuinely hard to put into writing how amazing this program has been to me - from the rewarding relationships with staff and students to the invaluable work and life experience I continue to develop, I will truly appreciate joining this program for the rest of my life.
Lasallian Volunteer applications for 2023 are now open. Click HERE to find out more.
Author: Shamus Horgan, Lasallian Volunteer
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