Michelle’s reflections

In my extensive scholastic experience, I have never taken a class that even comes close to the PolyHouse class.  What we are learning is amazing. I never imagined that we’d be talking about everything from fences and rose bushes to septic tanks and foundations. In my other classes we talked about teamwork and how it is important, but in PolyHouse, we have to work as a team to really help the family.  I feel very blessed to be with a group of individuals who aren’t only incredibly smart, but all have hearts of gold.  A couple of my group members and I ventured out this last Wednesday to visit several local landscape supply/material shops, and the people we talked to were very nice.  This is my first year in SLO, and as a city girl for most of my life, the warmth my team members and I received from the local shops was overwhelming.  The people we talked to really wanted to help; it is almost as if we’re feeding off each other’s positive energies.  I think that this will be the best experience of my time at Cal Poly. I’ve been involved with Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, and tutoring elementary school students but all these pale in comparison to the sense of accomplishment I feel with PolyHouse.  In PolyHouse, unlike the other charitable work I have done, I feel I am really able to affect the outcome of this project in a positive way. I have learned about how planning and execution, combined with a determined group of like-minded people can accomplish amazing work.