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Ashanti Ervin

Professor Stowe

FYE- Section 6

October 1, 2013

Then

Community Service Paper

Hill Hall is one of the key essentials to Savannah State University. Located in between

Richard R. Wright Hall housing facility and the Colston Building is where it lies. Hill Hall

houses the presidents office, cashiers office, and the bank to Greek life, clubs, and

organization. The building was built in 1900 and 1901 by students of the university majoring in

manual arts & blacksmithing. It is also the building that will be the starting place of every tour

given on campus by the fellow Tiger Ambassadors.

During my time volunteering in Hill Hall I assisted the workers at the round table. The

round table is the headquarters of the entire building. Its where you go if you need any

assistance with anything or have any questions that need to be answered. The tasks that I

accomplished during my time there include creating excel spreadsheets of prospective SSU

Tigers information, also ensuring that the basic office supplies were on site and in place, posing

as a temporary assistant to one of the staff members.

I learned that I actually enjoyed assisting the staff of Hill Hall. They provided me with a

great vibe every time I walked into their offices prepared to work. Though I only served as a
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volunteer to one staff member I always received a very enthusiastic welcome from the other staff

members. I experienced the role a receptionist has to play and a basic outlook on what a day in

their position would be like. Though it might not seem like a tough job it is quite the task in

itself. The receptionist has to be able to handle the personas of customers without expressing the

true emotion a customer might leave them with. They are to remain a calm and positive attitude

therefore one leaves feeling like they were helped by a joyful spirit. I learned to become more

aware of my overall attitude because you dont want to come off a specific way.

Before volunteering at Hill Hall I imagined it would be difficult because I wouldnt be

working with adults but instead with my peers. Now that my time there is complete I have chose

to continue to serve a volunteer purpose there with the hopes of becoming an actual staff member

there by next year. The staff at Hill Hall truly did make me feel welcome as if I was a part of

their team. They were very friendly and very respectful though there was a major age difference

between them and myself. Every person who came to Hill Hall received for efficient assistance

with a smile and a positive attitude. In my opinion, that is the way many businesses should be

run.

Hill Hall provides the perfect establishment to the SSU Community. This building is the

exact place that attracts most prospective students with the help of the Tiger Ambassadors. Tiger

Ambassadors are the first impression of the school but Hill Hall is the second. It provides

prospects with the perfect environment and an outstanding staff to compliment that. Without Hill

Hall on SSUs campus I believe it wouldnt be the same. It adds to the overall beauty of the

school. It provides a much needed service that keeps the students of SSU rolling in.
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NOW

Ashanti Ervin

Professor Loadholt

Praxis Reading & Writing

February 18, 2017

Essay Diagnostic

Throughout life we are taught many lessons whether we learn our lessons from mistakes
we may have made or not. Some may think the only way you can learn a lesson is through
people but that is not true at all. One of the main ways that I learn a lesson is through the
concluding message in a book. The book that provided me with the strongest message was
Sharon Drapers November Blues. November Blues is a novel that I recommend for everyone to
read. The storyline is about a high school girl who has to figure out a plan of action now that she
has realized she is pregnant, and the father of the child, well he just recently died a few months
prior.

My reasoning for stating this book as a must read is not only because I personally like it
and I can relate to it due to age. This book sends a message like no other and it is very relatable
because we all know someone like November, Josh, or any other character portrayed in this
story. The message of staying abstinent or cautious in reference to sex at a young age is highly
relevant to any teen or young adult out there. This book could teach a mom who recently found
out her daughter is pregnant get through the situation. When November (main character)s mom
found out she was pregnant her mom completely flipped out not because she was mad she was
simply hurt but by the end of the book she had full acceptance from her mother.

Not only is November Blues highly relatable this novel is also entertaining. My first time
reading this book was in the eleventh grade and to this day I have probably read this book over
eight times. Although, the story line is not going to change I still like to remind myself of all the
possibilities that may occur through bad decisions. My high school actually required us to read
each book from Sharon Drapers series. Her books gave us hope. Sharon is a black, female who
is making a way out of no way. She is showing black youth the many ways to get out of
oppressive situations while displaying God as our greatest tool. Therefore, I recommend her
book series to everyone interested in gaining a better perspective.