Leighton Shiveley 

4/19/18 3:30 

The Riekes Center For Human Enhancement

Gary Riekes 

Griekes@riekes.org

I have only ever heard great things about the Riekes Center. For this reason I was extremely excited to start my volunteering there, but also a little nervous because I wanted to live up to the high expectations. Although I had an initial plan of teaching dance and stretch classes going in, I knew that it was important to just go with the flow while I was there, and that a major part of the learning would take place when I was pushed outside of my comfort zone. I was well aware that I would not be working with dancers, but unaware of who exactly I would be working with. Gary explained that this organization was open to all ages, economic sectors, physical/mental capacities and that he encourages all his members to participate in activities that might new new/foreign to them. For example, athletes to stop in the music department and music students to step into the gym. I learned that anything I did there would not be judged and that working with each person was such a privilege. The nerves immediately vanished after stepping in the door for my first session.  As I walked in every person there was welcoming and introduced themselves with broad smiles on their faces. This kind energy extended passed the front door - throughout the entire session I was there I met so many warm and friendly people. I had planned on working with one person there who had been arranged by Gary and once that ended more people came up to me to join in, which was super gratifying because I felt like I was actually making an impact. After my first visit I was full of so much unexpected positive emotion, which came through the genuine connections I made with each person I worked with. I got to know them and their background while exposing them to something new, doing something I loved.