Thursday, 5/29/97 Volunteering a fulfilling way to give back to
community SERVICE: Even if it starts out as resume building,
personal rewards follow
By Sharat Gadasally and Steve Golveo Did we just smoke weed and
drink lots of alcohol during our four (or five) years at UCLA? No,
we got off our butts, and did something with our otherwise
meaningless lives – we volunteered for America. As we are leaving,
we want everyone to continue our tradition of working with the
communities around the Los Angeles area. Through our volunteering
experiences at UCLA, we have learned lessons that cannot be taught
in the lecture halls and discussion classrooms of our large
university. Volunteering has taught us lifetime lessons in time
management, personal development, self-esteem and has allowed us to
gain a sense of social responsibility. We have realized that
college is an individualistic, selfish time when we are taught to
think about ourselves and our own futures. It’s good to take time
off from thinking only about yourself and do something worthwhile.
Even if your original intentions are of a resume-building
mentality, follow those intentions, and your thinking may actually
change to enjoy volunteering. Why volunteer? Because you will be
helping others, you will be developing your leadership skills, and
you will open yourself up to new horizons and experiences beyond
the humdrum experiences of everyday college life. So fulfill the
opportunity to meet the people you would otherwise never meet, and
walk away from UCLA feeling a sense of pride in your school by
involving yourself in it surrounding communities. Volunteering does
not always mean distributing food to people at homeless shelters
during winter holidays. Volunteering can be building a house,
visiting the elderly, cleaning up beaches, cleaning up vandalism,
donating blood or helping at a hospital. Many organizations and
neighborhoods in our community need the help of educated students
like ourselves. If you want to avoid all of the bureaucratic,
political b.s. of the Undergraduate Students Association Council
and actually help the community in a serious way, do something
worthwhile with your time that will produce visible results.
Volunteer with one of the projects under the Community Service
Commission, especially Project Literacy. Project Literacy serves
individuals of all ages at two sites: the Watts Public Library and
the Mar Vista Gardens. The Project is unique because it provides
individual tutoring year-round by dedicated volunteers from the
UCLA community. Your time and effort would be spent much more
efficiently volunteering with such a group. What excuses can you
find for not volunteering? Think you’re too cool or just not cut
out to be a volunteer? Think you don’t have enough time or already
juggle too many commitments? Contrary to popular belief,
volunteering as a student does not mean dedicating your entire life
to the cause. A few hours a week is all it takes, and there are
many programs to fit your interests. All you need to do is take the
initiative. Are you graduating and have not volunteered yet? You
can still help this year by being part of a Study Marathon on
Tuesday of 10th week. You’ll be helping a volunteer program and
will be getting studying for your finals done at the same time! For
more information, call Project Literacy at 825-2417. Related Links:
UCLA Community Service Commission