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