Student gives well deserved shout-out to Reading Frogs and TCU LEAPS
The Reading Frogs has a huge impact- just ask this columnist’s little brother, TCU LEAPS offers a different spin on volunteering.
COMMENTARY
Steffanie Strawbridge

Every year we complain about the same things — parking, professors, schoolwork and people who cross the street without paying any attention. While we do a lot of complaining, we rarely ever praise, and there is much at TCU to praise. So I would like to take this opportunity to praise two different groups that are becoming fixtures this fall.

First, I would like to start with the Reading Frogs. The best way to show my great admiration for this group of students and faculty is to share this experience. On Saturday, Sept. 21, I brought my 8-year-old brother to the Fall Community Reading Festival. I did not exactly know what to expect, but I was hoping to find something that would show him that reading could be fun and “cool”. For an 8-year old who would have much rather been watching “Pokemon” on a Saturday morning than reading, I knew it would be a hard sell.

We were both pleasantly surprised. There were TCU students everywhere reading to children of all ages. The best thing was that I was able to point out how many of the “Reading Frogs” were guys.

My little brother was convinced that cool guys did not read anything other then computer screens to play computer games. It was great for my brother to see guys who did not only read but were sharing that knowledge with others. My brother not only got some great books, but also a new respect for reading. He also enjoyed the book walk the Fort Worth Public Library set up. It was great for him to win a book and a shirt. He loved the shirt so much he wore it to school Monday.

The best thing about that morning was that when we left, my little brother turned to me and asked if we could do this again next year. And although I will not be here to take him next year, I know he will have a great time without me. So I send a huge thank you to all those who gave up a Saturday morning to share it with kids.

Next, I would like to praise those who are setting up TCU LEAPS. Each year this program gets bigger. I was lucky enough to have participated the last two years. Each year the experience was wonderful, and it will be one I sorely miss being a part of this year. LEAPS has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself as a student, as a volunteer and as a productive member of society. Volunteering with other students and faculty members is a very different experience from volunteering alone.

I wish to thank those students and faculty who spent the beginning of this semester preparing for this event for all their hard work. They are often the ones forgotten when praise is given out. I know all those who are participating this year will represent TCU well. I also wish to challenge everyone to find somewhere to volunteer. Be active in the Fort Worth community. Because every hour you give, you get so much more back.

Steffanie Strawbridge is a senior social work major from Fort Worth.