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Schedule time to help others out When
I took a group of my sorority sisters to Cook Children’s Medical
Center to make Christmas ornaments with the patients for a couple
of hours, many of the women were apprehensive about the children’s
reaction and acceptance. But when they met the children, I saw their
apprehension fade away. I watched two students lose track of time
as they talked to a teenage patient. As we were leaving the hospital
the two students said they were going back to the hospital because
they had to see their new friend again. After
just one experience, many of those studentsare now volunteering
on a weekly basis. Even though they needed some initial encouragement,
they decided it was worth giving up a few hours a week. Now, I know
you are busy and it is easy to get caught up in the daily grind
of college life. Reading assignments, appointments with professors,
group projects, meetings and financial concerns are just a few of
the things that consume a student’s life. Sure,
students have some free time, but the extra moments are many times
used for squeezing in a daily run, maintaining relationships and,
of course, attending social engagements. But even then, most of
us still find time to sit on the couch, chat on the phone and watch
those addicting reality shows. Obviously, your ultimate responsibility
while in college is to earn your bachelor’s degree. However,
students also have a responsibility to volunteer and give to others.
Regardless of full day-planners, students should make an effort
and a commitment to reach out to those less fortunate than themselves.
An afternoon or morning spent concerned with someone else’s
problems is one way students can contribute right now. Volunteerism
is something all college students should incorporate into their
lifestyle. It is time to accept that with privilege comes responsibility.
Instead of taking educational opportunities, good fortune and your
lucky place in life for granted, why not give back to the community? If
you are a student who has a job and really do not have extra time,
a simple “Hi, how are you?” to the housekeeper cleaning
your dorm or a friendly wave to the man or woman who cares for the
manicured lawns at TCU will let the person on the other end know
that you care. It is about treating others the way you want to be
treated. You never know when you will be the one needing help. For
those students who use spare time to study and participate in other
activities, volunteering is something to investigate. As a volunteer,
students not only have the opportunity to improve someone’s
situation. They have the potential to change their own life as well.
Leaving the TCU scene for a few hours a week gives a student’s
mind a rest from college worries and can make an upcoming paper
due date seem less life-threatening. Although
it takes some effort, it’s not difficult to find a place or
opportunity to volunteer. The Tarrant Area Food Bank, schools near
campus, Cook Children’s Medical Center and the Presbyterian
Night Shelter are just a few places that need volunteers. University
Ministries is also a place to learn about volunteer opportunities.
The
student determines the amount of dedication. Volunteering can be
as simple as organizing a canned food drive on your residence hall
floor or getting a group of your friends together to go to the homeless
shelter and make sandwiches for an hour one morning. While this
may not see like much, it means someone who might have been hungry
now gets to eat. The
late Norman Vincent Peale, a minister and inspirational writer,
said it best: “I have more fun and enjoy more financial success
when I stop trying to get what I want and help others get what they
want.” Emily Turner is a junior news/editorial journalism major from Coppell. She can be reached at (e.l.turner@tcu.edu). |
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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