COLUMN: Volunteering a long-lost art at UM-Dearborn?
Ryan Schreiber
Issue date: 3/20/07 Section: Perspectives
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For all the students out there wanting to make a difference in the world, there's more to it than making loads of money, owning an oceanfront property or overseeing a staff of 30.
As myself and six others from UM-D experienced first-hand last week, our country is loaded with impoverished people and countless others who had everything, then lost it all due to uncontrollable circumstances. Missing classes, work and other activities was tough, but the students' dedication and determination to change the world forced them - plus over 120 others from around the U.S. - to use their mind and willpower to make a difference.
Alternative Spring Break is becoming increasingly popular with high school and college students who are willing to spend their time off from school lending a hand to those who need it most. This year, one group traveled outside the state through United Way of Southeastern Michigan to Lake Charles, Louisiana to help rebuild the Gulf Coast that was decimated by Hurricane Rita in 2005.
After seeing homes strewn about in lakes (that will probably never be cleared) and hearing about coffins that were never recovered after the flooding, I have a new sense of urgency to get these people help.
My group spent the week finishing the inside of two new construction homes for survivors. While we spent most of our time installing basemoldings and fiddling with caulk, the constant reminder of our helpfulness was reassuring, even when we felt we could be doing more.
Margaret Mead once said, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world." It rings true across the nation and world every single day, but I don't see it happening as much as it should here at UM-D.
It saddens me to ask it, but are we just too busy with our daily lives, classes and jobs to care about those who need our help? It's easy to brush it off and say, "There's not enough time" or "I can't do it by myself." But for those who do express those sentiments, have you ever experienced the plight of the homeless or poor who do their best on a daily basis just to survive?
As myself and six others from UM-D experienced first-hand last week, our country is loaded with impoverished people and countless others who had everything, then lost it all due to uncontrollable circumstances. Missing classes, work and other activities was tough, but the students' dedication and determination to change the world forced them - plus over 120 others from around the U.S. - to use their mind and willpower to make a difference.
Alternative Spring Break is becoming increasingly popular with high school and college students who are willing to spend their time off from school lending a hand to those who need it most. This year, one group traveled outside the state through United Way of Southeastern Michigan to Lake Charles, Louisiana to help rebuild the Gulf Coast that was decimated by Hurricane Rita in 2005.
After seeing homes strewn about in lakes (that will probably never be cleared) and hearing about coffins that were never recovered after the flooding, I have a new sense of urgency to get these people help.
My group spent the week finishing the inside of two new construction homes for survivors. While we spent most of our time installing basemoldings and fiddling with caulk, the constant reminder of our helpfulness was reassuring, even when we felt we could be doing more.
Margaret Mead once said, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world." It rings true across the nation and world every single day, but I don't see it happening as much as it should here at UM-D.
It saddens me to ask it, but are we just too busy with our daily lives, classes and jobs to care about those who need our help? It's easy to brush it off and say, "There's not enough time" or "I can't do it by myself." But for those who do express those sentiments, have you ever experienced the plight of the homeless or poor who do their best on a daily basis just to survive?
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