Intercity Impact 2009

Hey Everyone!!

I hope all is well and that you are enjoying college life. The last week has been an adjustment for me, I still am getting used to my busy schedule and having homework again, but I love all of my classes and I'm excited for what's ahead! Tonight is the Fall Involvement and Volunteer Fair, from 7-9 p.m. in the the DUC. I'm really pumped to be there promoting all the really cool events we have coming up at SIEO. If you have time, make sure you stop by!

Speaking of cool events, this fall SIEO will take its 2nd annual Intercity Impact Trip. UWSP students will travel to Milwaukee for the weekend of November 6th-8th where we will be volunteering with various hunger and homelessness organizations around the city!

Sound like something you'd like?

Check out the webpage for more details:

http://www.uwsp.edu/centers/sieo/volunteerism/break_trip/intercity_impact.asp

Hope to see you at the Involvement Fair!

Always Keep an Open Mind

In my opinion, college is all about finding yourself and discovering the world around you. So as the new school year approaches, I figured I’d write a little off the topic of volunteerism and onto something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately that I truly believe in.

The ability to think and act open mindedly can lead you to opportunities you never dreamed of. Looking back on my own experiences, I realize that just a few years ago I would have never guessed I’d be where I am now. I believe it’s this unpredictability that makes life so amazing (or difficult, depending on the situation and how you choose to look at things.)

To explain this a little better, I have a story for you:

Once upon a time, before I was even a student here at UWSP, I attended an informational session about the school and the academic programs offered. At this time I was dead set on majoring in Psychology and wanted nothing to do with learning about anything else. But, at the request of my mother, I was dragged to an informational meeting on the Sociology major. I specifically remember the professor of Sociology talking about the program and about an exciting new emphasis being offered in the field of Gerontology (the study of aging.) I believe it was at this point that I declared that this was something I would absolutely NEVER want to do. I decided I was done looking into other things; I knew what I wanted and that was that. Well, to make a long story short, the Psychology thing ended up not being right for me after all, and after trying out a couple of other majors, I finally switched to Sociology about a year and a half ago. About this same time, I found myself in need of a second job, so I applied to work at a senior living facility here in town (mostly because the pay was decent and the hours worked well with my busy student lifestyle). It was during my time at this job I discovered I had a passion for working with the elderly. I now have a minor in Gerontology. Go figure.

I guess the point that I’m trying to make here is that it’s really easy to get so focused on one thing that you shut yourself out from trying anything different. Don’t do that. A few words of wisdom for you: No matter what you’re doing or where you are planning to go, always remember to be open minded. Make sure to try new things, and expose yourself to new ideas and experiences. It’s in doing this that you may just discover the person you were always meant to be.

‘It’s amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions.’ – Charles F. Kettering

A Note on Perseverance and Teamwork

This last weekend I was out at Buckhorn State Park for a volunteer/camping trip. This trip definitely opened my eyes to a lot of different things, and I can honestly say I learned a LOT (not only within my position here at SIEO but personally as well).

Just for fun, I’ve decided to compile a little list
for your viewing pleasure:

THINGS I LEARNED:

- ALWAYS check the weather forecast BEFORE you leave to go camping
- ALWAYS make sure the camping equipment you rent WORKS BEFORE you leave
- Never take the luxury of showering for granted
- You can never have enough hand sanitizer and bug spray
- Pita bread pizzas made over a campfire taste AMAZING and
- Apples to Apples may be the best game ever created…

- But the MOST important thing I learned this weekend was that …

Throughout anything you do in life, having the ability to work successfully in a group will help you out. There were many times where my group could have given up, packed up our things and headed home, but we worked together through the rain and the mosquitoes, stuck it out, did some great work for the park and gained some hilarious memories in the process. This trip was a bit of a challenge, and I’d like to personally thank Kristi, Jenna, Jourdyn, Jaqi, and Courtney for being so awesome.

(And give an EXTRA BIG thanks to Courtney for being my designated scary - bug – picker -upper)

I love New Orleans

I just got back from a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana last week. I was chaperoning a group of youth from my church attending a conference that was made up of over 38,000 people. The trip had a big emphasis on service, so when I was asked to be a chaperone I couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

We spent six days in Louisiana, touring the city, eating amazing Cajun food, and helping the citizens of New Orleans get back on their feet after their lives were devastated by hurricanes years before. Believe me when I say, there is still a lot of work to do.

Our service project was to work with the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity organization to build homes for people that had lost theirs to Hurricane Katrina. We spent a day putting up siding in the 90 degree humid Louisiana heat. It was hot, miserable work but after hearing the home recipient share her story and her gratitude, none of us wanted to stop working.

I heard a statistic sometime during the week I was there that in 3 days, with 38,000 people, we did what would have taken the city of New Orleans 3 years to accomplish. I cannot even express to you how thrilled I was to be a part of that.

Every night, all 38,000 of us would head over the New Orleans Superdome where we listened to speakers from all over the world share their amazing stories about making a difference and the inspiration that lead them to do so.

One particular night, a speaker told us about his journey and about how important it is that this generation work together to make a difference in the world. With what we had accomplished in just that one week in New Orleans, I believe it’s true that there certainly is power in numbers. If you just get enough people that want to change something, anything can be possible.

I’d like to share with you one of my favorite memories of the week:

As we were all seated in the superdome one night, the lights were dimmed, and everyone was directed to take out their cell phones, turn them on, and hold them high above their heads. Row by row, starting at the very bottom on the floor, and extending up to the very top of the stadium all these little lights shone brightly, until the whole dome looked liked the night sky. As I looked around at all those lights, I kept thinking about what that speaker had said, about how if we all work together, we can accomplish great things. And, there it was, right in front of me, something great, in a representation of light.

I had such a great time in New Orleans, but I’m really excited to be back here and act on all the amazing things I learned. I’ve come back to Wisconsin feeling refreshed and motivated and I can’t help but think that this year is going to be good. Real good.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Plan B's

My summers at SIEO involve LOTS of planning. It’s when I try and get everything set up for the following year which makes things run a lot more smoothly once the fall semester starts. So while some people are spending their time in the sun this summer, I am spending my time setting up trips and fundraisers which means lots of phone calls, reservations, rough drafts and deposits.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my job. And as weird as it may be, I LOVE planning. Yes, that’s right. I am one of those people that actually enjoys planning things. Especially when the things I plan work out the way I want them to, which unfortunately is not always the case. This has got me thinking a lot lately about how often I have had to change plans not only within my position at SIEO but within my own life as well. I cannot even begin to tell you about all the times I’ve had my heart set on something, whether it be a specific trip destination, or an organization I’ve wanted to work at, only to discover it is not such a good fit after all. This is usually when I have to implement Plan B, or C, or even D.

For example, last year’s spring break trip was planned 3 times before I finally found one that worked.

But, here’s the crazy thing that I’ve discovered. Sometimes the very best things in my life have come after moments of disappointment and uncertainty. Sometimes those Plan B’s, even end up working out better than the original. So as you make your way through another year of school, whether it be your first, or your last, or somewhere in between, try and remember not to be afraid of those plan B’s, because whether you like it or not, life is full of them, and with a little faith and a lot of hard work, things always work out in the end.

:)

Environmental Service Trip

Are you interested in the environment? Like being outdoors? Enjoy camping? Want to get out of town and meet some new people? If you answered `yes’ to any of these questions, keep reading!!

SIEO will be taking a group of students to Buckhorn State Park in Necedah, Wisconsin during the first weekend in August (7-9). Participants will be spending all day Saturday volunteering at the park. Volunteer activities are weather dependent, but may include things like trail clearing and trimming; staining benches and litter clean up. There will be some down time after volunteering. Buckhorn State Park has volleyball nets, horse-shoes and a lake with canoe and kayak rentals. We’ll be camping out Friday and Saturday night and coming back to Point on Sunday.

The trip cost is $30.00. That covers your transportation, lodging and meals for the trip. Trip participants are encouraged to bring any of their own camping supplies, but they are not required for participation.

Sound like fun? I think so! I can’t wait! This is a great way to do something awesome and meet some people before classes start up in the fall! The Information and Ticket Office will be taking applications until Tuesday, July 21st.

Here’s the SIEO webpage with more information:

http://www.uwsp.edu/centers/sieo/volunteerism/break_trip/upcomingtrips.asp

Hello!

My name is Katrina Mijal and I am the Service Trip Coordinator for SIEO. I’m a junior here at UWSP majoring in Sociology with a minor in Gerontology. I feel very fortunate to have had the experience I’ve had here at UWSP and I hope that at some point, you will all be able to say the same. Here’s my story:

I graduated from high school in 2006 in a class of about 633 students. I was eager to start classes at UWSP in the fall and even more excited to take in all the new experiences college has to offer. I moved into Burroughs Hall, just across town from my parent’s house, but far enough away to give me some much needed freedom and independence. I was a Psychology major working at Perkins part time as a waitress.

I’ve always had an interest in volunteer work, and throughout my high school years I tried to do as much of it as I could. I spent many afternoons walking dogs at the Portage County Humane Society, lunch hours as a peer mentor for special education students, and Saturdays chatting with residents at the Portage County Nursing Home. As I transitioned into a college student, I soon discovered that all the time I seemed to have had back in high school was hard to come by. My afternoons were now filled with classes, my lunch hours became used for last minute studying, and I spent my Saturdays over at Perkins trying to make a few dollars to put into my gas tank. Even still, I kept my eye out for opportunities that would fit into my schedule.

I received an email early in my freshman year, advertising a trip to the Gulf Coast to help clean up after hurricane devastation. United Way of America and ThinkMTV had teamed up to put on an Alternative Spring Break program for college students across the country, and UWSP was going to take a group. I had been looking for a way to help out for so long, and I was convinced this would be an amazing opportunity. I had absolutely no idea just how amazing an opportunity it would be.

I filled out the trip application, got accepted, met the group and was headed down to Lake Charles, Louisiana for spring break of 2007. I can honestly say that that week of spring break changed my life. I met so many amazing people, had a blast learning how to install drywall and throughout all of it made a world of difference to a woman named Miss Gwen and her family who had lost their home to Hurricane Rita a year before. I came back to Stevens Point with a whole new perspective.

Shortly after I returned, The Student Involvement and Employment Office here on campus was looking to hire a student to plan and lead volunteer trips for their new volunteer program. I was hesitant to apply because I hadn’t had much experience with leading groups, but with my love for travel and my passion for volunteering, it seemed like the perfect job for me. I interviewed, and started my job as the Service Trip Coordinator that summer. Two years and four amazing trips later, I am so excited to start another school year.

My job at SIEO has lead me to so many amazing experiences and opportunities (including my decision to switch my major to Sociology), but the thing that I love most about it, is being able to give UWSP students the chance to have the feeling that they’ve made a difference. There truly is nothing that compares to that feeling. In fact, there’s a quote by Booker T. Washington that follows: “if you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

I hope that you will all take the time to stop by and say hello this year! There are tons of ways to get involved and I hope that you take advantage of all the great opportunities available to you.

I’ll be posting updates about upcoming service trips and keeping you informed on what’s going on in the SIEO volunteer office.

P.S. I’m currently working on an awesome trip for the end of summer…. more details coming soon!