Spring Break
Students apply studies to community service
Emmanuel Lopez
Daily Staff Writer
- Page 1 of 1
Others do so through their involvement in on-campus organizations.
Whatever the reason, students who perform volunteer work say that it provides many benefits.
For John Giang, a junior math major, community service was a requirement for his child development class.
Giang, who plans on teaching high school math after getting his credential, said he had to volunteer helping children with learning disabilities at a local elementary school.
"I had to come in two or three times a week for an hour or an hour and a half," Giang said.
Although the community service was an assignment, Giang said he felt more confident about his career aspirations.
"It was a good opportunity to work with the kids and get some hands-on experience teaching," Giang said, adding that the experience affirmed his goal of becoming a teacher.
Giang is not performing community service this semester, but said he plans to in the near future.
"I'm working, so that takes up all my time," Giang said. "But I would love to come in and help teach the kids when I have some free time."
Chris Acidera, a senior management information systems major, volunteered during the summer as part of his nutrition class.
Acidera worked as a volunteer at the Don Edwards San Francisco Wildlife Refuge, where he removed trash and weeds, placed cages to protect young plants and looked after the animals.
Acidera said the experience opened his eyes to the problems the environment is facing in today's world.
"It makes you more aware of the things people are doing to our environment," Acidera said. "It also made me realize there are things outside of myself and my life."
Acidera said he plans on doing more volunteer work at the refuge later this semester and will also participate in helping the homeless.
Some students get into community service through the organizations they participate in. Amy Wong, a senior advertising major, said that she takes part in volunteer activities as part of her sorority.
"Our group has various activities that it does throughout the year," said Wong, who is a member of Sigma Omicron Pi sorority.
One of the activities the sorority has planned is its ninth annual lipsync and dance competition, from which proceeds will go to charity, Wong said.
Wong added that the sorority hasn't determined which charity it will donate to yet.
Previous donations have gone to the Haight-Ashbury Medical Clinic in San Francisco and Operation United Services Organization, which sends care packages to U.S. troops stationed overseas, Wong said.
Wong also said doing community service raised her awareness of problems occurring in San Jose.
"I learned about the social problems in our community," Wong said. "It feels good to do something about them."
Jon Wang, a senior electrical engineering major, said volunteer work exposes people to things they will have to confront in real-life.
"A lot of the things you do in the work has to do with real-life issues," Wang said.
Wang, who volunteers his time aiding in litter cleanups throughout the Bay Area, added that it feels good to help those in need.
"It's great to help other people," Wang said. "You know these people have families and so you're helping them out in a way too."
One of the places students who are interested in volunteer work can visit is the Center for Service-Learning on campus.
Director Michael Fallon said the center recently opened its services to individual students.
"In the past, we were working with faculty and students who needed to perform service as part of a class," Fallon said. "At the end of last spring, we let individuals who are interested come in."
The center, which is located in the Administration building, has a directory of local organizations that have partnerships with SJSU, Fallon said.
Some of the organizations working with SJSU are the Third Street Community Center, the Health Trust and the city of San Jose, Fallon said.
Fallon said the response has been lukewarm so far, but is optimistic for the future.
"This service has only been available
for a few months," Fallon said.
"I'm sure more students will come by
as the word spreads."
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