Volunteerism Finds Another Victim
Victim of the positive life-changing impact that Volunteerism has on volunteers that is.
An extraordinary volunteer from South East Michigan attended United Way's Alternative Spring Break back in March and had no foresight of how much it was going to change his life. It's amazing how much growth and insight he's gained through just a week long volunteerism
service project.
"… Being a 20 year-old African-American male, attending The University of Michigan-Dearborn, I thought life finally made sense and there was nothing more to add. I figured I would receive my degree, choose a career and make a living for myself. Little did I know that one experience such as Alternative Spring Break through United Way for Southeastern Michigan and United Way for America would change my perspective on life.
While it's easy to see the power and leverage a volunteer may have to change and/or improve lives of the community, it's just as easy to forget or underestimate the power that those lives changed and/or improved have on us, as volunteers.
Adam's great realization continues on, to a point where a lot of us have yet to reach:
"… With this new reason to live, I no longer have to hope for change but have faith in change. By definition faith is a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. I like to think of faith as the belief to sit in a chair, knowing that chair will hold and support your weight, dismissing the fact your body mass or weight. So with this faith, I've internalized within my conscious that I will make a difference and I do matter in mobilizing change. Martin Luther King Jr. said; 'This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom' ... We must move forward knowing that we are the advocates for change and our destination rest upon our decisions …�"
It's amazing to think that this insightful volunteer is only 20 years old. I'll be the first to say that we all need to learn what Adam Harris already knows before he’s turned 21 years old.
To read more of Adam Harris' brilliant essay, go to United Way of South East Michigan's Blog.
An extraordinary volunteer from South East Michigan attended United Way's Alternative Spring Break back in March and had no foresight of how much it was going to change his life. It's amazing how much growth and insight he's gained through just a week long volunteerism
service project."… Being a 20 year-old African-American male, attending The University of Michigan-Dearborn, I thought life finally made sense and there was nothing more to add. I figured I would receive my degree, choose a career and make a living for myself. Little did I know that one experience such as Alternative Spring Break through United Way for Southeastern Michigan and United Way for America would change my perspective on life.
This experience helped me realize the importance of giving back and the obligation that each member of society has to their community. It helped me understand that change can happen even on an individual level but even greater on a collective level, when people work together. It opened my mind to see that everyone has their own talents and skills, and once everyone comes together to make a difference, change will occur …"
[Quoted from United Way of South East Michigan's Blog]
While it's easy to see the power and leverage a volunteer may have to change and/or improve lives of the community, it's just as easy to forget or underestimate the power that those lives changed and/or improved have on us, as volunteers.
Adam's great realization continues on, to a point where a lot of us have yet to reach:
"… With this new reason to live, I no longer have to hope for change but have faith in change. By definition faith is a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. I like to think of faith as the belief to sit in a chair, knowing that chair will hold and support your weight, dismissing the fact your body mass or weight. So with this faith, I've internalized within my conscious that I will make a difference and I do matter in mobilizing change. Martin Luther King Jr. said; 'This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom' ... We must move forward knowing that we are the advocates for change and our destination rest upon our decisions …�"
[Quoted from United Way of South East Michigan’s Blog]
It's amazing to think that this insightful volunteer is only 20 years old. I'll be the first to say that we all need to learn what Adam Harris already knows before he’s turned 21 years old.
To read more of Adam Harris' brilliant essay, go to United Way of South East Michigan's Blog.
You can also check out Adam, amongst other volunteers, in this short film segment which aired on MTV's The Amazing Break: Time to Act in March 2008.
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