By Evan Scherr
In Motion Staff Writer
The spirit of charity is alive and well at Daytona State College, at least among a small but enthusiastic group of DSC students. Academic responsibilities and a desire for a social life make it difficult for the average college student to find time for volunteering. For a dedicated few, however, the benefits outweigh the sacrifices.
For DSC freshman Hannah Cabral, faith is a powerful motivator. Cabral volunteers at her church, Christ Community Church in Daytona Beach. Along with other young members of the church, Cabral spends summers in Memphis, Tenn. helping fix the roofs of houses the local community cannot afford to repair themselves. She sees working on a roof in the middle of summer as a great way to spread love in communities that need it most.
Cabral says, “In sweating – and sometimes bleeding, sometimes crying – we show our Christ-like love for strangers in hopes that they see God’s love.”
From her time spent as a volunteer, Cabral has learned that the best thing you can do for someone is not to preach at them, but to show through your actions what it means to be loved and show love.
DSC junior Preston Johnston finds his motivation to volunteer in a simple fact. “Because I’m a part of a larger community of social animals,” Johnston explains philosophically.
He also enjoys the physical labor involved — he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, helping with house construction and carpentry.
On a less tangible level, Johnston says, “I’ve learned helping is the quickest and easiest way to show appreciation and respect for someone.”
In addition to his work with Habitat for Humanity, Johnson volunteers at First Presbyterian Church in Daytona Beach, helping with many festivals and food events.
“Goodwill is what is needed in a world where sometimes negativity and complacency are the common currency,” Johnston says.
For DSC freshman Celyne Isidro, the motivation is at least partly practical: she’s preparing for a career in healthcare. Isidro volunteers for a local church during food events. She sees volunteering as a great way to get perspective on what a service-oriented career will be like. She also cites a desire to make others’ days a little better.
Isidro says, “I have learned that a smile really does go a long way, whether we realize it or not.”
Joshua Hasker, a junior at DSC, volunteers for the Rotary Club. Through the Rotary Club, he assists with beach clean ups and helps project managers with their team community involvement. Hasker also volunteers at Pierson Elementary School where he tutors native Spanish speakers in English. Hasker himself has studied foreign languages for several years and says he is motivated by his understanding of the frustration that can accompany learning a second language.
Hasker explains that from his volunteering experiences he has learned patience and clarity as well as viable and practical labor skills.
Hasker says, “They have prepared me by understanding how to keep involved within the community and build connections and networking.”
Gilarys Garcia, a sophomore, is involved with a Hispanic community in Pierson. Every Tuesday she volunteers at Pierson Elementary through the program Foods Bring Hope. There, she tutors Spanish-speaking parents who want to learn English. When she has extra time, she also volunteers at Pierson Head Start, helping teachers with preschoolers. Pierson Head Start is a free program for children of low income families where they learn through play.
As a native Spanish speaker, Garcia believes that the students in the Pierson community are more comfortable with a bilingual person who is able to both understand and support them.
On the subject of volunteering, Garcia says, “I feel that there is a tremendous need for community service and we should invest our time helping those people in need.”
Garcia plans to pursue a dual major in education and psychology. She says she thinks that her volunteer experiences have prepared and motivated her to purse her goals.
Garcia says, “I think that they both have influenced me and developed the skills that I need to have in order to accomplish both goals. Some of these abilities are to listen carefully, being patient and giving them support.”
As Phi Theta Kappa’s Vice President of Service, Garcia has a leadership role in the DSC community.
She says, “I am encouraging the club members to be involved in the community. They seem to be very determined to start volunteering on this fall.”
Student volunteers at Daytona State College have a variety of different motivations – faith, community, service, even a love of physical labor. When it comes to what they get out of their experiences, though, there are common themes. Making connections, learning new skills both tangible and intangible – students are reaping the benefits of their time as volunteers.
As Hannah Cabral says, “Being able to help people — even people I’ve never met — makes me reall y happy.” It seems students are getting just as much as they are giving.
Celyne Isidro takes an optimistic view of volunteering among her peers, saying she has talked to some students about their experiences and “quite a few are active and willing.”
On volunteering in general, she says, “If ever you’re thinking of volunteering in the future, don’t do it just for the sake of adding it to your resume. Volunteer to contribute to the community, and develop, and even gain new skill sets. Volunteer to grow, to learn, and to inspire.”
Editor’s Note: Although summer is almost gone, students can plan a paid volunteer vacation in 2017 through a number of American organizations. The GoEco volunteer nonprofit organization, for example, was established in 2005 by Jonathan Gilben and Jonathan Tal, who hold university degrees in Environmental/Geography studies. Both have traveled extensively, participated in and created international ecological projects.
Based on their experience, Gilben and Tal introduced the concept of volunteer tourism in Israel and created volunteer projects locally for participating international volunteers. They successfully ran their first volunteer project at the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Michmoret, on the Mediterranean Sea, during the summer of 2006.
Currently, they offer a range of volunteer trips, including working at a monkey rehabilitation center in South Africa, learning Spanish while teaching English in Argentina and interning at the Giant Tortoise Center in the Galapagos. Prices start at $500 per trip. Many students have created Kickstarter and GoFundMe accounts to underwrite the cost of the trip. Go to http://www.goeco.org/faq for more information.