Service offers unique perspective
Nicholeen DePersis
For A More Just and Humane World
As a first year student at Notre Dame, I decided to get involved with our school and local community. Not feeling that I could commit a great deal of time, I decided to volunteer two afternoons a week with a creative writing program at Lincoln Elementary school. That was four years ago, and now as a senior, I run a tutoring program at Lincoln. I never imagined what a significant role the decision I made freshman year would play in my life.
That initial involvement truly impacted my views and my life, as I saw children suffering from a lack of love, assistance and compassion and I became determined to help. Without ever leaving South Bend, I had gained a whole new perspective on life, faith, society, the world and myself and I was inspired to become involved and try to make a difference.
Throughout my first year, I began to get more interested in the program and the problems necessitating the program and other similar services. As a result, during my sophomore year, I took the position of lead tutor through the Center for Social Concerns (CSC). This position allowed me to begin a program focused solely on tutoring.
While still only volunteering twice a week, I grew more interested and engaged in the program and the lives of the children. Lincoln became a second home to me and the children and staff there truly began to feel like family. I grew to care a great deal about all the children I worked with and also began to realize that there were children suffering in this way nationwide.
My time at Lincoln has not only opened my eyes, but has also motivated me to learn more about national social maladies. Wanting to learn firsthand about the problems children face, I decided to participate in an Urban Plunge and a Summer Service Project. I then volunteered with various anti-drug organizations and spent a semester interning at the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.
Each of these experiences is due in large part to my time spent at Lincoln. While there, I have met many inspirational teachers and administrators, worked with some wonderful Notre Dame students and most importantly met many children that have inspired me to learn about the challenging problems they face and to take some action to fix those problems.
While I have accepted the fact that I cannot save the world by volunteering twice a week, I have learned what an impact I can make by taking some time to help, befriend and support the children in our local community. I have also learned that taking time to understand and experience the problems that many are forced to live with better prepares a person to be a part of the solution.
We as Notre Dame students are often heard proclaiming our desire to fix the problems of the world, to be those political, social, spiritual or what have you, and yet how can we endeavor to remedy problems many of us have never experienced firsthand? Taking some time to volunteer not only helps the people you work with directly, it also better informs you, thereby increasing your potential for discovering a remedy to those same problems.
Over the course of the past four years, I have fostered strong and lasting relationships with many students at Lincoln. It is these relationships that inspire me to continue to tutor even when it means not having as much time for myself, because these children give me something no one else can give. The children at Lincoln give me purpose and meaning, and they motivate me to use my education to help others.
I strongly urge you to get involved, to take advantage of the opportunity to be a part of the local community, to learn and to grow. There are plenty of different service opportunities offered through the CSC to meet any of your interests and time constraints, all with varying levels of commitment. You don't need to commit an excessive amount of time; any time and love you can give will help and you will be surprised how much it will enhance your life as well.
I invite you to attend this year's Social Concerns Festival held at the CSC on Thursday, Jan. 24 from 7-9 p.m. The Festival is a great opportunity to learn of the many ways to become involved in South Bend. You will be amazed how much your involvement in the local community will better your life.
"For a More Just and Humane World" is the Center for Social Concerns's bi-weekly column in The Observer. Nicholeen DePersis is a senior government and computer applications major with a concentration in journalism. She plans on attending law school upon graduation. Contact the CSC at ray.11@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, January 23, 2002
