AMH2020 Student*
“As you grow older, you will discover
that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping
others.” – Audrey Hepburn
For
my service project, I completed a box to send to troops serving in Afghanistan.
Included in my box was various snacks, a crossword puzzle activity, a notebook
and colored pens, and most importantly a handwritten note thanking the
servicemen and women for their exceptional and inspiring bravery. When creating
my box, it was important to me to send items that I knew would make the
servicemen and women smile and make them happy because I know that the
challenges they may face and sadness while being apart from their families and
serving our country. As a first-year college student, I have struggled with
being away from home from time to time throughout this semester and it always
makes me smile when my family sends me a care package full of things I love. Therefore,
I included the crossword puzzles and notebook to allow some fun and activity in
addition to the stress that can occur on a daily basis. In the past when I have
done any volunteer or charity work, I have made meals or baked as a donation
and I really wanted to be able to include something “homemade” to include.
Especially, being away in college, although it cannot compare to serving in
the military, I know the feeling of wanting a home cooked meal. Putting snacks
and candy in allowed me to contribute to that home feeling and honestly, who
doesn’t love food! My favorite and the most important content of the box to me,
was the handwritten note that I include to truly say thank you. I do not know
enough servicemen and women to be able to express my sincere appreciation for
all they have done to keep our country safe. Being able to include a note
allowed me to communicate this to them.
Throughout
my entire life, beginning when I was little, my parents have always instilled
in me that giving towards others is the best gift I could give to myself. I
think this truly sparked my love for helping people and being able to make a
difference in someone else’s life. I enjoy giving gifts whether it be physical
or just donating my time to someone or something in need. This connects to my
core values in the fact that giving back to the community and to those who make
a difference in our world is not something that I should hesitate on it. These
values of helping people and giving back is something that should always be a
part of me and something that I should always do. As a communications major,
talking and interacting with people whether it is physically or digitally, is an
essential portion of what I want to do with the rest of my life. Although I did
not get a chance to physically speak to the servicemen and women, getting to
express my appreciation through the box was a symbol of what I wish I could say
in person. I always think of my communications major as a “talking major.” It
all has to do with talking and how we communicate and interact with others. I
feel that it is important to know how to express yourself in ways other than
actually speaking and as a communications major, this is what I am learning
every day. Sending a box is not me physically being able to say thank you but it is a symbol of what I feel and I truly
hope that it is perceived in a manner where they know that my service towards
them is truly appreciated.
It is important to me that my box was
reflective of my appreciation for what they do to keep me and our country safe.
The simplicity in the bravery that they endure is more than enough and I truly
could not imagine the triumphs they could face while putting their life on the
line and keeping others safe. I think that this box project is a great way to
be able to contribute and give back to those who are doing so much for us.
Although it is not in a physical aspect, knowing is the thought that counts. It
is a great way to be able to say you made a difference in someone’s day and
it’s an amazing way to make a difference in your own life. We often take the
small things like snacks and crossword puzzles for granted as something we can
achieve with the snap of our fingertips. Those serving our country are not always
as lucky and I believe it truly makes a difference in our own lives when we have
the ability to help others and make an impact in someone else’s life. The
community impact from these boxes would be greater than imagined as they are
simple ways to give back and show that giving comes from within. I truly
believe you have to want to give back and if you aren’t fully invested, you
will not receive the satisfaction and good righteous feeling that comes along
with it and its impact to you and others surrounding you. It is not often that
we all get to make an impact from doing a simple project. By participating in
the service box project, I gave myself a lifetime of opportunity to give back
and influence the community around me to do the same in a small and what seems
effortless way. Unfortunately, I will no longer be a student in this class, but
the journey of the project does not end here for me. I most definitely plan on
spreading the word about a simple way to make a big difference. I want to be
able to continue my efforts through this project and expand it through by
bringing people along with me to do the same.
