Friday, Nov. 5, 2004
www.theloquitur.com
Lesson learned Get active, volunteer your time SHAWN RICE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SMR723@CABRINI.EDU
I really didn’t see the purpose of Cabrini’s SEM 300 requirement to volunteer in the community. I mean I’m busy and I really didn’t want to spend my extra time working on something that feels forced upon me. This ignorance of mine has been quickly removed from thinking since I have been doing volunteer work for the Royer Greaves School for the Blind. The experience has been extremely influential in how I perceive life and the hands each one of us was dealt. The reality of this situation is the kids of Royer Greaves are more of a help to me than I think I am to them. Besides the students of Royer Greaves having the handicap of blindness, they suffer from a mental handicap as well. Neither
I nor most people could imagine the difficulties these students deal with on a regular day. I enjoy the interactions that I get to have by coming each week. For instance I was helping Faruq with his Braille. Of course knowing nothing about it I was useless. So, instead of trying to help I decided it would be best if he showed me. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by Faruq. So, I felt good figuring out a way that would allow him to practice his skills and me to actually feel apart of his learning process. I wish all my teachers were as excited and positive in their teaching habits. Each time I was able to repeat Faruq’s teaching of the alphabet in Braille, I received a sincere, congratulatory compliment on my progress. At first I felt uncomfortable working with the students because I was always looking for eye contact. Not to come across corny but sometimes for a split second their rapid eye movement would stop and connect with my
line of vision. Now I know that wasn’t naturally intended but it appeared for that moment they could see me. When I’m not assisting them I will usually observe their actions. If someone gets up and walks around the room, I don’t need to move from where I’m either standing or sitting even though I feel I need to. It always amazes me how they can sense the presence of me even when I remain silent. Whether this perspective serves any purpose to you doesn’t matter because you can’t understand unless you go out and volunteer with any program. I can only share my experiences and hope I can encourage at least one person to do something with their extra time or for this school. When I’m at Royer Greaves working alongside each of these students, it is easy to forget my trivial problems. The fact is that I have been fortunate throughout my life. Volunteering has been an opportunity for me to learn the importance of caring for others.
your
PERSPECTIVES | 11
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opinion
Do you think CAP Board should spend more money on fewer events or spend less money and hold more events? “Better idea to spend more money on an event. Have one big event. More people will be interested and will attend.”
- Matt Triboletti, freshman Exercise Science
‘Yeah mon, no worries’ Jamaican getaway shows the lighter side of life JESSICA MARRELLA FEATURES EDITOR JRM722@CABRINI.EDU
I recently flew to Jamaica with my family and boyfriend for my sister’s wedding. It was single handedly one of the greatest experiences of my life. In only five short days I began to understand the Jamaican way of life. “Yeah mon, no worries,” are words to live by as far as Jamaican's are concerned. I never realized how stressful the American hustle and bustle lifestyle could be until I escaped from it for a few days. One of my pet peeves is when I over hear people competing with each other as to who is the busiest. People compare who stayed up the latest with who has more homework to do and not to mention who has worked the most hours. What is the point of it all? Instead of comparing schedules, why don’t we take that time to get away from the business? Many people are probably thinking that it must be easy to relax when palm trees and clear blue water surround you, and not to mention the flowing alcoholic drinks. But it was more than that. It was the cultural ideal that there is no reason to rush. If you order food or something to drink in Jamaica, don’t be surprised if you stand around
waiting for it. On the other hand, heaven forbid some people wait a few minutes longer at the McDonald’s drive through then they care to and you hear the impatient beeping of horns. It’s hard to explain, but in Jamaica everything just moves at a slower pace, therefore, the days are a lot less stressful. Just as Bob Marley said, “No worries, be happy. Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.” There are things that I wanted to do while I was away that I didn’t get the chance to do. But what I did do I enjoyed because there wasn’t this constant thought in the back of my mind about what I was going to do next or how I would squeeze everything into my day. What I did I enjoyed so much because I wasn’t rushing myself. Saturday night, employees of the resort stayed up until 5:30 a.m. setting up the Halloween festivities for the next day. And when Sunday came around the employees were as chipper as could be. You didn’t hear one person complaining about being tired or mad about the fact that it took so long to set everything up. The employees were ok with staying up late to set things up because to them it was worth the time. Other things that didn’t get done that day, they felt they could get to at another time. Before my boyfriend and I checked out, we stopped in the gift store for some last minute
souvenirs. Not realizing what time it was, we were late meeting the bus at 9:30 a.m. to take us to the airport. Before we knew it we were being hunted down in the gift store being told that we were late. When I went to square everything away at the front desk, the bus driver honked the horn at me trying to hurry me along. It was at that point that I just simply asked my sister and brother-in-law to take care of things at the desk. I realized that no matter how much I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of Jamaica, I would be returning home to the hustle and bustle. And sure enough I did. As soon as the plane landed in Philadelphia, people literally went running to claim their luggage. Why? The people that ran had to wait just as long for their luggage as the people who walked and took their time. I left Jamaica though with a new outlook on life. I really am going to make an effort to slow down and take my time. If I rush through my day maybe I’ll end up saving 10, 20 or maybe even 30 minutes. But what is that point of saving that time if at the end of my day I’m exhausted and stressed? What I need to get done will get done, and if it doesn’t, I can always get to it at another time.
- Christina Haurin, freshman Elementary Education
“I think it is a good idea that they spend more money for fewer events. More people would attend. The events would be better quality if they spent more time on one event as opposed to more little events.”.
“ Spend less for more. The more events might get more people to stay on the weekends. It may create more life on campus.”
-Miguel Mejia, junior Communication
“It’s a good idea to spend more money and time [on events]. More people will attend and have a good time.”
- Fraank Fonotto, junior Accouting
-Dr. Mary Laver Coordinator of Community Outreach
“Spend less money; more events would be better. We want a campus where people will want to stay on the weekends; make it the place to be. I do though, think CAP Board is already doing a great job.”