Simplicity & Selflessness

If I were a product, I would be an assistant of some sort. Not because this is something that I'd necessarily enjoy (although I don't have any objections to it), but because I'm the person people always come to with advice. The title of my post really explains the services you're going to get with me; simplicity and selflessness.

I use the word simplicity because I've always been a pretty simple person. I don't need something to be "brand new" or "revolutionary" to make me happy. My values in life are my family, friends, the outdoors, and doing my best in everything no matter where life takes me. Personally, I feel that there are a lot of materialistic people in today's world, and while they are all caught up in their belongings and in what they don't have yet, I take pride in being content with everything I have and not wanting anything more.

We live in a fast-paced society where people can so easily get caught up and lost in the busyness of life, and I feel that if more people began to value the more simple things in life, people as a whole would enjoy a higher quality of life. If people are constantly focusing on what they don't have, they will never be happy with what they do have.

The word selflessness comes to mind when I try to describe myself because I like making other people happy, even if it means taking a little extra time out of my day to do so. For the past two summers I worked as a customer service associate at a retail store. One of the things I learned there was how to see things from other people's points of view. When one takes the time to consider another person's viewpoint, it may make understanding others much easier.

While I was in high school, I participated in my school's blood drives whenever possible. I went to Hartford Union High School, in Hartford, Wisconsin, and as a result of not only my own, but my entire school's selflessness, we managed to donate record amounts of blood and received a great deal of recognition for it. We didn't strive for huge turnouts so we could be the largest high school blood drive in Wisconsin; we did it to help others just as we would hope they would help us if we needed it.

I feel that these two characteristics would make me a great asset to someone as an assistant. I focus a lot on making other people's lives easier, and that is exactly what many look for when searching for an assistant. What makes these skills rare is that they arguably cannot be taught; one either has them or they don't. For the few that do naturally exhibit these skills, they should put them to the best possible use, for the betterment of others.

Now don't take this the wrong way, I'm not saying I don't have flaws. I, as everyone else, have my own personal flaws that I am more than willing to admit to. However, I do believe that I'm a kind-hearted, simple, and selfless individual who needs not to be in the spotlight all the time, but rather to help others get themselves into it. It's not that I don't want to be recognized, it's just that it isn't in my make up to be in the lime light all the time. I get more than enough satisfaction knowing that I played a small part in helping someone else get to where they want to be.

An Introduction from Erik Barber - Student Worker

My most memorable volunteer experience came my senior year in high school. My high school would have blood drives sponsored by the Wisconsin Blood Center about every three months. This was an important experience to me because I realized that I was helping other people, and my blood could save up to three lives. The only change that came along with this experience was that I realized that anyone can make a difference in someone else's life, even if you do not already know the individual. I volunteered at the blood drive mostly because a lot of my friends did them, so I wanted to give it a try as well.

To me, volunteering is important because it shows that you care about others more than you care about yourself, which in my opinion is an important trait for someone to have. To anyone who does not volunteer, I would strongly encourage them to do so. For a large portion of my life, I did not volunteer, but after I began getting involved in it, I realized the many benefits it can have on an individual.

The experience that changed me the most was reading a story in a magazine about an individual who was involved in a serious car accident. This person could have been saved if there would have been enough of a supply of their specific blood type. Unfortunately, this person died because there were not enough people willing to take 15 minutes out of their day and donate blood. I never want to be in a situation like that person, which is much of the reason I donate my own blood. I hope that if I donate mine, others will donate theirs which can truly benefit anyone, whether you personally know them or not.

Hello from Ashlie Kunich - new Volunteer Center Student Worker

Hello,

My name is Ashlie. I'm a new freshman at Carroll majoring in Biology/Pre-med and working in the Volunteer Center. I've lived in some pretty cool places but my hometown is Kenosha WI. I enjoy being active within my community, whether it’s playing on a sports team, joining a club or volunteering. Im a volunteer coach for a competitive traveling softball team with one of my best friends It’s a challenging and rewarding task and I would love to continue doing this through college. My favorite place to volunteer is at the Safe Harbor Humane Society back home. There I work with the animals to get them ready for adoption. This Includes walking, running, playing and yes, cleaning up after them. The main reason I chose to spend my time there was that every animal I have ever had was adopted form a shelter. In my opinion they have the best character. Until my Junior year in high school I was not big in volunteering, but what I discovered was how rewarding it can be. I encourage and challenge every student to participate in at least one event this year. You never know how it can affect your life or the lives around you.

See you around!

Ashlie K.

Freshman Service Day

Freshman Service Day is an annual event for incoming freshman here at Carroll. It's an exciting event where students have the opportunity to meet and bond with their First Year Seminar peers while getting to know the surrounding Waukesha and Milwaukee communities! I hope that students have fun working with their peers and community members on important service projects.

This year, Freshman Service Day will be Monday, August 30th. Students will be assigned to work site locations based on their First Year Seminar classes. We will send out half of the classes in the morning to volunteer and the rest in the afternoon. If your class is scheduled to have your first class meeting in the morning, you will volunteer in the afternoon. And vice versa.

Students should arrive to the Campus Center at either 8 AM or 1 PM to depart for their work site locations. Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants (such as jeans) and putting on some sun screen or bug spray won't hurt! Many sites are located outdoors so keep this is mind! Each group will depart from the Campus Center with either their Orientation Leader or classroom Peer Mentor.

Stayed tuned to our blog for more details on work site locations and for future volunteer opportunities!

Alumni Service Day Thoughts - Ruth Wieland

It was a pleasure to participate in Carroll's National Day of Service. I was a volunteer at New Threads of Hope where we sorted new, overstock clothing donated by a generous Wisconsin corporations. We learned that similar donations come from at least three familiar Wisconsin based companies and go out to support several charitable organizations in Waukesha and Milwaukee. Among those supported are "closets" for those out of work, nursing homes, and shelters. Most touching to me was to learn that many of the items would go to "no charge stores" where children in foster care can be brought on their birthday or Christmas to select some new clothes. It was startling to me to learn that those foster children are allotted only a $125 lifetime allowance for clothing; any additional expenditures must come from the monthly checks given foster parents for support of those children. I can only imagine that after food and other living expenses, there is probably not much left for clothing. And, $125 doesn't go very far for a span of years when children grow into new sizes so quickly.

This was a fun way to give back to the community. We were a relatively small group working around a table. I met alums and current students I didn't previously know. There was time for pleasant conversation with these alums, students, Carroll staff and faculty volunteers while our hands were busy. I had the pleasure of reminiscing about my era at Carroll with a faculty member teaching then...and, still teaching now. And to our surprise, the New Threads contact for the day turned out to be the parent of a current Carroll student! Talk about a small world...or, Carroll connections being everywhere! I returned home with a happy and satisfied feeling. I am so proud of my Alma Mater for making social conscience, volunteerism and community involvement count. Thank you Carroll University!

Ruth Wieland c/o '78

Spring Break in Iowa - Better than any beach party

My friend Rachel and I signed up to go to Cedar Rapids, Iowa sort of on a whim. We saw signs advertising the trip around campus, and one day we just though 'why not?' I mean, who WOULDN'T want to spend their spring break in Iowa? Neither one of us had any constriction experience so we didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into. But from day one, both of us knew we had made the right choice. The work was hard and the hours were long but the people were so great and helping others simply for the sake of helping others felt really good. We never really realized how much work goes into organizing volunteers. Everyone from the church that hosted us, to the ladies who made lunch for us were so nice and so grateful that the joy was contagious. The four days flew by, and by the end we actually found ourselves wishing we were staying a whole week. This spring break trip was a bit unconventional (I guess iowa is south of wisconsin...so it's a little warmer?) but we wouldn't change the great memories and new friendships for any beach party, no matter how sunny!

Jessie Louis c/o 2013

National Alumni Service Day

On Saturday April 10th Carroll University participated in it's first ever National Alumni Day of Service. The Alumni relations department encouraged all alum to participate in some sort of service.
Locally, alumni, faculty, and students teamed up to serve at three community organizations.

Volunteers cut down invasive buckthorn at Glacier Cone Park which is threatening native trees and is in danger of taking over the park. Alumni, Carroll's Ecological Conservation Group, and Carroll's mens and womens basketball teams contributed to the effort of riding the park of buckthorn.


Another group of volunteers served at Bethesda Thrift Shop in Hales Corners. Volunteers sorted and priced donations for the store.

Our third group of volunteers including Alumni, faculty, and Carroll's International Experience Club worked at New Threads of Hope, a local non-profit that collects new, overstock or donated clothing items and donates them to local social service agencies. Carroll Volunteers help sort donations.


Big thanks to all those that came out to volunteer. It is great to see Carroll students, staff, and alumni making a difference in the community. It is clear that this event will grow in the future.
Check out a short video about the Day of Service