Volunteering at the CCE has made me feel more confident in understanding how the Center plays a huge role in the campus and with the community. It also has been preparing me as I await on becoming a full-time VISTA member. One thing that I am nervous about is being able to lay out the bases of what the CCE does for the campus and community. I'm excited to share my passion for the community and inspire and recruit students to become role models for younger kids. My goal is to feel more comfortable in reaching out to the students and have them obtain the same knowledge, skills and passion for the community as I do.
My first day with the CCE felt like entering a new school. But this time I get to be behind the scenes and learn about how an important part of Sonoma State operates. The first day was basically viewing layouts of who we operate under and learning the meaning and importance of community engagement. It was very insightful and a lot to take in, but when everything starts to operate, then I will realize what the first day in the CCE was all about.
My second day was much different than my first. I was able to assist in recruiting at a job fair for recent high school graduates. We were recruiting for a student assistant position for the CCE and I enjoyed speaking to the soon-to-be Seawolves and informing them about how the CCE functions and how it contributes to SSU and community organizations. These students looked determined to get their experience with whatever job they are passionate about. They were dressed very professionally and prepared with job applications and resumes, which is something I wished I had learned in high school.
During the fall semester in 2016, I was in a social work course and it required us to do some sort of social service work. The service work that I chose to do was for Head Start as a teacher's aide for once a week. After a while in Head Start, I developed an interest in becoming more involved in giving back to the community. I began attending community events about the improvements to affordable housing and the image of low-income neighborhoods, such as the Roseland area. I have also volunteered in neighborhood cleanups around the Roseland area primarily to show an example to the people that this is our home; we share it equally. It is important that we ensure it is kept safe, clean, and up to date with its apartment repairs.
When I learned that VISTA does similar things as Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County, I thought to myself, "I can do this!" I want to be able to give back to the community more than it gave to me when I was growing up. I didn't have volunteers cleanup my neighborhood, I had a small number of gang related members "tagging" what gang they affiliate with. I saw fights taking place right outside my apartment complex. I even witnessed a domestic altercation between a male and female in which the male came outside, across from where I currently live, with blood all over his face and white tank top shirt. These events that I had witnessed will never leave me. I have come to the conclusion that they will be with me for the rest of my life and are reminders to myself of why I chose to become a VISTA and also why I chose to help improve my community. I chose this path so that a young child doesn't have to follow the path of being a gang member; so they wouldn't have to see a fight break loose outside of their home and witness a man walking in the streets with a bloody face and tank top shirt. I want to be the change in the lives of the people in the community.