Michele Rosati

This community service project has taught my group and I valuable lessons for my future at and beyond Baruch. At first, it was hard to secure an organization to work with. Through the Starr career center and social media sites such as Linked In, we discovered various organizations that appeared to be in need of volunteers; however, getting in touch with a representative was difficult at first. It was clear to my group that if we were going to find a charity, we needed to take the initiative and make a persistent commitment in coordinating a volunteer effort. This brought us to Meals on Wheels where we finally got in contact with a representative that was willing to make us apart of their team. The community service project forced us to go out of our comfort zone and deal professionally with our prospect. Personally, the project not only showed us the importance of seizing and opportunity, but more importantly the possibility of creating an opportunity and making it happen yourself. This challenge in our project only prepared us for the skills we will need to implement as our years at Baruch continue. A professional attitude is key, but also motivation, confidence and other communication skills are vital components to success. Unfortunately, I have no yet joined a job because I was trying to adjust to the school for my first semester. It seemed that I was waiting for the right club to just fall into my lap; however, it is clear that I need to go out and inquire about different clubs in order to find my nitch in the Baruch community. This community service project has emphasized volunteering as something far more valuable than anticipated. It is no longer a burden or just a requirement to check off in order to graduation. Volunteering is a learning experience that can help us grow on a personal and occupational level. It is clear that the work one does when they volunteer has a positive emotional impact on both the receiving and giving party. In the next 3 years, I hope to continue working with charities close to my heart, including but not limited to The Alzheimer’s Association. Finding time to balance charity volunteer hours with my demanding academic and occupational responsibilities will be a challenge, but I hope to stay motivated to help grow the community.