Mother Teresa said, “It’s not how
much we give but how much love we put into giving”, and I really like this
because when you put love into giving, really, your giving twice. That’s why I
really enjoyed this extra credit assignment. Dr. Soldani puts a lot of love
into giving at veteran’s village. I thought at first that we all would be
eating with the veterans, I had no clue that would be serving them. It was a
real treat.
First, I get there, and Dr. Soldani
is like “ok, its up to you guys figure it out, I am going outside to talk to
some of the veterans and get them all ready to come in.” I’m like, oh boy. So,
after myself and a couple other classmates stand there and look dumbfounded, I
say ok there are 5 of us and we all need a job. I directed one guy to handle
the meats and we put the meats on his side of the counter, I asked another guy
if he wanted to do the spaghetti and he was fine with that. After that there
were two girls left and I suggested that one of them pour condiments like ranch
and blue cheese in cups to get them ready so to keep the line moving faster,
and the other we agreed that she would pass out deserts. Cake I think it was. I
stood in the back and handled pizza and filled treys up with salad and kept the
guys supplied salad treys to start with. We had a lot of salad, so for the most
part everybody got salad whether they asked for it or not.
Once Dr. Soldani
returned, she returned with a whole mess of veterans. It got loud. We were
slapping salads on plates, asking them what all they wanted next and then they
were on to the condiment and desert table. After about twenty to twenty-five
minutes of that the rush was over, the chaos was over and there we were, blood
pumping, all looking at each other again. One of the girls started cleaning a
couple of the serving war, and it began, we all started cleaning. Five to seven
minutes later we were all done.
Dr. Soldani took a picture with all of us and
we were gone.
The smiles on those faces though.
I naturally tend to want to help
people on a day to day basis, but not always does the opportunity present
itself. My most common thing that I will do to give me the sense of doing my
part in society is by helping people on the side of the road or at a gas
station with an overheated car or something similar. It’s not all that often
that somebody actually ask’s me to be a part of such a great cause. It allowed
me to really use my leadership skills in an opportune moment.
Dr. Soldani left
us with no plans or direction and everybody looked lost. I was lost too, to be
honest, but I was standing around a bunch of people much younger than myself.
That’s when I said what the heck. Let’s make a plan. If I hadn’t have tried I
probably still would not know that I have leadership qualities. I was confident,
and it made me even more confident after, and still today. I’m saying all this
because I really enjoyed the event and everything about it, the cause, the
veterans, and the volunteers. And especially a special thanks to Dr. Soldani
for finding it in her heart to continue to create such an opportunity, for
those who can help to help those that need help. It’s beautiful. So beautiful
that I went again.
Like I said, I really am in awe of
this cause. I just wish people could find other ways to contribute. I think
others should find more ways to contribute today and not put things off until
tomorrow. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “You cannot do kindness too soon, for you
never know how soon it will be too late”. I think this is an awesome quote.
It’s true, don’t say I could help this person later, or there is plenty time to
do my part. The fact is you never know who is watching, a little boy or girl
could see you do something kind and bam, you now have just inspired a small
child to do greatness. Just pick up your arms, straighten your back, and let’s
start contributing. There is definitely not a lack of good causes, only good
people!
