Leaving Your Legacy
Written by Olivia Throssell
“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” — Art Williams
For the next few weeks, the Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) will attempt to instill excitement for volunteering in University of Hawaii at Hilo students through a “Make Your Mark” campaign.
Part one of the campaign featured the Legacy Wall, a panel at which students were able to write on paper hands. The topics for the hands included what kind(s) of impression(s) would like to be left or already left by serving others.
Business Administration major Alex Koscil reported he was getting involved in the campaign, for he feels like now is the time for good deeds. “I want to make other happy,” he stated. In effect, he signed up for part two of “Make Your Mark,” an array of spontaneous volunteering events. He will give a few hours of his time to tutor high school students.
Students "leaving their mark" about their acheivements and ambitions. Photos courtesy of Olivia Throssell.
Hawaiian Language and Communication double major Chelsie Kuali’i explained that she placed a handprint on the legacy wall because she feels doing so is significant. “Helping others,” she stated, “is important to me and I want to inspire others to do the same.” She has signed up for all volunteering opportunities which ALEX is offering.
Volunteering opportunities include painting handrails across campus, reorganizing the university costume shop, and weeding the university garden, among a few more opportunities.
Photos courtesy of Olivia Throssell.
Of course, such volunteering opportunities would not have been made available if not for Patricia Pitmag, a Business Administration major and the ALEX coordinator for the opportunities, and the assistance she received from Losalia Seumanu and Suzie Lippwe.
Seumanu commented that the Legacy Wall helps create awareness. Some students are highly involved and spend a lot of time volunteering while other students may want to, but not be able to volunteer for numerous reasons. However, “Make Your Mark” strives to inform students that even making efforts to give their time means something.
Photos courtesy of Olivia Throssell.
Spontaneous Volunteering is perfect for those who only have an hour or so to spare a week. The Legacy Wall helped spread that awareness.
Pitmag and Lippwe emphasized that ALEX hopes to promote volunteer service across campus and provide opportunities for all students to give back to their university and their community.
For more information, please contact the ALEX office via uhhiloalex@hawaii.edu.
