Aubrea Sutton

I had a lot of fun volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. We set up games and concessions for their picnic celebrating the 50th anniversary of mentoring in Memphis. Once our stations were set, we were allowed to mingle with other students, kids, and volunteers. I had a lot of fun talking with U of M students from Japan who explained how some of our field games were similar to games in Japan. We also had the opportunity to play games with kids who were apart of the program. Overall, I would definitely recommend this volunteer site to others who wish to make a difference in the Memphis community.

On October 6, I volunteered at Foxbridge Assisted Living Center. While there, I helped the program coordinators set up for their Fall Family Festival. My tasks included blowing up balloons, constructing a balloon arch and balloon chain, and finally setting up a balloon dart board. Overall, I enjoyed working with other students from the University of Memphis. Though we did not have much time to really get to know one another, working together to set up such an elaborate event felt really good. We found new ways to keep the balloon arch from flying away and keep balloons from popping while we organized the arch.

At this location, other volunteers and I completed various tasks in preparation for Red Cross's upcoming events. For the first couple hours, I washed cars and detailed their interior. After that, I helped paint a fence that has been worn down from weather. Aside from actually completing our tasks, I had the opportunity to get to know some of the other volunteers, most of whom were in high school and middle school. While we worked, they asked me questions about college life just as we discussed events, like prom and graduation, they were most looking forward to as the semester closed. While I did enjoy my time here, I think it would have been beneficial to know about what types of tasks I would be assigned so that I could wear the appropriate clothing.

While volunteering, I helped organize and submit various applications. Aside from the technical aspect of volunteering, I enjoyed having the opportunity to talk with other college students and high school volunteers. We talked about music and politics as well as our future aspirations. Additionally, as political science student, I was also able to see the effects of laws and bills the legislature passed. I think this was a great opportunity because I saw first hand the implications of various policies rather than examine impact in a classroom or through newscasts.

While volunteering at Latino Memphis, I helped enter and file applications from families seeking assistance from the organization. Aside for entering applications, I had the chance to talk with high school students who also volunteer with Latino Memphis! We discussed college plans and scholarships, their aspirations, and how they understand the world. I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with such bright and inspiring youths! I learned a lot from them. I hope to volunteer here more in the future and am strongly considering making this a regular part of my schedule!

At this site, students and I helped the staff set up for their upcoming Halloween programs. While the work wasn't labor intensive, I had the opportunity to speak with students about politics, majors, and future aspirations. Although we lived very different lifestyles, we found commonality in our favorite music and foods. I even learned about outside scholarships and Harvard opportunities that are widely discussed on campus.

While volunteering at Botanic Gardens, I and other students prepared materials for their upcoming culture festival. Although the work didn't require much effort, I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to connect other students. We discussed various topics, including politics, campus life, and other experiences. Once we completed our work, we took a brief tour of the facilities while we were gathering everyone for a group photo. I've lived in Memphis all my life and I have never attended Botanic Gardens. The gardens were lovely, and I greatly appreciate their contribution to the community. Their staff works very hard helping young children understand nature and others in their community. I gave the experience three stars because I was hoping to get a more hands-on feel for the organization. All in all, I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know fellow students.