Community Service Corner is a series that will feature the ongoing efforts of the Auburn softball program to improve the local area in the team community service challenge. The series highlights what the student-athletes did through their own eyes. First up for the month of September is junior infielder Justus Perry.
Compassion, Comfort, Community.
"Every successful individual knows that his or her achievements depends on a community or persons working together" –Paul Ryan
Community service is often regarded as a mere task; it could simply entail packaging food, or playing with children. Serving your community does not have to be a daunting task, and the meager one to two hours could impact your life forever. The work that I have done this September has allowed me to find out the importance of serving others.
The dictionary defines community service as "voluntary work intended to help people in a particular area." My definition is slightly different. I believe community service is striving for greatness, not only in finding yourself, but inspiring it in others as well. Everything you do will have a positive effect on someone's life. Coming together as a team, we are all able to make life in our community more comfortable.
This September, I volunteered with several organizations: I facilitated BINGO at the Morningside Assisted Living home; I organized and packaged clothing at the Big House foundation; I read to students at Dean Road Elementary school; and my favorite of them all - assisting riders and working in the stable at Storybook Farms. I am the kind of person that likes variety in my life. The difference in organizations and places I went this month allowed me to open my eyes to contrasting situations that people were in. Typically, with my strenuous schedule on the field and in the classroom, it is difficult to find time to serve my community. Throughout these different projects, I have realized that I can set aside my time, even if it is 30 minutes a week, to enhance the community that I take pride in.