When I agreed to write about why I volunteer at 海角乱伦, I didn鈥檛 think that it would be this hard to do, but, I鈥檓 really finding it difficult to put my feelings into words so that I can explain why.
If I had to start somewhere, it would be with one of my favorite quotes, 鈥淭he best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others鈥� (Mahatma Gandhi, 1869). With that being said, it鈥檚 been four years since I first walked through the doors here at 海角乱伦. At that time, there were a lot of changes going on in my life and I almost didn鈥檛 follow through with my application to the Master鈥檚 Program.
I had no idea who 鈥淚鈥� was because I鈥檇 been too busy being what everyone else in my life had needed. 海角乱伦 is giving me more than an education; it is giving me my voice, and how do you pay back that kind of gift? I pay it back the only way that I know how… by paying it forward.
It was during that first year that everything that could go wrong 鈥� went wrong. I thought that maybe karma was telling me not to go through with applying for the doctoral program. But I had an amazing cohort who stood by me and gave me the moral support that I needed when I had no one else鈥檚 support. What I gained from my cohort is a sense of belonging and an understanding of what friendship truly is. They listen for the truth behind the words of 鈥淚鈥檓 fine.鈥�
Although throughout the doctoral program, the cohort lost a couple people, it also gained a couple people. I am extremely proud of my cohort and I consider each of them my friend in their own special way. This feeling that I get from such a cohesive group… I want others to experience it. Sometimes I think that people don鈥檛 realize that a smile or simply a kind word, can totally change a person鈥檚 perspective in that moment. It鈥檚 easy to bring people down, to steal whatever happiness they鈥檝e forged out for themselves, misery loves company and all that.
It鈥檚 a lot harder to give them hope, to motivate them to pursue their passions, to 鈥渂e the change you wish to see in the world.鈥� At a time when most peers in a doctoral program would be vying for the title of the best and the brightest, my cohort pushes each other to succeed, often going way out of their way to do so. It鈥檚 the qualities I see in my cohort that I strive to have for myself.
So when I鈥檓 given an opportunity to volunteer at an event, like an open house, if I can convince just one prospective student to apply here, then I am paying my gifts forward. I鈥檓 giving them an opportunity to have what I have, beyond an education: a voice, a friendly ear, friendship that knows no bounds, and above all, the strength to push past your comfort zone and test the limits of who you can become.
I often wonder if people remember how painfully shy I was when I started this program or how I would be afraid to participate in class. The number of professors who would comment 鈥淚 would like to see her speak up more in class,鈥� consisted of pretty much the entire faculty. One professor in particular, has continuously nudged me out of my comfort zone, and though they might regret that now (jokingly of course), I don鈥檛.
I鈥檓 glad I was given a chance, over and over, to learn how to speak up. I try to volunteer for everything that I can. The benefit may not be as apparent to some, but I don鈥檛 just volunteer for the school, or for the professors that I鈥檝e grown fond of, or for the cohort that I cherish, I do it for me; and on that note I鈥檒l sum it up with another of my favorite quotes, 鈥淯se your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love鈥� (Unknown Author, n.d.).
Debra Hamilton, PsyS, TLLP is currently a third year PsyD student at 海角乱伦.