How My Students Taught Me

The annual service learning trip that the LAS freshman take to Detroit is quite unique compared to other LEAD teams. Students travel to Detroit and spend the night in the DNR's Outdoor Adventure Center. While in Detroit, the freshman class, along with upperclassmen group leaders, visit Quicken Loans and receive a historical tour of the …

“Break”ing Right

Alternative Breaks has made me look at the world differently and has inspired some bid life changes. This is my second year participation in the Volunteer Center's biggest program. One of my closest friends convinced me to apply to be a Site Leader, a large responsibility, but a rewarding one. Being a Site Leader gives …

Spark: Round 3

During my third year of participation with the Spark Leadership Experience, I was honored to fill one of the roles as Program Coordinator. This is a program that I have held near and dear to my heart and has helped me grow in my leadership capabilities. Spark's purpose is to give students, new to leadership, …

Sparking New Leaders

As a freshman I was told that I had to participate in a program called Spark Leadership Series. Never would I have thought that this program would have such a huge impact on my life and be such a large part of my college life. My dad always jokes that I will go into student …

A Letter for Better

"Music has seven letters, writing has twenty-six notes" - Joseph Joubert My generation doesn't often write letters. It's easier to pick up your phone and call or text your loved ones, but there is something about the excitement of receiving a letter. My cousin and I used to be pen pals when I was young. …

Why You Should Buy Reusable Straws and Bags

We live on a giant green and blue rock that is slowly drifting through space. It is the only giant rock of its kind. Home to billions of species, one of them being humans, it has given us life for thousands (or millions depending what you believe) of years. The question is, how much longer …

Jumping into Mentoring

This year I had the honor of "adopting" AJ Frens as my mentee. Through the LAS program, sophomores have the opportunity to chose a freshman from the cohort below and become their mentor. We are basically an on demand support system that can be used any way that our mentee needs. It's hard to believe …

The Year I Learned

It's my final day on campus, and as I sit here on my couch eating Fritos and watching "Friends" for the third time, I think back to who I was at the beginning of my freshman year and how I barley recognize myself. Just a few months ago, I was relying on my parents and …

His House Church

My faith is something that I've alway held close to my heart, but struggled to maintain at the same time. At home, I had my parents to encourage me to attend church and youth group meetings, my town was majorly Christian, and I was expected to practice my religion regularly. I did all of these …

Diversity, Inclusion, and Service LEAD Team

Part of the protocol for LAS students, is to be involved with a LEAD team. LEAD teams have a wide range of duties around campus. Some pertain specifically to LAS scholars and others are meant to benefit all students on CMU's campus. I had the opportunity to be on a fairly new team called The …