President's Message
The importance of helping others
Dr. Bettsey Barhorst
Issue date: 10/7/09 Section: News
On a dark, cool, windy and rainy day this past month, something enlightening and beautiful happened here at the college.
As a record amount of rain turned the Truax campus parking lot into a swimming pool, 15 students waded through water that at times was up to their waist, to help push their fellow classmates' flooded cars to safety.
What an incredible act of kindness. I'm extremely proud of these students. But you know what? I wasn't surprised by their good deeds. Our students have shown time and time again how much they care about the well being of others.
Here are a few examples:
Using their spring and winter breaks to help Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans and other coastal areas
Collecting canned goods to help local food pantries
Putting together "Santa's Wish List" to help students and their families during the Christmas holiday
Collecting "Koats for Kids"
The annual free Car Care Clinic
Providing free income tax help
Tutoring of young children in our communities
The art of helping others is something you probably won't find in any of your textbooks, but it could be one of the most important lessons you'll ever learn at college. By helping others you're actually helping yourself. Volunteering not only improves our communities it also provides you with the opportunity to broaden your social and professional networks, as well as enhance your resume. The Volunteer Center, located in Student Life (http://matcmadison.edu/volunteer-center), provides numerous community service and alternative break experiences that allow you the chance to help others.
Don't have the time to help? Helping others can be as simple as opening a door for someone, giving a classmate some much-needed words of encouragement, or just offering a warm, welcoming smile to someone who's having a tough day. You'll be surprised how these simple acts of kindness can promote positive changes in someone's day, and quite possibly their life.
So the next time you're at school…take a look around. Chances are there will be plenty of opportunities to add a ray of sunshine to a gloomy day, just like the 15 students who cared enough to help their fellow students. I promise you it will be worth your time.
As a record amount of rain turned the Truax campus parking lot into a swimming pool, 15 students waded through water that at times was up to their waist, to help push their fellow classmates' flooded cars to safety.
What an incredible act of kindness. I'm extremely proud of these students. But you know what? I wasn't surprised by their good deeds. Our students have shown time and time again how much they care about the well being of others.
Here are a few examples:
Using their spring and winter breaks to help Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans and other coastal areas
Collecting canned goods to help local food pantries
Putting together "Santa's Wish List" to help students and their families during the Christmas holiday
Collecting "Koats for Kids"
The annual free Car Care Clinic
Providing free income tax help
Tutoring of young children in our communities
The art of helping others is something you probably won't find in any of your textbooks, but it could be one of the most important lessons you'll ever learn at college. By helping others you're actually helping yourself. Volunteering not only improves our communities it also provides you with the opportunity to broaden your social and professional networks, as well as enhance your resume. The Volunteer Center, located in Student Life (http://matcmadison.edu/volunteer-center), provides numerous community service and alternative break experiences that allow you the chance to help others.
Don't have the time to help? Helping others can be as simple as opening a door for someone, giving a classmate some much-needed words of encouragement, or just offering a warm, welcoming smile to someone who's having a tough day. You'll be surprised how these simple acts of kindness can promote positive changes in someone's day, and quite possibly their life.
So the next time you're at school…take a look around. Chances are there will be plenty of opportunities to add a ray of sunshine to a gloomy day, just like the 15 students who cared enough to help their fellow students. I promise you it will be worth your time.
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