Past Volunteer Activites: In high school, at Sacred Heart in New Orleans;I did Best Buddies; was a member of Community Outreach Club; I went to Nicaragua to build houses, a school, and a ditch for sewage; and I helped out with the Peer Support program we had.

Current Volunteer Activities: Best Buddies and Pet Helpers

What is your most memorable volunteer experience? They're all memorable. I think that I learned the most from going to Nicaragua.

What are you most proud of contributing to your organizations? With Best Buddies, the whole thing is that you bring together people that might not have met otherwise. It's a really great way for college students like me to meet and become friends with kids our age who live a pretty different life. My buddy James and I have a lot in common; we enjoy a lot of the same things, and if it weren't for Best Buddies, I never would have met him.

What do you enjoy most about community service: I like that I can make someone feel better, and be happy, just by hanging out with them. I can make their day just by being a friend.

How do your friends /co-workers describe you? As a kind, caring person. I get told that I'm funny a lot. I like to be seen as a real person who just leaves the bullshit at home, you know? Like, This is me! You can take it or leave it.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering? I would tell anyone that whatever you do to make sure and have your heart into it.

What are your plans after graduation? I plan to go to grad school at some point, but as of now, I plan on taking a year off and spending a semester doing something that will better my career choices, and the next semester I want to travel. Basically, I want to spend the year after graduation just figuring out what I really want out of life, and I'm going to do that by having as many hands-on experiences as I can, so then I know that when I get my job, I'll know that it's really what I wanted to do. And I plan on somehow working in a place where I can help other people, most likely through some kind of psychology oriented degree. I was thinking about possibly going into the Peace Corps, but we'll see how that works out.

How can somebody get involved with Best Buddies at the College? Professor Adam Doughty is the faculty advisor, and Kat Cottle is a student contact. Or click here to get to the Charleston chapter website. Click here to visit the national Best Buddies website.