About Katie Bonner...
Hometown: Myrtle Beach
Degree Objective: Undecided at present
Expected Date of Graduation: 2010
Current Volunteer Activities: Active member of Americans for Informed Democracy (AID), a student run organization on campus which was just recently sanctioned as an official college club. Katie helped this group grow from its original six members to a 30 person following within its first month. The program works to raise global awareness around campus, recruit public speakers, and is involved in the present efforts to raise money for Darfur (a local movement against genocide in Sudan) Sertoma Service Club International
What are you most proud of contributing to your organization? One of Katie’s favorite volunteering experiences was participating in Alternative Spring Break this past March. The group traveled to Jamaica and contributed to a local elementary school by tutoring children, creating rough lesson plans, and cleaning and painting the building. She said that it was one of her most gratifying experiences yet. She explained that for her, nothing compares to the feeling she gets from helping to inspire children.
Previous Volunteer Activities: Katie volunteered time preparing for the Model UN conference which took place last March 23rd and 24th. In addition to organizing and preparing for the event, she and fellow students facilitated all promotional aspects and recruited others to participate. Katie also spent two weeks at a local child abuse center.
What do you enjoy about community service? By volunteering her time, Katie’s main objectives are to raise awareness and foster understanding of world events. She hopes to open peoples eyes to important issues and prevent getting caught up in “the day to day”; she explained her desire for others to understand that our lives are so small when compared to the rest of society, but at the same time one person can make a big difference by trying to help and motivating others to contribute. What she finds beneficial in volunteering is meeting people that parallel her values; it helps to know that there are other people out there who truly want to make a difference. Katie explains, “The people I meet are incredible, and when we join our efforts into one movement it is a very powerful thing—that in itself is motivating."
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering? “Volunteering is such a unique way to learn about your self,” Katie said. Katie portrayed an indispensable form of truth and dedication to making a difference. Her volunteer efforts are based upon a genuine desire to improve the quality of life for others, she believes that volunteering should not be a task, but an opportunity—hence, if you don’t want to do it, than don’t bother.
For more information about volunteering and spreading awareness, visit AIDemocracy.org
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