Rosa's Story: "It's the Right Thing to Do. And Besides, It's Fun!"

Introduction / How Service Learning Works / Student Story / Resources

At first it was "scary"
Rosa Huitron, 19, of Caldwell, Idaho, admits that at first it was "scary" to sign up to volunteer 30 hours at a wheelchair camp for youths in Boise. "I wasn't sure whether I could help if someone in a wheelchair had a need. I hadn't been around people with physical challenges before." 
     Upward Bound assigned each student to a person with disabilities. Rosa was assigned to assist 12-year-old Chris. Among other things, "we were taught how to move them from a wheel chair to a regular chair." 
     Rosa says that before this experience she didn't think people in wheelchairs could do much in the way of athletics. "I was surprised. We helped them play softball. Anyone who could bat the ball was given a prize. They didn't try to go around the bases. We also played with remote controlled racecars.

I realized Chris was just a regular person
     "One time Chris had the choice of swimming, or just hanging out. He chose to hang out, so we talked about what games he liked to play (he liked video games), and what movies, music and books he likes. I quickly realized Chris was just a regular person. It was great. It was really fun for me."
     Other "service learning" Rosa has done includes working with homeless teenagers, and volunteering at a girls and boys club. She also volunteered at a race for breast cancer research, helping assemble gifts for cancer survivors, and cut up oranges to refresh racers.

"It's the right thing to do. And besides, it's fun"
     Rosa would "definitely" encourage other Upward Bound students to volunteer. "It's the right thing to do. And besides, its fun, and you learn a lot."
     Now majoring in early child development at BSU, Rosa thinks her volunteer experiences helped increase her interest her major. She finds college "easier than I thought," and credits Upward Bound with "helping me be well prepared." She also credits her own courage. "I always believed I could do it."
     Rosa is also grateful for her experiences throughout the high school area Upward Bound programs. "I used to be very shy. But especially when I  spent my first five weeks away from home at BSU for summer school for UB students I opened up a lot. Now I can talk to the UB staff freely about anything. And it's easier for me to speak up with my opinions and needs."

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Rosa Huitron believes her service learning experiences influenced her decision to study childhood development at BSU

Tia Short organizes the BSU Service Learning Program. For more information...