By: Morgan McGurk
Picture this. It was the summer of 2014; I was a young lad, only 10 years old. I was excited to spend my summer days playing categories at the pool, practicing my flips on the trampoline, and enjoying the sweet taste of ice cream. My mother, however, had different plans for me. She decided to sign me up for a week long community service camp, and, as much as it pains me to say it, 10 year old me did not want to go at all. My experience with service was limited, but I did what my mother told me to. By the end of the week, it is safe to say my entire mindset had changed. Since then, I have vowed to learn more about what service truly is, the motivations of it, and its impact on others. Some of these questions and more were answered for me when I attended the community service kick-off on the first full day of MSA, inspiring me to continue my journey with service while here at the academy.
On the first Saturday of MSA, I participated in Service Saturday and attended the community service activity at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. The Food Bank, in partnership with Feeding America, works as a disaster and relief network that distributes food with no charge to food pantries, agencies, and more to ensure those who are in need of food can obtain it. The organization also provides an easy way on their website to allow for people to locate partner agencies in one’s county to seek out help. Myself, along with about 30 others, packed brown sugar into individual bags for delivery. While a relatively simple activity, it was a great experience for those involved, allowing us scholars to both get to know each other and help the Columbia community.
Service activities such as those offered at MSA are great ways for scholars to begin or continue their experiences with roles in intentional service/help and become active members in our communities. RA and Community Service Liaison John Kusmec stresses the importance of scholars getting involved in giving back. “We need more people that are dedicated to service in all aspects of life,” Kusmec says. In this, it is important for us to identify how to serve and why we serve. Service manifests itself in building relationships, listening to others’ needs, and viewing others as equals. Following and practicing these virtues helps eliminate problematic savior complexes in society. As Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, states, “When you help, you see life as weak, when you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole.”
Keep your eyes peeled for more service opportunities at the academy in order to strengthen our community and bring the spirit of service beyond MSA!
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