| By
Charleen Cullinane
With
a degree in one hand and a hammer in the other, Jennifer Redmond is building
her professional life on a strong foundation of Service Learning. Redmond
attended RVCC from 1996 to 2000. She majored in liberal arts for the first
two years and biology for the second two. During those four years, Jennifer
did Service Learning Program in several classes.
The
Service Learning program at RVCC brings students together with the community.
Redmond worked in a soup kitchen and a women’s health clinic, tutored
English at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Redmond
said that Service Learning was a very important part of her education.
“Service Learning, in general, gives you a wider outlook on the
world,” she observes. “This program lets you see people from
all walks of life, and it lets you empathize and sympathize with people
more.”
Redmond took this lesson to heart and, even while still a student at RVCC,
began applying this lesson outside of the classroom.
She
began aiding Habitat for Humanity in 1999. Habitat for Humanity is an
organization that helps build houses for people who need them. She worked
on a house for a family in South Bound Brook. Redmond’s job was
to put the siding on. She said that every time she would pass the house
she would have a feeling of joy.
Becoming
a chiropractor is something that Jennifer Redmond always wanted to do.
With a lot of hard work and determination, she succeed in becoming what
she wanted. Now, she has a practice that she shares with another doctor.
Even
though Redmond is now out of school and in the professional world, volunteering
is still something that she wants to do. In and out of work, she helps
people that really need the help.
About
four months ago, Jennifer had gone to an orientation meeting for volunteers.
Among the programs was Habitat for Humanity, which was looking for a Human
Resources chairperson. So, she got involved with them again. Since Redmond
started volunteering for Habitat for Humanity this time, she works on
the administration side of the organization.
Working
as the Human Resources chair is a difficult job. She has to recruit volunteers,
which is not an easy thing to do. Most people just want to build houses.
Building houses, however, is not a year-round job. Volunteers can construct
the houses only when the weather permits. People may not realize Habitat
for Humanity has positions that don’t necessarily have to do with
building houses. These positions are just as important as the actual construction
work. All the positions with Habitat for Humanity have one ultimate goal
and that is to build houses for those that need them.
Jennifer
said that she had been sheltered in her life. Service Learning has exposed
her to all different kinds of people. With her chiropractor practice in
Bridgewater, it helps her to understand where people are coming from and
what they have to work with.
The
Service Learning Program at RVCC has helped many people and organizations
in the past several years. It has involved the students in community service
to help local needs. The college includes the program in many of its classes
and gets students to reflect — in journals, essays, and other class
assignments — on their experiences.
Since
the spring of 1993, these courses have grown significantly, and continue
to grow each year. More than 800 students take classes that include Service
Learning courses and values. The program has four values it would like
to instill in the students that it has. One of the values is the respect
for diversity. To find other goals and values, you can go to www.raritanval.edu/
servicelearning.
All
of these goals and values are aimed at helping the program succeed in
its mission. And the mission of the program is to get students, faculty,
and the community involved with people around them and to help students
develop the skills and values they will need to improve society.
Jennifer
Redmond recommends volunteer work to everyone.
“It’s
an awesome experience,” Redmond reflects. “Just do it. ...You
don’t realize how much it can affect you unless you do it. It is
so rewarding.”
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