ASU students turn words into action, find writing inspiration through volunteering

April 30, 2010 --  This spring, composition students at ASU are finding inspiration for their writing outside the classroom. Partnering with multiple community organizations, Dr. Kate Henderson’s Composition II classes are exploring social issues not just through their textbooks, but through hands-on work alongside members of the Jonesboro community.

In their final assignment of the semester, students were asked to identify a social problem they would like to change and a local organization that helps to address that problem. The students combine research on that social issue with service to get a fuller sense of how people in Jonesboro are affected. This service-learning project, according to Dr. Henderson, takes the topics that composition courses tend to explore as hypothetical debates and asks students to reconsider them as real-life situations. “Debating something like animal cruelty laws is much different to students after working with an organization like the Humane Society,” Henderson explained. “Students begin to see that their opinions do matter; they can actually take real steps to change the situations that they write about in their papers.”

Small groups of students spent the first week of April working with several organizations in Jonesboro. They cared for abandoned animals at the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society; offered childcare and supported teen parents at Paces, Inc.; prepared for a Mother’s Day Brunch sponsored by the Woman’s Discovery Center; packed food for seniors at the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas; lent a hand constructing a house with the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Jonesboro; helped organize the March for Babies event with the March of Dimes; and spread the word about support for drug addiction with Out of the Dark.



All of the organizations, in turn, welcomed the student volunteers. “The March of Dimes is a volunteer-led organization, and we could not carry out our lifesaving mission without volunteers,” stated community director Melissa Gann. “The students did a great job.” Gann also noted that when students become involved in the development of a project, “they tend to learn a lot more and get a greater reward.” Vicki Pillow, the director of development for the Northeast Arkansas Food Bank, also praised the efforts of the ASU students: “They worked very hard and were a great asset for us. They packed the senior packs in record time.”

Students saw this as a chance to learn more about the local community. Linh Pham’s service with the Food Bank helped her discover “how big of an issue hunger is in Northeast Arkansas,” while Mizuki Ueno, an international student, loved working with the March of Dimes because it allowed her to explore Jonesboro and make connections with people outside of ASU.

When asked what they liked most about the project, the students often spoke about the opportunity to contribute in a small way to something meaningful. Ryan Harmon stated, “If I can just help the Food Bank out with something as simple as sorting cans, I will have done some part in helping everyone.” Curtis Carter, who spent a Saturday with Habitat for Humanity, also looked forward to lending a hand: “They may only know me as that guy who was here for a few hours or maybe just a person they spoke to once, but I know that I will make a difference by working with such a respectable organization.”

Some students have become so inspired by these organizations that they plan to offer more of their time. Kristie Lloyd, interim director of Paces, Inc., was pleased that one of her student volunteers, Karysta Sturges, plans to continue working with them in the future. Sturges, a psychology major, initially chose to work with Paces, Inc., because she hoped to be able to learn more about helping and relating to teen parents. This work aligns with her major, but is also important to Sturges because she has several friends who have young children.

After completing their service experience, all the students will complete a final essay that persuades people to become involved with these organizations. Dr. Henderson is already impressed by the students’ passion about their topics. She says, “By using their writing skills to explain why the work they’ve done is important, they connect their words to their actions. Through this process of service and writing, the students become powerful advocates for change.”

For more information, contact Dr. Henderson (khenderson@astate.edu) at (870) 972-3043.

Photos, from top, are courtesy of Dr. Kate Henderson.

Jordan Tyler, an ASU psychology and counseling major, pitches in with puppy care at the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society.

ASU student Chase Mooney promotes Out of the Dark's drug rehabilitation and support groups at the recent ASU Education, Nursing, and Health Professions fair.

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