Reflecting on a Day of Service

Aug 28, 2012

Concordia students hold up their Three WordsConcordia’s Orientation week begins each year with a wonderful tradition: sending new Cobbers into the Fargo-Moorhead community to volunteer.

The program, called Hands for Change, has existed for 19 years. This year, approximately 950 students spent time volunteering at 36 different agencies for two hours.

“It’s not common that the first thing you do is charity work,” says David Jensen '16, Brainerd, Minn. Jensen’s group volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Fargo, N.D. There, the group painted a fence and stained a playset.

Upon arrival back at campus, each group reflected on their experiences, discussing what they had done and how it made them feel. Each student was asked to consolidate their experience into three words, with the hope of giving it meaning and connecting the dots.

Katie Hoime '16, Edmore, N.D., was at the SENDCAA Head Start. Her three words were Little Things Count.

“It didn’t seem like we did a lot, but the people were really appreciative of our work,” she says. “It wasn’t a big deal to move boxes, but it needed to get done.”

During closing reflection time, Dr. Mark Krejci, provost and dean of the college, asked the students why they were invited to volunteer on their first full day on campus. Because, he said, it embodies the college’s mission to send thoughtful and informed people into society.

“It is at the intersection of ‘thoughtful’ and ‘informed’ that you will find the creativity you will use to impact the world,” Krejci says.


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