Sophomore Linwood Fields grew up without a father in a drug-infested Dallas neighborhood, but he always had family and friends around “to nurture me and help me fulfill my potential,“ he says. He refused to let his environment interfere with his goal of attending college.
“People took time out to mentor me through difficult situations when I was growing up,” says Fields, who is majoring in political science and English with plans of attending law school. Since he was 8, he has volunteered with a Dallas nonprofit, Youth Believing in Change. But it wasn’t until he participated in LeaderShapedfw, a conference offered through SMU’s Office of Leadership and Community Involvement (LCI), that he became more involved as a volunteer at the University.
“I feel very passionate about helping others. As long as
they are succeeding as human beings and at their school work, I feel my purpose is being fulfilled,” he says.
This spring he took a Wellness course that requires 45 hours of community service. Fields worked with Heart House of Dallas, a nonprofit that offers after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring. He also works a paid part-time job tutoring students at North Dallas High School.
Fields isn’t alone in his quest to enrich his campus experience and serve others. Each year, 2,500 students volunteer with more than 70 Dallas-area agencies, says Carol Clyde, director of LCI. Other students serve the community through programs in the various schools at SMU.
SMU offers numerous opportunities for students to engage in social activism.
In addition to LCI’s online volunteer database, the University provides a service house; service-learning coursework; an off-campus house sponsored by the Center for Academic-Community Engagement (ACE); and the community-service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.
“SMU tries to help students become leaders in a global society,” Clyde says. <ldquo;The service options introduce students to what it is like to be part of a larger community.”
Finding The Right Fit
As native of Arizona, Amy Ward was in search of opportunities to connect
with people and adjust to her newly adopted city of Dallas. An active volunteer in high school, she sought out SPARC (Students Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Citizenship), a campus-sponsored program that encourages students to become involved in community service.
Ward began her tenure with SPARC as its arts and culture coordinator and now serves as its vice president. She says the organization offers eye-opening opportunities for students through programs such as Community Service Day and Alternative Spring Break. Her passion for the arts led her to volunteer with sixth-grade students at the Meadows Museum, but she also participates in Habitat for Humanity projects and efforts to clean up White Rock Lake.
“We get in our little bubble at SMU and forget there’s
a whole other community out there that’s not quite as well off as we are,” says Ward, a senior majoring in corporate communications and public affairs and Spanish. “It’s really great as a college student to stay connected to the outside community.”
Becoming A SMUSHie … Click here to read more.