Freshmen jump-start college years with
service
by Sandra Spurlock
On August 15, twenty-three freshmen at Virginia Wesleyan got a jump-start on the college experience when they embarked on the Habitat for Humanity pre-orientation Freshmen Challenge. These students, led by faculty sponsors Diane Hotaling and Bob Chapman and juniors Cynthia Wells, Sean Nesbit, and John Hellein, spent ten days working on three separate Habitat sites, two in Suffolk and one in Hampton.
The pre-orientation program was started two years ago by the college. Designed as a adjustment period to college, as well as a community service experience, the Habitat program was advertised to all incoming freshmen, of which 23 responded. All 11 of the student leaders of the challenge, including Wells, Hellein, and Nesbit, were prior participants in the program.
“This experience was great for me two years ago,” said Wells, “and its been improving every year since. It’s a great way for a person to meet new friends, as well as learn valuable leadership skills. This year’s freshman class was lots of fun. I think most of them had a great time and learned something about themselves in the process.” Students who participated in the pre-orientation program not only helped others by their eagerness to help in the construction of new homes for families in need, but helped themselves to adjust to college life. The program gave them an opportunity to meet new people and to become more comfortable and confident with their surroundings. Many of the students were timid at first, but according to Hotaling, by the end of the program “the confidence level was way high”.
Freshman Mark Sherwood said that “The pre-orientation program was a helpful experience...a great way to meet new people earlier on.” Janine Swanson agreed, saying that the freshmen who participated in the program were “like a close-knit family.”
So what’s next for the Wesleyan chapter of Habitat for humanity? Member Rachel Lafex was eager to describe an upcoming fundraising event to help them raise money for a house that will be done completely by participants from Virginia Wesleyan.
“Students will be having a lock-in in the Boardwalk Cafe to illustrate what it is like to have sub-standard housing,” said Lafex. “We hope to demonstrate to other students that many people do not have a bed to sleep in, or even a roof over their heads. We are taking pledges to assist in the cost of the house.”
Freshman participant Jennifer Guerdat summed up the feelings of many others who shared in the experience by saying, “It was a really fun experience.... It gave me a really satisfying feeling to be able to help a less fortunate family.”
Anyone interested in participating in Habitat or the house building can contact their office at 455-3426. Meetings are every other Tuesday in Roop, Village II.