With so many resources at Colorado Mesa University like Handshake, the Career Center, various internships that are offered through University programs and constant pressure to make way on building a career, volunteering seems to fall by the wayside. Nevertheless, as the holiday season rolls around, it gives cause to ask if volunteering is, in fact, dead among college students. But alas, it is not.

Hannah Belich, a junior at CMU studying Business- Hospitality Management, is highly involved on campus. Not only is she one of the esteemed ambassadors that welcome new students to campus and represent CMU with pride, she is also stands as Social Chairwoman of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority.

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Belich volunteers a lot within her organizations: Adopt-A-Family, Girls on the Run, Denver Rescue Mission, S June Smith Center, Special Olympics, Humane Societies, Soup Kitchens, Elderly Folks Homes, Helping Hands and various campus events as well. Of course in managing trying to graduate with maintaining her academics and organizations, she can’t always volunteer, but she’s usually able to every few weeks or so.

“Volunteering is the best way I know how to show my gratitude. I have parents that have worked so hard to provide for me and also to instill good values. I have a community that has given so much and educators that have invested time and energy throughout my life. I have friends and mentors and coaches and teams that have shown me love and support and compassion. And now I have a university that strives to make me a better scholar, woman, professional and community member. I feel that because I have been so deeply invested in, it is my privilege to make that same effort for others,” Belich said.

And while there are many students that still get to share in the experience of volunteering with their clubs and organizations, Belich took another step into being a helping hand. She became a part of GIVE Volunteers last summer on a trip to Tanzania, Africa.  

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“GIVE’s goal is to connect volunteers to new cultures while teaching, learning, leaving a sustainable impact as well as empowering host communities. During my time in Tanzania I was able to add on to the building of the school in the Kairo Village as well as teach primary students (Tanzania’s equivalent of kindergarten) in the same classrooms that volunteers before built. We connected with the locals, learned more about their culture, dress, traditions, etc. It was one of the most monumental things I have ever been a part of,” Belich said.

Belich discussed her time in Tanzania being characterized by many pieces of culture- not just volunteer work. Like any venture abroad, language barriers are always difficult obstacles to overcome. But overcome she did:

“There was one student named Lilate who had a spark for learning but a love for laughing and we instantly became friends. The whole week we worked together to teach each other words outside the classroom and both found great joy when the other finally got it. On the last day of teaching I told Lilate that I had to go home now but that we would always be friends. Because of our language barrier we may have only spoken a handful of words that the other understood, but that child taught me more about determination, compassion, and unity than I have ever known from any adult, scholar, or English-speaking person,” Belich said. 

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Belich stands out for her acts of volunteerism, but inspires others to spend time thinking about giving back to communities.

“I would never discourage someone from donating financially to helping others, but I would encourage you to spend some time getting your hands dirty; that’s where the magic happens. When you drop change into a bucket outside the grocery store you ARE helping – that is generous and thoughtful. However, when you serve food, carol to a room of grandparents, pour cement, whatever that looks like, you have the opportunity to be a part of the change. I have learned that I get so much more out of volunteering than I could ever give to those who I am serving for the day; I’ve learned lessons in empathy, hard work, faith and unity and every time I leave a volunteer opportunity I feel like I’ve been poured into by those I was prepared to help,” Belich said.  

While it’s never easy to find time, volunteering can be one of the greatest ways to invest in yourself and your community.

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