Volunteer at Convocation - Service Learning

   Near the beginning of this year, my coordinator for Advocats sent out an email to all of us that the Leadership Institute needed volunteers to help at Convocation. There was a T-shirt, a ticket to the Master Class, and a meal involved so obviously, I decided I would help out. It's funny, looking back on the time now, because I work with the people I had to interact with during my volunteer hours. I was a little nervous to go to the office and get my t-shirt - I had never been to the LI office before - and Aleks helped me out, though I didn't know her at the time.
     On the day of the event, I had a full schedule of classes, so I didn't have time to coordinate with my Advo. buddies who were also volunteering; I showed up at the Master Class by myself. I was wearing the volunteer t-shirt; I felt terribly under-dressed. But then I introduced myself to some fun looking strangers and my anxiety levels went down a bit.
     After the Master Class, I was supposed to find Eric who would be wearing a blue shirt and khakis. Now I know exactly who Eric is and I have a blue LI shirt of my own, but back then, as a volunteer, I had no idea what to expect or who I was looking for. Luckily, though, I quickly noticed the uniform blue shirt and a cluster of volunteer shirts so I sorted myself out and got myself where I was supposed to be.
     After the general confusion had died down - we reached the fieldhouse, we ate our dinner, I found some familiar faces - I felt much more at ease. Then Josh told me I would be escorting Yann Martel from his car to his green room. So that was the end of that peacefulness. As an aspiring writer myself, I was so excited to actually be walking with Mr. Martel and potentially talking to him; naturally, I sent a text to my mom, my dad, and my roommate (who were all equally as excited - with the exception of my dad who still does not know who Yann Martel is).
     It was an important job; I waited in the back hall, where the greenrooms and all the important people of MSU were also waiting. I escorted lost freshman to their corresponding entrance. And eventually, Destini (another volunteer) and I were delegated the responsibility of escorting President Cruzado through the mob of freshman inside the fieldhouse. Somehow, despite the fact that my partner was much taller than me, I ended up in the front of Pres. Waded while we pushed our way through the mob, but it worked; we got her where she needed to be.
     At the end of the day, I had participated in my first LI event; I came to more fully understand my sense of unease when I know I don't know what I'm doing or when I don't have something to do. I practiced approaching people - from students I don't know to the President of the school. And then I was able to sit back and relax while I saw a tiger and heard Mr. Martel.