Barton Community College Dean of Student Services Angie Maddy was asked to welcome the Retired Senior Volunteer Program volunteers to the BCC campus for their annual appreciation dinner Thursday night.
She admitted she wasn’t sure just what to say, but then recalled a conversation she had with a BCC student from Brazil. He had been at Barton to play soccer and was headed to Florida to continue his education and collegiate sports career.
Maddy was taking him to Wichita to catch his plane, so they had a while to chat.
She asked the young man what impressed him the most about America.
It didn’t take him long to come up with an answer. What struck him about Americans was their willingness to help each other, even those they didn’t even know. He went this his host family on a mission trip to help the victims of the Moore, Okla., tornado, and saw this first hand, and it left an indelible impression on him.
The student could have told of the language barrier being challenging. He could have told about cultural differences. He could have brought up any number of possible issues that face someone from another country visiting the United States.
But, instead he chose to focus on volunteerism. He loved his homeland, but said this cooperative spirit seemed uniquely American.
“You are the living, breathing embodiment of that spirit,” Maddy told the 155 volunteers gathered for the banquet.
To back this up, Donna Baugh, executive director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program cited the following statistic – in 2012, 400 volunteers in Barton and Pawnee counties pitched in 50,000 volunteer hours.
It’s tough to top the observation of that young man from Brazil. From those gathered at the college Thursday to the student’s host family, pitching in and helping others is what defines us as a people.
It may have seemed unique to the kid, but we don’t know any different here. This is just who we are.
Baugh said she understands the volunteers don’t want, or expect, a lot of fanfare. But, she said, they do need an occasional pat on the back for what they do.
The dinner did that for those involved with RSVP.
Let this editorial be a tip of the hat to those who help in other capacities.
Thank you.
Dale Hogg