College students aim to serve others

It should come as no surprise to the Boston College population that in a recent survey of college students by Experience Inc., students rated global issues high on their list of priorities.

In the survey, students expressed interest and concern for human health and rights, environmental issues, economic development and poverty, education rights, international security, and technology developments.

By a two-to-one ratio, students said that making a difference in the world is more important than professional success, according to the survey.

BC students are no strangers to global issues. Although The Boston Globe recently discussed Massachusetts' lack of student volunteers, BC was noted as an exception, with nearly half of the student population participating in volunteer organizations.

With a large variety of community service options available to students here at BC, there is an organization to interest nearly everyone.

During spring break each year, BC sends students to volunteer within U.S. communities through the Appalachia Volunteers Program, which specializes in Habitat for Humanity projects and community rebuilding.

There are a plethora of other trips scheduled during all other breaks, including the summer. The faith-based Arrupe International trips, for example, send students to developing countries to lend support and learn about both the way of life and the individuals who reside there.

Another service opportunity, 4Boston, is always a popular choice for students. Each year, hordes of new students sign up and eagerly endure the application process to be considered for the program.

Students are assigned a specific unit and volunteer four hours a week, with a weekly reflection that focuses on social justice issues.

"I joined because I wanted to be able to work in the Boston area and help those less fortunate. I wanted to learn from their experiences, as well as my involvement with them," said Lindsay Pyrdol, LSOE '10.

In addition to these year-round service opportunities, BC students also respond to issues that present themselves throughout the year.

Friday, BC celebrated Earth Day with the help of Ecopledge, the Undergraduate Government of Boston College, and BC Facilities Management.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Dustbowl, students participated in awareness of the environment by potting grass to display in their rooms and checking out "Mt. Trashmore," a collection of one night of Upper's trash, among various other activities.

BC has also been playing the documentary An Inconvenient Truth all year long to raise global warming awareness.

Friday, 456 BC students also participated in the All-University Relay For Life at Harvard University to raise money for the American Cancer Society for cancer research.

In the Experience, Inc., survey, students credited family, the media, professors, activists, and their peers as main motivations to become involved with global issues.

The influence of peers was evident on Tuesday when students across BC's campus gathered together in several vigils for the victims of the recent Virginia Tech school shooting tragedy.

Although Virginia Tech is one of BC's rivals in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the BC community united to honor the memory of those affected and to raise awareness of the issue of the nation's safety.

Although incidents like the one at Virginia Tech cannot be predicted, BC students have long been concerned about the main global issues underlying the situations.

"Fifty-three percent of respondents stated that they have been interested in their top concern for at least two years," reported the survey.

There may be many student volunteers at BC, but nationwide students feel there is always room to improve their commitment to service.

"Thirty-eight percent of college students said they are somewhat active in promoting global issues, but they would like to do more," according to the survey.

Students are also not quick to place the blame on others. Although 49 percent believe the government needs to take more responsibility for global issues, 34 percent recognized that they too must bear some responsibility.

Students have a sense of their own responsibilities to the world they live in, and their passion for global issues indicates their serious concern for their world.

Young adults often find themselves accused of laziness and lack of interest in the world; this survey and BC's commitment to excellence in service, however, proves that global issues remain a concern for students, as well.

For more information on the survey and how to become involved, students can visit www.experience.com.