The volunteering event at Stewart park this weekend gave me a newfound sense of community in Ithaca. It was the first time that I was able to be a part of an off-campus event where people from all over the city, regardless of experience or background, had gathered for one collective purpose: to build a playground for the city’s children. It really was a sight to behold, and it gave an entirely new meaning to “it takes a village to raise a child.”

The best way to describe this experience is wholesome. I had the opportunity to interact with other fellow Rose Scholars, as we made our way down to the park. Upon arriving at the park, I met townies with whom I had the pleasure of working through our assigned tasks. I met alumni who gave me career advice. I saw people from all walks of life sharing their stories with each other. On the way back, most of the Rose Scholars group ended up dinning together. This provided the opportunity for discussing our experiences at Cornell and sharing bits of wisdom and advice with each other, to be more successful in this admittedly stressful environment. It dissolved away the sense of competition that I feel usually encompasses my interactions on campus and created a supportive environment for discussing our concerns.

In the end, I feel I got as much back from my time volunteering in this community endeavor as I had invested. I may have been covered in dirt and sweat, but my spirits and attitude towards this semester felt refreshed.