Bonner Reflections
"One thing the Bonner Program has taught me is to do service for the human condition."
"Service is an essential part of one's mental growth. Whether it involves tutoring children or building houses, service activities provide another way of looking at things-a different perspective.
"My Bonner work has shown me to open my eyes, to encourage conversations about diversity, and respect each and every individual."
"I am glad I have the chance to be a part of something special.
"I am an extension of a much larger group, one pair of hands among many, all working for the same goal."
"I think of the times I've volunteered with senior citizens and learned about the past in a way a history book could never teach me, or the times I've volunteered with people from another culture and learned about new religions and foods. Or the times I've volunteered at a crisis hotline and heard the gratitude in the caller's voice when they say thanks for listening and they mean it. Service is best when everyone involved gains something from the experience. There is no selfishness or vanity in that - only the reciprocity necessary for life."