“To me, being at Northeastern meant getting involved. As an incoming freshman, I branched out and did almost every community service event I could. I started with one-day events, like volunteering at walks around Boston and at the NU Service Day. Nevertheless, I still wanted to get more involved. I wanted to do something more worthwhile and something I could look back on and know I made a difference. So, I did!

I started at Peace through Play in fall 2011 because I thought, “Working with kids? Great, I love kids!” I have been with Peace through Play since the fall and I do not plan on quitting. The atmosphere of the people, the kids, and the schools will keep me coming back again and again. I worked with kindergarteners at local schools both semesters and I loved every second. Seeing the kids’ smiling faces and knowing that I was having an impact on their lives is an empowering feeling! Knowing that just a game, a friendly word, or a hug can brighten up a child’s day is absolutely amazing.

I saw that this was also true while volunteering at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club with the Husky Volunteer Team in the spring of 2012. While here, I helped kids with art projects, played Frisbee, and so many other fun activities. I was able to work with children of all ages and interact with them in a casual setting. It was great to see some kids start to open up and talk to the volunteers about their friends, lives, and feelings. I had a great time volunteering here and I highly recommend it!

The last major volunteering experience I had was on my Alternative Spring Breaktrip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in March. I really feel that this experience changed my life. It’s one thing to volunteer around Boston, but to actually travel to a new place and meet new people who needed your help was so incredible. Knowing that I was helping the staff of a national park accomplish tasks was such a great feeling! I could see the impact I was having and I had so much fun volunteering here. I will tell people for a long, long time about this experience and the various other volunteering experiences I have had, and will continue to have, at Northeastern and beyond.” —-Valerie Thibault, Alternative Spring Break, Husky Volunteer Team and NU Service Day volunteer