Arts for All

by Eddie Sonnie

As you may know, I am in the President’s Leadership Program, and one component of the program is to fulfill a service requirement each year with a specific service track. There are a bunch of service tracks, so there are a bunch of service sites available, and something for everyone! I was struggling for a while to find a service site, but one day I found the Arts For All Program and am super happy volunteering with them.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and my time volunteering, for now, has come to an end. I’ve enjoyed volunteering a lot this year, but I need to dedicate some more time to myself, and as I have taken on some more responsibilities on campus as an RA, I could use the extra time. Don’t fret though, this isn’t my last time ever volunteering with them, I’ll be back next year!

When I came to Christopher Newport, I wasn’t too keen on volunteering, because I haven’t had the most lucrative life, so volunteering to me seemed like just working for no pay, but since coming to this university, I’ve realized that volunteering is about way more than money. With Arts for All, I help fundraise to provide accessibility equipment for people who come to see our shows in the Ferguson Center for the Arts. I have gotten to see the impact of my volunteering this semester, and it is so fulfilling. 

Volunteering is one of the most important aspects of being a Captain. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing organization. I am very thankful for Christopher Newport for turning me on to volunteering. I’m not sure that I would have had this revelation anywhere else, and that’s just one more reason that I’m so glad to be a Captain!