By Emily Rivard, Features Editor
For Miranda Sulley, travelling to exotic countries and new places is more than just a vacation. From Jamaica, Mexico and most recently Nicaragua, the senior anthropology major and sociology/psychology minor has used her time abroad not only to perform community service, but also to learn about herself.
As an advocate for community service, Sulley stresses that time spent volunteering is beneficial for everyone involved. "Learning to be a better global citizen is key to what I strive for," said Sulley.
As an on-campus volunteer, she welcomes freshmen interested in community services as a Discovery Program Leader for the compassion track. "We teach them compassion and get them involved in community service," said Sulley.
She is also the student coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break, planned this year for Seattle.
Each week, Sulley makes time to perform weekly service at the Mary Brennan Inn as the de facto president of the Honors College Service Corps. She can also be found on Wednesdays at Walnut Hill Elementary School as part of the University Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.
As if that weren't enough, Sulley also interns for the Center for Civic Engagement and partakes in programs at Lawrence Middle School, talking to teens about pertinent issues and helping them grow a community garden.
On campus, Sulley volunteers as a tutor and in the astronomy department's "Stars on Sundays" community outreach program.
Through it all, Sulley remains humble about her accomplishments. "I want to develop to be a well-rounded individual," she said. She uses her experiences to encourage others to get involved and develop their strengths. "People create barriers between their fellow humans. By serving diverse communities, you learn not only more about communities, but you learn more about yourself and your strengths."
As graduation approaches, Sulley plans to pursue a master's degree in higher education administration. Believing that education is key to growth, she stresses that all University students should take advantage of opportunities to learn about others. "We are offered this education and we have such an advantage to meet diverse people. Every day is meant as a learning day."
Miranda Sulley (Photo courtesy of Miranda Sulley)