Name: Adam Harris

Major/ minor: Government
/Latin American Studies

Hometown: Bridgewater, VA

Service Involvement: JMU Alternative Spring Break Trips, W&M ISTs, Sharpe, helping little old ladies cross the street

Favorite Books: It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong; The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara; America by Jon Stewart; Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Ramble : A quote from The Killer Angels pretty much sums up my views on service: "Many of us volunteered to fight for the Union. Some came mainly because we were bored at home and this looked like it might be fun. Some came because we were ashamed not to. All came because it was the right thing to do. It's the idea that we all have value, you and me. What we're fighting for, in the end, is each other." - Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain.

Due to my parent's careers, I've been exposed to volunteering / community service for practically my entire life. As I've had the pleasure of meeting many different people involved in various roles dealing with service, I've come to form a conclusion about service that parallels Chamberlain's words. We have all been drawn to service for many different reasons, ranging from passionate ideological views to simple obligation. However, regardless as to where or why we've decided to serve, I believe that we all came because the underlying premise behind our motivations is that serving is the right thing to do.

Personally, I enjoy doing service for a few reasons. Primarily though, I enjoy it because I think it's beneficial to all who are involved. I'm not a huge fan of the "oh let's go help all the poor helpless people who can't survive with us" approach to doing service, as I view it as a fairly elitist mindset and rather insulting to both parties involved. Doing service has given me so many opportunities for friendship and new experiences that I think it's unfair to think that service is a one-way street.

Anyways, I think I've made my thoughts as convoluted and confusing as possible.. so my work here is done :-)