MPA Council takes Project 2012

The River City Youth Foundation Success Center, where we spent our morning volunteering

Just last Saturday,MPA Council joined approximately 2000 other volunteers to reach out and improve the greater Austin community for Project 2012, UT’s largest day of service. What an experience it was!

Here’s a summary of my memorable day: I had to wake up quite early (especially for a college student) in order to report for duty with council members. We, along with the other morning shift volunteers, were then welcomed and thanked for our help by multiple local politicians. We also were lucky enough to watch the Dove Springs Middle School cheerleading squad perform for us! It was definitely the highlight of the ceremony.

We then went to our volunteer location, River City Youth Foundation, in south Austin. They had a multitude of tasks for us to complete to improve the facility for Austin’s youth. Some members and I were responsible for repainting the interior of the complex, while other members helped re-mulch the trails by shoveling mulch into a wheelbarrow.

This is my second year participating in UT Project, and both times have been a wonderful experience. When we were out there volunteering, people from around the community would drive up and take a look at what we were doing. There was such much excitement generated around the community about the changes we brought about with a simple morning’s work. I always liked to be reminded how easy it can be to make a difference and to make someone happy, and how I should strive to do so every day.

Participating in Project 2012 was so rewarding, but what made it so much fun and memorable was spending time with other MPA Council members.

For those of you who don’t know about MPA Council, it is an organization comprised of both integrated and traditional students that is the voice of MPA students to both McCombs and the university as a whole. MPA Council also establishes a community of MPA students. I personally have so much fun at all MPA Council events, no matter what we are doing. We always know how to have a good time! I have included some pictures of our escapades while volunteering to demonstrate how we are not your stereotypical accountants.

In the photo above, I am with fellow blogger and MPAC member Allison Guttenplan, as we imitate the famous painting American Gothic by Grant Wood. This is while we were shoveling mulch to help improve the trails surrounding the River City Youth Foundation. Also posted is a picture of me and MPAC member Sarah Neff having fun with the wheelbarrow… all work and no play makes the day gray!

To conclude this post, I would like to share a quote I found particularly intriguing:

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know:  the only ones among you who will be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”  -Albert Schweitzer

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