Meet Margaret Weimer, a sophomore Journalism and Communications Major here at CSU. Margaret participated in our Office of Civic Engagement Viking Corps program this year at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cleveland, where she logged 157 service hours and engaged with 816 community members.
Name: Margaret Weimer
Major: Journalism and Promotional Communications
Class Standing: Sophomore
How long have you worked for the Viking Corps or America Reads program?
I worked with the Viking Corps program for one school year/ two semesters.
After being part of Viking Corps or America Reads, what do you feel you have you been able to learn about the community or people you serve?
I have learned that each person has their own story and that each one is extremely unique no matter the community they grew up in. As for the community itself, I feel I have been able to learn about the pride each child, staff member, and volunteer has in the place they come from due to the overwhelming amounts of support they receive from both larger and neighboring organizations, as well as from the Club members and their families.
What benefits do you feel you gained from being part of the Viking Corps or America Reads program and/or getting to work with the program's staff?
I benefited from being a part of Viking Corps in so many ways! Just to list a few, I learned a lot about the environment in which many of the kids I worked with are growing up, which has made me aware of how privileged I am. I have made so many close friends through the program and my time at the worksites, fellow CSU students and volunteers from other organizations and universities. Another way I benefited was from being able to serve the students in all capacities by helping prepare their food, take part in art lessons, help them with homework, accompany them on their nature Club walks, and talk to them about troubles they were facing in their personal lives.
What rewarding or special experiences have you had being a tutor or student worker in a non-tutoring position?
There were a lot of very rewarding moments being a student worker/tutor! To me, however, there were a few students who I got particularly close to during the year at the Club who would scream in excitement and run to hug me every time I walked in the building. It was so rewarding to know that the kids saw me as someone they could trust and that I was someone who could bring a smile to their face just by showing up and being there for them.
If you are a CSU student and would like to have a meaningful experiential learning experience in Viking Corps or CPL America Reads please contact Anita Ruf-Young at a.rufyoung@csuohio.edu for information about these programs. Click here to view more Viking Corps and America Reads students profiles.