Author Archives: Lisa Rosner

Rain Garden with Water Watch

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The second of my ongoing service projects is helping out with the Rain Garden through Water Watch.  The Rain Garden by the Free to Be Center is used to collect water and prevent polluted runoff from leeching into other soil and water supplies.  The plants in the rain garden suck up the water in the garden, so that way it cannot collect pollution and carry it elsewhere.  This Rain Garden is in a low ditch area, so it can better collect the water.

Several trips have been made in order to weed the Rain Garden of weeds, tall grasses, etc. The first trip was merely to survey the garden and see what needed to be done.  The second trip was to weed, the third trip was to weed, and the fourth trip was to finish weeding.  However, on the fourth trip, the trip to weed became a mini Campus Clean Up as well.  We had a bag filled with garden gloves, and we used it to pick up things we found.  The most notable were many beer cans, chicken wire, a pot, a post, a white pipe, and several other things.  It was definitely  interesting.  Then when we finally made it to the Rain Garden, we got some of the biggest weeds ever out of the garden.

Taking some nice big weeds from the rain garden

Of course, there were some very large plots of crab grass as well, and with Megan Cohalan’s help, we were able to dig them out.

The biggest weed yet....

So now you can see that we really did some hard work.  Now all that needs to be done is some planting of colorful annuals, watering, and care taking.  Won’t you join us?

Atlantic City Outreach with SCF

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The first of my ongoing service projects is the Atlantic City Outreach with Stockton Christian Fellowship.  This usually occurs the second Saturday of every month, and usually about 20 of us participate to help the homeless and less fortunate.

The second Saturday of every month, Pastor Ray picks us up in the big tan van and takes us to his home, which is about five minutes off campus.  We form an assembly line to make a lunch of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a banana, cookies, and a water and put them into a paper bag.  Another group loads up socks and gloves, while another group makes hot food, which is usually a pasta dish of some sort.  After prayer and loading into the vans, we drive to Atlantic City and set up in a park. Those less fortunate than myself line up and get socks, a bagged lunch, hot food, and Bible literature if they prefer it.  For families with kids, we always try to give them a bit more, for children require a bit more care then adults do.  Once we are done giving stuff out, we always clean up the park and talk with the people for a little while before we leave.

While doing this project, I really connected with the people, for I recognize them as equal to myself.  There was even one man who sang and danced with us.  We all really had a great time connecting to the crowd and making their day a bit brighter.  While some would be really frightened to venture into Atlantic City and be with these people, but I am not.  I recognize them as people, and I will help them, for that is what humans should do.  Help one another.

 

J.R. Martinez

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J.R. Martinez, war veteran and a jack of all trades, spoke for free to any Stockton student who wanted to listen on February 16 in the PAC.  Winner of Dancing with the Stars and actor on All My Children, Martinez had come very far from his injuries in the Iraq War. This event was sponsored by the College’s First Year Experience, Office of Veteran Affairs and the Political Engagement Project.

When Martinez was just 19, he decided to go into the army to have free college after his term was done.  Then he was called to Iraq, and there his humvee hit a landmine.  The resulting explosion burned him and destroyed most of his face.  Ever since then, he has had many surgeries and fought through his ordeal.  He brought his story of recovery to many other recovering veterans, and then he began to act on All My Children.  Eventually he was called to do Dancing with the Stars and won.

Besides his difficulties in the war and what went on afterwards, Martinez spoke very lovingly of his mother and family.  Though he didn’t get to have the dream of football any longer, he became a stronger person after his ordeal.  Martinez also joked with the audience by throwing in little catch phrases like “Just sayin’ ” to give everyone a breather.

I thoroughly enjoyed this.  It did not even feel like 2 hours had gone by!  Because I am on the GI Bill, I got to hear of this before anyone else, and being able to see this man and hear his story really made a difference in my day.  I remember very clearly something he said. “Imagine this is $5 you are gonna save for later.  What I’m about to say may not have anything to do with what’s happening in your life now, but save if for later when you need it.”  I may need this some day.  And I am happy to have had the opportunity to hear this man speak.

Helping Out After Sandy

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On Friday, November 16 my friends and I went with Water Watch to help out Operation Blessing who were helping out hurricane Sandy victims.  We went to a little store that they were using to keep all of the donations that they received.  The place was gammed full of clothes for all shapes, sizes and people and a whole section for toys for the little kids.  It was organized to a degree but things were everywhere and there was even more stuff to sort through and find a place to put.  Eventually we created another pile for things that would not fit into the store to be donated to the Good Will.  There were so many things, it was nice to see how much the community was pulling together to help those in need.  Everyone had a job to do, be it sort through the new donations, or organize existing donations so that everything can be easily found, some of my friends and I organized the toy section for the children.  There were piles and piles of board games, puzzles, coloring and regular books, and stuffed animals.  There were more stuffed animals than anything else and we filled seven big bags full of them just so that we had a place to put them all without having everyone step on them to get to the other things.  It took us a about two hours to get through all of the toys and set them up in a presentable way that they all could be seen and easily gotten too.  Luckily there was a lot of volunteers there to help everyone out; like little working ants people formed lines to get things done as fast as possible.

When we finally did finish with the toys we moved outside to help the other volunteers as they sorted through the mass of donations that clogged the sidewalk in front of the plaza stores.  All of it had to be sorted—garbage, keep, good will—by the end of that day and there was practically no room for anything else in the building.  A few of the things had to be thrown out; though people’s attentions are good some things were just too matted up or old to be donated to others.   By some miracle we got through all of the stuff before the day ended and the people were so happy for all that we did.  There was also a table set up a little bit away from the store where a family came with hot chili and other food to give to the volunteers and the victims for free.  They weren’t there with any group but by themselves just because they wanted to help out, buying food and making meals for others simply because they were good people; and the chili was pretty good if I do say so myself.

My favorite part of the day was when I was able to help a Spanish speaking family with my limited knowledge of the language.  It was a husband and a wife with their little infant boy trying to find some clothes after they had lost everything; the husband spoke some but the wife close to none.  Through my broken perfect Spanish and hand using smaller, basic words on their part we were able to get them everything that they needed and more.  They were both so grateful and it made me feel wonderful that all of my attempts at this language weren’t for not.  The fact that I could actually help out a family in the real world, putting my skills to the test, was a wonderful feeling and reminded me of why I am going through all of this schooling.

All in all there was a lot of work but it was all worth it and I am so glad that I could help out.  I will be going back in the weeks to come to help out with Operation Blessing’s other projects as well.  This group does so much and I am so happy that I can help them out even if it is only a little bit.  If everyone helped out just a little bit it would make things so much better, but after helping out on Friday I do believe that everyone is helping out.  Maybe there is hope for humanity still to be found.

 

Blog 14: The Movie “Home”

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On March 8th I saw the movie Home presented by the Water Watch and Energy Saving group on campus.  The movie was amazing and eye opening.  The movie begins with how the world began.  Then the movie dives into the problems industrialization has caused to our Earth.  The movie hits on a wide variety of issues such as disforestation, soil degradation, and global warming.  It also talks about how we are causing ourselves to run out of fresh water, arable land, and all sorts of energy.  When the movie talks about the living conditions of cows used for meat, it made me consider trying to go vegetarian again.  Even though most of us know a little something about all of these issues, this movie hits you hard because it shows us the severity of the situation with a lot of facts to back it up.  Don’t fret though, because at the end the movie talks about how people are saving our planet right now, from re-planting the forests to using alternative energy.  Throughout the whole movie beautiful overhead views of a variety of landscapes of Earth are shows.  These images have amazing resolution and amazing beauty.  I think everyone should see this movie once Because we don’t have any time to be negative.  It’s up to us to write what happens next, together.

 

Blog 13: Til Gay Do Us Part

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On March 8th I attended Til Gay Do Us Part.  It was a gay marriage debate hosted by the Stockton Debate Team along with the College Democrats and the Pride Alliance.  The debate began with the host showing the audience facts from both sides about gay marriage.  Then the debate began between the two sides, which consisted of 2 students and a faulty member on either side.  It was an interesting debate but it wasn’t very fulfilling because most people on stage were for gay marriage, even the ones on the opposing side.  However, the opposing side did a good job of debating the opposite of what they believe, which is a sign of a good debater.  Then the floor was open to the audience to ask questions to the panel.  The audience too was mostly for gay marriage so all questions were directed to the opposing side, which was also technically for the same thing.  The audience ended up making up questions for the for gay marriage side just to add more perspective to the debate.  In the end I was glad with the outcome of the debate because it showed that most of our school is for gay marriage, which is a wonderful thing.  However I do know of people on campus that are against gay marriage, and it was sad that absolutely none of them were confident enough to come out and defend their side.

 

Trailing Around

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Stockton has so much to offer, movies twice a week, shows that come here as well as shows that our own students put on.  All the different clubs and activities and sports games that you can join or go to, it’s easy to stay busy and meet new people if you just get out there and participate.  But with all the running around from the clubs to the classes to the homework to work to finding time to eat and hang with friends, sometimes a person just wants to get away from it all; at least I do every now and again.  And unlike the colleges in the middle of the city, or the ones that are so big they could qualify as a mini town, Stockton has something that fits me perfectly when I need to do just that.

We are lucky enough to be in the middle of a natural park reserve, which means beautiful trees and different trails that can take you anywhere.  When things get to be too much, I like to turn my phone on silent and just get lost in the trails with a friend.  We can just walk for hours breathing in the crisp autumn air, watching as the sun sets over Lake Fred with the bright colors from the sun’s goodbye reflecting off the still waters.  A finally goodbye to the day as the cool moon takes over the sky with her cloak of darkness like a favorite blanket a child would pull over her head when she wanted to feel safe and just lay in the total darkness.  Only this blanket is riddle with little wholes that can make pictures or lead you home if you look at them the right way.

With the moon as our light to guide us through the nature trails of Stockton (and a flashlight at hand just in case) we will walk for hours, listening to the rustle of the dry leaves in the chill breeze or the animals scampering around and the bugs singing the songs of the night.  It’s a whole different world, walking those trails at night, and when I’ve had a stressful day or week, getting lost in that world refreshes me and puts a genuine smile back on my face.  The feeling lasts long into the next day, I know I can handle anything that is thrown at me.  And if for a moment I forget that, all I have to do is go back to the peaceful trails and look up at the clear night sky as the stars wink down at me to remember again.

I am so grateful that Stockton has these little escape routes, these little trails that go nowhere in particular; they help me keep my stress at bay.  I realize that not everyone will agree or even understand but that’s ok because they have their own happy places and things they can do here at Stockton, just like I have.  People get lost in their music, a good book, their art, or a good game.  Me?  I get lost in the woods surrounding Stockton, and there is where I lose all my stress and worries, and there is where I gain serenity and a giddy disposition.  Thank God Stockton has that, I would go stir crazy if this college had nothing like that.  So when the white walls of my small dorm become too much, I know where to go to get away and breathe again.

 

Blog 12: A Concert in Dance

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On March 1, 2012 I attended A Concert in Dance.  The show was in Stockton’s Performing Arts center and tickets were only 6 dollars for students.  The show had 10 dance numbers performed by groups, duets, and solo dancers.  My friend was in the last number which was titled Hot Jazz, which was a tap dance number.  The show was very enjoyable, which a wide variety of different music and dance styles.  Some dances were rather new age and extremely artsy, but it gave me a different way to look at dancing.  In on dance the dancers screamed along to the music and in another the danced to what sounded like pure static.  One dance called The (Fabulous) Filbert Family Photo portrayed a pillow fight and the dancers had pillows with them, that dance was funny!  My favorite dance was called Heed the Words which was a dance to a song based off an inspiration article called Wear Sunscreen.  The dance was beautiful and the song had such a wonderful message.  My friend’s dance was fun to watch too, taking the songs All That Jazz and Le Hot Jazz to make a large, exciting number full of singing and tapping.  Overall the show was a really good time and I would advise anyone to see it in the future.

Chris Juro, the Magician

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Chris came to Stockton last night to perform a magic show for us and he is actually a Stockton graduate himself. He has been a two time survivor of cancer and has started his own foundation that is a nonprofit organization.

He is actually the youngest person to perform magic at the White House, in Washington D.C. He was also recently featured on the show Criss Angel’s Mindfreak. He started off his routine with just a few simple things like juggling and a Chinese yoyo. He was very entertaining and really engaged the audience. He used many volunteers in order to keep everyone awake.

He somehow managed from an invisible deck of cards to find a real deck of cards and pick out the correct one. He also made a $50 dollar bill turn into a one dollar bill and then he cut open a lemon to find the original fifty, but the catch is that a girl in the audience was holding the lemon since the beginning of the show. I am really surprised and intrigued as to how magic actually works. He even had a girl pretty much levitating on stage! It was definitely an event that I would recommend to my friends and I would go to again if I was ever given the chance.

Day of Service

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When I signed up for the Day of Service, back sometime in the summer, I thought there was going to be a few people and a lot of work.  Back at my high school that’s how it always was, and it was usually one big project that we all did together for the school, to keep it clean and pretty.  I’ll admit I did not look too much into it after I signed up, thinking it would be the same thing as high school.  Boy was I surprised when my friends and I showed up for it early that Saturday morning!  There were so many people there, I couldn’t even find the sign in table at first, and we all had to push through to sign in.  It was insane, and it made me so happy to see so many people that came out to volunteer; I never before saw so many people for an event like this.

At first my roommate Kris and I were told we would be helping the Girl Scouts out with arts and crafts, along with at least 50 other people.  But when a man came up asking for people to help him off campus with A.H.E.A.R.T. and no one stood up, we both looked at each other and proceeded to walk over and offer our help.  In the end there were five of us to help him out, and that’s all he needed.  We went to an elementary school in Atlantic City to sort out baby clothes for teen moms and moms who just need some help.  There were four lunch tables full of clothes for guys, and four for girls.  Not to mention the tables that had baby toys, chairs, strollers, and diapers, so many diapers.

Even though there was so much stuff, be it pride or poor advertising, there were only about ten mothers who came in for things.  And even they did not want to take a lot of things, mostly saying how they want to save things for the other mothers.  We had to convince them to take more things for their children, reminding me that the kids will grow and the winter will come soon.  There were bags and bags of clothes left after the day, as if nobody came at all.  It made us sad, knowing that there were so many other people that could be helped, but either did not know about it or were just too proud to come in for the free help.  A.H.E.A.R.T. now has Stockton’s information so when they have other things such as the clothing drive they can have help from the students here.  We learned that they do so much for mothers in Atlantic City and without Day of Service, we would know nothing about them at all.  I cannot wait to help them out more, they are such a good cause that is sorely needed still—even if the politicians say the economy is getting better, not everyone is seeing that.

The Day of Service was so much fun and I can’t wait for the next one.  Until then I have joined Circle K so I can keep volunteering, and Kris is keeping in contact with A.H.E.A.R.T. to get the word out about them and get them more help.  I’m grateful Stockton has a day like this, and encourages us to stay involved; more schools should have it more often.  Some many people could use a helping hand, and there are countless people with a hand to give them.  That’s what the Day of Service is all about, and I’m so glad I could lend a small hand.