Finding my home at Virginia Tech through service
A student's perspective
I have always been involved in nonprofit work. Ever since high school, I found myself drawn to opportunities that allowed me to give back to my community. I think a lot of that comes from growing up in an immigrant household and always having my older sister to look up to. My Bolivian parents taught me to work hard, never forget where I came from, and always help others because that's where true happiness comes from. Looking back, those lessons shaped my entire experience at Virginia Tech.
One of the first organizations I joined was Students Helping Honduras. A close family friend invited me to a meeting, and I quickly found a second home. Every year we fundraise to help build schools before traveling to Honduras. My favorite memory wasn't building schools, though. It was playing soccer with the children. The funny part is that I hate soccer and I'm not very good at it, but I still played. I even busted my toe right before flying back to the States, but I'd do it all over again.
The second organization I joined was the YMCA at Virginia Tech. I joined after finding the organization at GobblerFair in the spring because I wanted to get involved in something centered around service after my fall semester as a freshman. This past spring, I helped host my third Healthy Kids Day. One of my favorite parts is seeing families return each year and watching the same kids grow up while getting excited to run the One-Mile Fun Run Race.
Finally I joined my sorority, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. My older sister introduced and inspired me to join, and I never imagined I'd one day serve as chapter president or even join a sorority in college. This past spring, I also welcomed my little into the organization, and getting to mentor her has been one of the most rewarding experiences in college.
Virginia Tech gave me an education, but these organizations definitely gave me a community. Serving others helped me find where I truly belonged.
Andrea Funes Quinones is a senior from Alexandria, Virginia, studying Business Information Technology with concentrations in Decision Support Systems and Operations and Supply Chain Management at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business. Outside the classroom, she serves as president of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. and enjoys giving back through nonprofit organizations and community service.