When was the last time you left the Guilford “bubble”? Venturing off-campus is certainly a worthwhile undertaking. If for no other reason, getting your mind off the stresses that come with college life is relieving.I did not have a work-study job until this semester, when Judy Harvey sent me an e-mail about needing people to volunteer off-campus for federal work study. I chose Art Quest downtown, a place where kids can make art. Art Quest is attached to the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Arts, which includes a gallery for North Carolina artists.

I enjoy this opportunity and do a variety of things: helping the children, teaching an after school art program, and entering data into databases. This is not necessarily the place for everyone to go because everybody has different interests, you should check it out, though, because it is a wonderful organization.

Getting off campus and having different experiences helping others is something that is refreshing and helps me to focus when I am here.

I also find comfort in having older friends at work. It is nice to be able to talk to people who are removed from the college life and have more experience.

I like this because many of my friends at home were several years older than me.

It is true that my job takes a lot of time and energy, but there are varying degrees to which you can be involved in off-campus activities. Also, volunteering takes commitment because once you tell them that you will be helping, they are counting on you. It is a sense of responsibility that I remember feeling when I had my first job – a feeling that I am glad to have again.

My particular job, of course, would not be available to everyone. Not everyone can do the same job – it is the off campus experience that matters.

Even if you do not have work-study, you can volunteer at various places around Greensboro, some of which even provide transportation.

We all need to get away from the “bubble” now and then, so why not make an impact in the surrounding community while you are at it?