Steven Camarena

(Worked both shifts on the same day March 29, 2025, (8 AM to 1 PM), so response will be the same).

Skills and Personal Development
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
Skills I developed and improved during the service experience include my ability to stay calm under pressure and solve problems when helping multiple people. For example, my job was to watch the bowlers and call over the staff to give them a drink only if they had gotten a strike and the top pin was neon. I had to pay attention to see if the top pin was not only neon but also if they had gotten a strike. In conjunction with this, I was watching up to 5 lanes at a time, so I had to focus my attention on each of them while keeping calm. I also congratulated them when they had gotten a strike.

Understanding and Awareness
What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
I learned about the community and environment I served in, and I understood that the Memphis community was close with one another, both young and older people. I also had a ton of fun seeing if they would make a strike, as we all had the same feelings. Overall, I felt glad to be able to join in with my Memphis community and have a good time.

Relationships and Teamwork
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
I worked as part of a team, and so that impacted my
experience by making it more enjoyable to talk with my members, the staff, and the bowlers, as our team and staff wanted today to be an enjoyable experience. We took turns watching each other's lanes and helping clean tables after each shift was over. This group effort made the entire experience more memorable and impactful for our community.


Organizational Impact and Alignment
Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
Yes, I do plan to continue volunteering with this organization because I had an enjoyable experience working with the staff and bowlers before, during, and after the event. It was a great environment, and I felt happy to be able to make an impact during the games. I am glad and thankful I was given an opportunity to be with my community and have fun.

Reflection and Improvement
What unexpected challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Some unexpected challenges I faced included keeping up with multiple games and the location's colder weather. I overcame them by asking my group members if they could please help me since I was new to the event and had brought a jacket to make myself comfortable. I used my problem-solving skills to benefit not only the team and staff but also the bowlers’ experience today.

(Worked both shifts on the same day March 29, 2025, (8 AM to 1 PM), so response will be the same).

Skills and Personal Development
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
Skills I developed and improved during the service experience include my ability to stay calm under pressure and solve problems when helping multiple people. For example, my job was to watch the bowlers and call over the staff to give them a drink only if they had gotten a strike and the top pin was neon. I had to pay attention to see if the top pin was not only neon but also if they had gotten a strike. In conjunction with this, I was watching up to 5 lanes at a time, so I had to focus my attention on each of them while keeping calm. I also congratulated them when they had gotten a strike.

Understanding and Awareness
What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
I learned about the community and environment I served in, and I understood that the Memphis community was close with one another, both young and older people. I also had a ton of fun seeing if they would make a strike, as we all had the same feelings. Overall, I felt glad to be able to join in with my Memphis community and have a good time.

Relationships and Teamwork
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
I worked as part of a team, and so that impacted my
experience by making it more enjoyable to talk with my members, the staff, and the bowlers, as our team and staff wanted today to be an enjoyable experience. We took turns watching each other's lanes and helping clean tables after each shift was over. This group effort made the entire experience more memorable and impactful for our community.


Organizational Impact and Alignment
Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
Yes, I do plan to continue volunteering with this organization because I had an enjoyable experience working with the staff and bowlers before, during, and after the event. It was a great environment, and I felt happy to be able to make an impact during the games. I am glad and thankful I was given an opportunity to be with my community and have fun.

Reflection and Improvement
What unexpected challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Some unexpected challenges I faced included keeping up with multiple games and the location's colder weather. I overcame them by asking my group members if they could please help me since I was new to the event and had brought a jacket to make myself comfortable. I used my problem-solving skills to benefit not only the team and staff but also the bowlers’ experience today.

Skills and Personal Development
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
Skills I improved on through this service experience included enthusiasm and encouragement giving food and water to runners as they ran the marathon. I also congratulated the runners when they finished and did my best to make them feel proud.



Understanding and Awareness
What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
I learned about the community I served is that everyone was cheering and have a great time with volunteering or running. I felt more inclined talking with others during the marathon and felt the positivity and good vibes throughout the experience.



Relationships and Teamwork
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
I worked as part of a team helping giving water and food like fruit with other volunteers. Working as a group impacted my experience by feeling inspired to do more for our community and share that experience with others who wanted to do the same.



Organizational Impact and Alignment
Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
Yes, I do plan to continue volunteering with this organization because I had a great time with my fellow volunteers encouraging and giving the runners food and water as they ran. The staff also treated me well and I appreciated their support and dedication to making the event more enjoyable for the runners and volunteers.



Reflection and Improvement
What unexpected challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
The only unexpected challenge I faced was the colder weather during the morning, and I overcame this by drinking more water and stretching. It also helped to talk with volunteers to keep my mind off of the cold.

Skills and Personal Development
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
Skills I developed during this service experience include working as a group to operate the elevator and move students’ carts from the bottom to the top of the dorm building in the LLC. I also talked with people moving talking about what they did over the summer or what their cohort was. I also helped move empty boxes from the top floor to the bottom floor so they could be reused later.



Understanding and Awareness
What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
The community I served was understanding and kind. We all had the same goal to aid each other out. I also learned that we worked much quicker as a team rather than by ourselves. I talked with students and parents when they entered and left the elevator. Half of us were outside moving items into boxes and to the bottom of the elevator. The Memphis community knows how to help each other and talk well.



Relationships and Teamwork
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
I worked as part of a team, I worked with people I have never before and it was great being able to meet and talk to them while we helped both students and parents. This event impacted my experience by getting to understand them better and why they wanted to help out. Working with others who shared the same objectives as me was great.



Organizational Impact and Alignment
Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
I plan to continue volunteering with this organization next year. I enjoyed my time at the dorm with the combination of helping and talking with students and volunteers in and out the elevator. The staff was also nice and I felt full of stamina throughout the morning. I am excited to aid again next year and help new people move in.


Reflection and Improvement
What would you change about your approach to this service opportunity in the future?
I would change my approach to this service opportunity in the future by talking to more students and their parents during my volunteering. Giving them helpful discussions can go a long way. I believe that Memphis is a giant family that helps each other with challenges and achieves objectives.

Skills and Personal Development
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
Skills I developed during this service experience include working as a group to help move students’ items from their vehicles to their dorms. I also talked with people moving in with communication, discussing what they were excited about for the semester or their major. I even helped give water and snacks to both volunteers and students.



Understanding and Awareness

What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
The community I served was welcoming and hardworking. We all had a common goal to help each other and were looking out for each other. I also learned that we worked much faster as a team rather than by ourselves. The Memphis community knows how to work together as one and help each other to finish goals.



Relationships and Teamwork
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
I worked as part of a team, I worked with people I have never before and it was great being able to meet and talk to them while we helped. This event impacted my experience by getting to know them better and why they wanted to volunteer. Working with others who shared the same goals as me was amazing.



Organizational Impact and Alignment
Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
I plan to continue volunteering with this organization next year. I enjoyed my time at the dorm, which was a combination of helping and talking with students and volunteers. The staff was also kind and I felt full of energy throughout the morning. I am excited to help again next year and help new people move in the fall.


Reflection and Improvement
What would you change about your approach to this service opportunity in the future?
I would change my approach to this service opportunity in the future would be to talk to more students during my volunteering. Giving them helpful advice and encouragement can go a long way. I believe Memphis is a giant family that helps each other with challenges and achieves goals as a team.

Skills and Personal Development
What skills did you develop or improve through this service experience?
Skills I developed or improved through the FedEx St. Jude Championship include understanding by giving water to golfers and helping guests where to go if they had questions regarding directions. I also developed my communication skills well by talking with other volunteers and staff members about plans for the day. Overall, thanks to this event, I felt more comfortable both asking and working to make the event more enjoyable for others.



Understanding and Awareness
What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
I learned about the community I served and that the staff and volunteers made the FedEx St. Jude Championship a safe and enjoyable experience for guests through hard work and planning. This event happens every year, so we did our best to make each Championship so guests and golfers would come back each year. We all had different tasks, but ultimately came to serve our community.


Relationships and Teamwork
Did you work individually or as part of a team, and how did that impact your
experience?
I worked as part of a team. Over the day, I worked with others on and off the field, often taking their place or asking how they were doing. Looking out for each other impacted my experience because everyone volunteering needed to be comfortable doing so. I became more aware of why my team wanted to volunteer and became more excited about helping others.



Organizational Impact and Alignment
Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
Yes, because I enjoyed my time with how the staff and volunteers treated the guests and golfers throughout the day. I understood that safety and kindness were valued during the FedEx St. Jude Championship, so I felt more compelled to volunteer next summer with new and existing staff and volunteers.


Reflection and Improvement
What would you change about your approach to this service opportunity in the future?
Next year, I hope to talk to more volunteers and help guests at the event. I felt the more I engaged with others, I was able to relate with them and feel engaged to work even harder to serve the guests and golfers. I felt that I was not by myself, but giving support to a great community.

How did your direct service benefit members of the broader community?
Describe your service.
If people-facing:
Which population(s) did you serve?
What was their reaction to you/your group being there?
During my time at the Alternative Break Experience trip, my direct service benefited members of the broader community by giving refugees a place to stay while they had time to find job opportunities and helping sort books for books for Africa such as literature and learning.

We served populations such as meeting and bringing in seats and toiletries for refugees and helped those looking for clothes such as shoes, coats, and pants.

Their reaction was very grateful and joyful for being able to have these resources and shelter at hand without stress or worry.

Did you work individually or as part of a team during your service? How did that
impact your experience?
We worked as part of a team. Working as a team impacted my experience by everyone having unique abilities and ideas such as how to tackle problems in a way such as moving bed frames into the van. I also felt that we had gotten more done quickly which made me realize that one person alone could have not done the amount of work we had done in that time.

What skills did you develop or improve through your direct service?
Skills that I improved during my week in Atlanta included my ability to be open-minded. When the schedule had changed or my encouragement to others either during service or after the day had finished.

Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
I plan to continue to volunteer at the Alternative Break Experience trip next spring because I am grateful for having the opportunity to serve those in need with my peers. I had the opportunity to take what I learned from Atlanta and make changes in Memphis, both in the community and on campus. I appreciate my peers, the trip leaders, and the driver for making this experience enjoyable and memorable.

How did your direct service benefit members of the broader community?
Describe your service.
My direct service benefited members of the broader community by giving water to runners at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. During my time, I brought water jugs to the water station and greeted runners as they came for water. I also replaced the trash bags, brought napkins to clean up spills, and brought new cups if needed. I cared for the runners' needs while also making them feel welcome during the event.

If people-facing:
Which population(s) did you serve?
I served runners water and greeted them at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend event.

What was their reaction to you/your group being there?
Their reaction was gratitude as I helped them by directing them to the information center if they needed further help and helping them if they needed the cups to be changed. I also greeted them with a smile and asked how their day was. The runners also felt happy to feel welcome at the event as they ran the marathon.

What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
I learned about the community I served in that I have a better understanding of how Memphis can work together with the staff, volunteers, and runners for a greater cause- help children’s research to treat diseases. It also felt refreshing to see everyone in high spirits during the event and help each other through needs such as asking for help or running together as a group.

Did you work individually or as part of a team during your service? How did that impact your experience?
I worked with another volunteer to help with giving water to the water station. Working as a team impacted my service by working together for the common goal of aiding others in need and bringing water to the runners. I felt more grateful working with others and understanding why they too wanted to help at the same event as me.

Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
I plan on continuing to volunteer for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend event in the future because I enjoy my time working with others especially to help with children’s research to prevent diseases and help with treatment. I also enjoyed the caring staff and cheery atmosphere of the marathon and hope to volunteer in the future.

How did your direct service benefit members of the broader community?
Describe your service.
My direct service benefited members of the broader community by helping deal with the recent cat overpopulation in Memphis with the TNR cycle, trap, neuter, and release system. Overpopulation of cats can limit the homes cats can live in and through this system, cats will be safer and lower cat death rates in the area. We placed cages near the neighborhood while also placing sardines around the area. Even though we were unsuccessful in catching cats this time, it is important to learn why keeping the cat population at a stable rate can benefit cats’ stress and lives.

If environmental:
Which park/community did you serve?
I served near the Honors College in the neighborhood of the University of Memphis.

How do you think your service will benefit the plants/animals/people
who utilize or reside in that area?
The service I did for the TNR event would benefit the cats that live in the area via the TNR system. When neutered and vaccinated, cats will be safe from future outside diseases and keep the cat population at a normal level. The cats will then be placed back in the neighborhood now being calmer and have better health.

What did you learn about the community or environment you served?
I learned more about the Memphis problem with cat overpopulation and how the TNR event helped to limit the population to help the cat’s health. I also learned that Memphis thrives in helping nature with the community to grow relationships and complete challenges as a team. Finally, the TNR event brought me closer to the community of Memphis, and knowing my service has made the community of Memphis a better place.

Did you work individually or as part of a team during your service? How did that impact your experience?
We worked as a team as peers. Everyone helping together impacted my experience because I felt connected with the community of the University of Memphis both in its staff and my peers. Everyone contributed to helping the needs of the cats that need support such as setting the cages and helping place the food. My service experience felt more connected as a whole because I was serving with like-minded people too.

Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
I will continue to volunteer for the Honors College TNR event again because I enjoy helping with animals and their needs. I also appreciated the staff and peers who helped with the event as well. It is a great way to help the community of Memphis while on campus and is a fun experience.

During my time of service at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, I helped with safety and helped with guests, other volunteers, and players during the golf tournament. I helped give out water, gave assistance such as directions, and greeted other guests in the area. The guests, other volunteers, and players were happy when I talked with them or gave them towels to cool off or water during the hotter hours of the day. Due to my time helping the community during the championship, I feel as though I made a greater impact on those I helped as I cared about everyone’s safety.
During my direct service, I developed more adaptability as each day was unpredictable such as more heat on the last day of the golf tournament or being careful of some roads covered in mud. I took time to prepare before coming to the main area and felt prepared each day to give my assistance to everyone around me. Adapting to unpredictable situations is important such as in school or work and being always focused.
We worked as a team during my service; I felt more excited during my service because I enjoy working with others that also want to help the guests and players. I felt that I was not alone, but giving a lending hand to an amazing community.
I plan on serving next summer at the FedEx St. Jude Championship because I enjoyed my time working with staff, guests, and the players. It is amazing for the community to support a greater cause in children’s cancer research while also having fun. I am thankful that I was able to volunteer in the golf tournament and greatly appreciate the support from my fellow volunteers and staff.