What is the Big Event? 

      The Big Event is a day where college students give back to their communities. It’s one long big day where students volunteer for four hours doing a variety of different projects to serve the community.

     I first heard of the Big Event during my freshman year when people told me to sign up to participate in the Big Event where I would have the opportunity to volunteer in the community.

     I have always loved to volunteer because it is fulfilling to me when I help someone or even make them smile.

    Unfortunately, when I signed up during my freshman year the Big Event got cancelled due to a big rain storm. I saw that there were applications to be on the Executive Board so I applied. Once I was accepted, my life changed. I felt as if was apart of something very important that would result in friendships along the way.

 

      During my sophomore year, I was selected to be the Director of Outreach. As the Director of Outreach I was entrusted to find all of the service projects for students to volunteer on the day of the Big Event. The Director of Outreach must establish well rounded relationships with members of the community who can provide opportunities or curriculum for the students to experience. As the Director of Outreach I consistently communicated effectively to secure locations for students to volunteer at.

      When attending the Big Event conference at Stephen F Austin college, I was able to learn about my position and how to better communicate to the community. Lamar's Big Event team stayed in a hotel, it was for two nights and three days. From the first day we arrived, Lamar's team bonded with every school that was in attendance. On Saturday our team made dog toys as our service project. We split up into groups to learn from each other about our positions and what other schools do in order to pull off a successful Big Event. From that conference, I really understood what the Big Event was and really meant.

       The Big Event was something i wanted to make my impression on at Lamar University and I can gladly say I did so. I provided Lamar University with the ability to grow and take part as a community while putting my own touch on it. This semester alone I achieved 21 project sites for students to volunteer at before COVID-19 took effect. My first year as Director of Outreach I was merely achieving 9 project sites, due to my continuous hardwork the Big Event and Lamar University have really benefitted. Had COVID-19