Volunteering too pricey for some
By Tatiana Sanchez
It is difficult to get people our age to volunteer their time and energy to make a difference in their community because of a busy and self-centered lifestyle. However, a lack of contribution to our community is due to more than this.
It often costs great amounts of money to give back.
The fact that a student has to pay thousands of dollars to participate in enrichment volunteer programs, such as immersion trips or becoming an Emergency Medical Technician, stops many students from volunteering at all.
Since when do you have to pay to volunteer? Volunteering for the improvement of our community while working to create a better environment on campus is always a positive and life-changing experience.
However, at Santa Clara, it is also a costly one.
I never really thought about just how pricey volunteering could be until I experienced the burn myself. One day, I came across a flyer announcing this summer's immersion trips to Ecuador and El Salvador in my residence hall.
Formally known as the Kolvenbach Solidarity Program, immersion trips take students to developing countries that have been devastated by poverty, such as Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador and even marginalized parts of the United States.
On these trips, which usually last a little more than a week during school breaks, students do work for the community by building houses for poor families.
My excitement for the El Salvador immersion trip was crushed as I read that it would cost $1,200 -- a price I cannot afford to pay.
If students want to do good for others, why should they have to pay so high a price for it?
The same question can be asked about Santa Clara's EMT team.
An EMT is certified to provide emergency medical care to students suffering from various infirmities and injuries. These admirable students give up many hours a week to help their peers with anything from twisted ankles to alcohol poisoning.
Yet to be an EMT costs money. EMTs must complete a 10-week certification program for the price of $800, along with CPR certification at the price of $75, although scholarships are available.
And those cool uniforms? A whopping $150 for the pant and shirt suit, and anywhere from $60 to $200 for uniform boots. Livescans are $50 each, National Registry Testing costs $75 and lastly, squad shirts cost $5. Hey, at least something is under $10.
Optional expenses include personal stethoscopes, which range from $30 to $200 and National Registry Review Books, which can cost between $20 and $40.
Now, assuming that a student wishing to be an EMT pays his or her fees and purchases all the essentials, the total would come to be around $1,315.
This is not to say that EMTs get nothing out of their work. Being an EMT can be a great resume builder and also a good experience for a future career.
The fact that students want to lend a hand is a commendable and admirable thing, but the tremendous cost to do so is stopping students from actually going through with their desire to help.
What good does it do to promote consciousness, competence and compassion to students if the high price to volunteer discourages and ultimately turns them away from making a difference?
If it did not cost so much to do volunteer work, students would not turn away from volunteer opportunities half as much as they do now.
There is always someone at Santa Clara telling students that they need to step out of their comfort zones to experience new things and broaden their horizons.
Yet this desire is unrealistic and will continue to be as long as the cost to help a person in need is so high.
If students want to go out and perform acts of kindness for others, they should have the liberty to do so without having to worry about emptying their pockets.
Tatiana Sanchez is a sophomore English major.