BYU-Hawaii students find ways to give service through small acts and service projects despite full-time school enrollment and part-time work. President Thomas S. Monson has asked members of the Church to find some way to serve others every day.
In a 2009 General Conference address, Monson said, “I am confident it is the intention of each member of the Church to serve and to help those in need… How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that ‘Oh, surely someone will take care of that need.’
”Students were asked how they find ways to serve despite their busy schedules. Megan Goodman, senior from Utah majoring in psychology, said if students look for time to serve, they’ll find it.
She said, “I think if you really look at your schedule and think about the time we waste on things that maybe aren’t quite as important, maybe that 10 minutes, 15 minutes, half hour whatever it may be, we can use [that time] serving instead.”
Kit Nadado, an alumnus from the Philippines, said, “I think if you’re sincerely praying for opportunities to serve, it doesn’t really matter how busy you are. Along the way, you’ll see them.”
Nadado shared a story of a tiny act that was meaningful to him. “I did some laundry and I had to go to work, but after it finished in the washer my roommate put it in the dryer, and then put it in my basket on my bed,” he said. “He didn’t even have to do laundry himself, but that was really nice of him.”
Sutton Kredt, a sophomore studying accounting from Texas, told a similar story of a small act of service. “
Just recently I got injured, and I was in a rush to get to school. I live off-campus, and this random student - never seen him, never met him - just stopped along my way and asked if I needed a ride to school. So that definitely made my day,” she said.
Ryan Ng, a junior from the Philippines majoring in psychology, said, ”It always feels like Heavenly Father puts people in our path to serve. Jesus showed us the example to always look for opportunities to serve. By doing so you’ll be able to feel the spirit, even more, to help you to be inspired in every aspect of your life. That’s the important part of the service.”
For Goodman, just having someone to listen and talk to her during stressful times means more than any kind of gift or big act of service. She said a simple act people can do is “just check in with your friends. Think about a friend that you could say hello to, give a call, or maybe just stop by and visit.”
Students listed other small things they felt people could do in their spare time, including holding the door for someone, giving people rides in cars, helping with grocery shopping, leaving a note for someone, helping in study groups, and picking up trash.
Ng said he remembers hearing a story about a student who was late for class because he would pick up every single piece of trash along the way. Ng said that person is a great example to follow. Students can email volunteer@byuh.edu to get in contact with the Service Center to find more ways to serve.