Stepping Forward for a Better Tomorrow: SFD2014
This past weekend was marked with Pepperdine’s annual Step Forward Day. Each year, hundreds of students, faculty, and local families gather together to live out the Pepperdine mission by spending a day serving others and helping areas in need. From beautifying schoolyards, planting trees, to playing soccer, the opportunities to serve were varied in both their scale and location. I cannot begin to describe the warmth and excitement exuded by all involved on Saturday morning before buses loaded. Knowing that we were all there for the same purpose was inspiring and humbling. With a great step forward together, we all boarded the buses towards our various destinations.
The Student Employment Office joined the Faculty and Staff team as they took part in visiting the Neighborhood Youth Association. Serving the greater Los Angeles area, the NYA’s mission is to enable at-risk children and youth to achieve their personal best, by providing a comprehensive set of educational enhancement services, academic support, counseling, career planning, and cultural enrichment activities in a sustained, focused manner during their elementary through high school years. This amazing group has made a remarkable difference in the lives of local students and families. With over 100 years of continuous service to its community, the Neighborhood Youth Association is a great place to make a difference as a mentor to a growing number of deserving youth.
As part of Step Forward Day, we joined the Neighborhood Youth Association in a day of play at the local park! From duck, duck goose to soccer, our entire team and families came together underneath the sun’s rays and shared a day we will not soon forget. From the young age of 6 all the way up to 17, the kids were full of smiles and the air was full of laughter. If there was ever a time to be thankful for being part of such an amazing experience, it was then.
Reflecting on the experience, we can only hope that we will continue to see more and more participation in Step Forward Day with each passing year. Though, our greatest wish at the Student Employment Office is that others won’t wait for one day a year to get involved and make a difference! We should strive to Step Forward each day in every way that we can! We are better together, both as a University and as a community, and together we can take steps daily to make the world a better place. Have a great one Waves!
Best,
The Student Employment Team