About Jeanie

Hi, I'm Jeanie :) 

My name is Jeanie Arciaga and I am a third-year at the University of California, San Diego. I am studying Sociology and Human Development. This year, I will be going on an Alternative Spring Break to the Sacred Valley, Peru where I will be working with children and youth to promote sustainable education. This blog is meant to be an interactive opportunity to allow my friends, family, donors, and anyone who would like to follow me on my journey to the Sacred Valley. Here, I will jot down reflections, post pictures, and share my volunteer experience with all of you. I hope you enjoy it! :)

Service, volunteering, and community are all very important to me. Throughout my life I have devoted many hours of service to my community. While some students use volunteer hours to fulfill a requirement or see it as an opportunity to build their resume, for me, volunteering is a great vehicle for change. As the saying goes,

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

Making a difference starts with me. I hope that through my service and volunteer experiences, I will become an agent of positive social change in our world.

Questions

Why did you decide to join Alternative Breaks? 
I decided to join Alternative Breaks because I wanted to explore community service opportunities that were available to UCSD students. After talking to some friends who were involved with the program, I decided to join. What I've enjoyed the most is getting to know other like-minded students in the program. I am really excited to be working with my team and doing service together.

What are your interests and/or hobbies? 
Other than volunteering, my interests include music and theatre, hanging out with friends, and exploring San Diego. I love to listen to music, especially jazz. I'm mostly a social person, so I love to hang out with friends and meet new people. When I'm not busy studying, I make an effort to absorb as much of the San Diego sun as I can. After all, UCSD is not too far away from the beach! :)

What are your career goals?
Sometime before I graduate, I hope to study abroad! I want to expand my horizons and learn about different cultures and ways of living. In the future, I hope to enlist in the Peace Corps and work for the public or independent sector.

What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? 
Two things: active citizenship and global awareness. I hope that my time in Peru will teach me how I can be a positive agent of social change for the communities I work with. I want to come back with greater knowledge about what I can contribute to make the world a better place for everyone.