SYDNEY'S PORTFOLIO
virginia tech. interior design. serve.
Here’s a little bit about myself, I’m eighteen years old and I’m majoring in Interior Design at Virginia Tech. I have been a Virginia Tech fan for as long as I can remember and I have been going to Tech football since around the age of four. Both of my parents went and met at Virginia Tech and my sister currently goes to Tech. I guess you could say “I had no other choice” but honestly, why would I want to go anywhere else? Besides loving Virginia Tech, some of my other hobbies include photography, kayaking, dog-loving, movie watching, and eating good food anywhere and everywhere I can find it. I also take anytime I can to spend with my family. My sister is in her fifth and final year here at Tech, and this semester we actually have a class together (Design Appreciation). I’m from Wilkesboro, North Carolina which is only two hours from campus, so my parents have season tickets to the Tech football games, so I’ll be seeing a lot of them this first semester (that could be a good or bad thing). I’m also very passionate about my school work. However, I can easily get in my own way because of my perfectionist attitude towards work. Initially, I’m seen as an introvert, which don’t get me wrong I love my “me time”, but I also love meeting and connecting with people of all backgrounds. I feel as if I relate most with people who have a drive and/or ambitious spirit about something they’re passionate about. I love to see people succeed about something they’re spirited about. One of my favorite parts of serving others is getting that moment of fulfillment once seeing the faces of those whom we served. Growing up, my parents have instilled in me the old saying that “It’s better to give, rather than receive”. My parents have always been a role model for me in all aspects of my life but especially through service. Ever since I was a little, I can remember my parents being the first to sign up for anything, whether it be bringing snacks to our rec basketball games, coming on a school field trip, or inviting over our entire youth group over for a Super Bowl Sunday party they were quick to volunteer their time and efforts. Some of my first volunteer projects were through our kids program at church. I can remember packaging shoeboxes that were being sent off to children in third world countries through Operation Christmas Child. My church has always been very mission and service oriented, keeping me constantly engaged with service projects within my home town, around the U.S. and even internationally. This past summer I had the opportunity to go on an all construction mission trip to Shelby, North Carolina. A lot of us were not as excited to attend this trip due to the fact that the previous year we went to Puerto Rico. On our trip my youth minister had decided that we were going to be doing all construction work on this mission trip. I often saw my size as a reason to why I wasn’t capable of serving through construction. Throughout the Shelby mission trip I quickly realized, although it might take me twice as long as someone else, I was capable of completing construction service projects. Whenever I am completing a service project, I find it essential to step out of my comfort zone. In order to grow, learn, and truly help someone through a project, it is necessary to emerge from one’s “safety net”. This past weekend SERVE went on our first retreat. We were placed in groups given no option but to participate in that particular service activity. I loved that idea! On the way back to campus, after digging multiple holes for a wheelchair ramp, Aiden asked us whether or not we wished we could could have chosen our service project. We all unanimously agreed that we were glad our projects were chosen for us because we all knew we wouldn’t have chosen to dig holes if we had the option. However, we also concurred that if we weren’t put on the Habitat for Humanity team, we would have never met Jim, a Habitat volunteer, or the grateful homeowners that we were building the ramp for. I love the spontaneity in which service brings and the challenges you must overcome. I am so excited to see what this year holds in terms of service.