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Go Bottom Rung !!
November 10, 2008
Bottom Rung is the name we came up with for our RCC class. I am in the Poverty and Citizenship RCC class that is taught by Professor of Political Science Dexter Boniface and Dean of the Faculty Laurie Joyner. We also have the two greatest peer mentors, Marissa Germain and John Fraser, helping us out.
The Bottom Rung basically means that we are just starting out to achieve greater things; we have to climb an imaginary ladder to get to the top. Slowly but surely our RCC is making progress in this regard since we are currently number one in the race for the RCC cup. It basically comes from the ‘Ladder of Development’ concept that Sachs explains as part of our study in poverty. We plan to succeed in winning the RCC cup this year and only then will we consider ourselves to have climbed to the top rung.
As an RCC group we participate in many activities together. Usually we gather together and try to do something that will not only be a learning and bonding experience for us but will also be beneficial to the local community, society and the nation as a whole. For this purpose our peer mentors plan out Fox Fridays for us where we, as freshmen students from Rollins, get involved in different activities.
The activities might be dodge ball or volleyball tournaments or maybe going to downtown Orlando and volunteering to help the homeless or the poor. Last Friday we went on a trip, organized by SPARC and supported by our RCC, to the Destiny Foundation of Central Florida. The Destiny Foundation helps the poor and the homeless by providing food and clothes at very affordable prices.
They also have different programs like Food Drive, Clothes Drive where local people contribute and the needy are provided with these things. The products that are on sale either come from donations or are collected from charity programs and social organizations. We helped the store arrange clothes, books, and food items and to clean up the store in general.
Picture : My RCC group visit to Destiny Foundation
We were amazed to learn facts and figures that reveal just how big a problem poverty really is in America. Out of the 36 million people who wake up with an empty stomach every day, 14 million are children. Children are greatly affected by poverty and issues like childcare, vaccinations and medical insurance. Hence, amongst the major services that the foundation provides I found the Clinic for the Poor children to be a very noble one. It was incredibly well managed.
Sponge Bob and Disney characters along with colorful patterns and bright gestures in the walls made clear their intentions and also reflected the foundation’s dedication and effort. They hope to help and treat tens of thousands of children within the next few years. They have also organized many events throughout the year and conducted programs like feeding thousands of hungry people on Thanksgiving. In fact they plan to feed 10,000 hungry this Thanksgiving.
Earlier in the semester, we visited the Coalition for the Homeless where poor and homeless people are given shelter. We also managed to visit the Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC). Poor and homeless women are given training and the opportunity to rebuild their lives in such shelters.
On a lighter note we also had programs like the Volleyball Tournament, Dodge Ball Tournament, Global Film festival, Battle of the Brains, Comedy Clubs and so on which were organized with the help of various clubs and organizations like Rollins Explorations and All Campus Event (ACE). With such activities and the notion of LLC and RCC courses I feel that I am gaining practical knowledge, and gaining a sense of social responsibility as well besides just what I learn in a class. So, I love my RCC class and all I have to say is: Go.. Bottom Rung!
| More about Aditya... From a completely different cultural, religious and social setting, Aditya (Adi) comes from Nepal, the Himalayan Kingdom. Having almost lived his entire life in Kathmandu, he is overwhelmed by his positive experiences so far in a new country.
Adi is an International Cornell Scholar who is interested in physics, math and economics but is currently not sure what he would want to major in. Adi is a member of Desi Club and is seeking to join various other clubs like, The Model UN. In the past, as the president of Awareness Club, Adi organized a general health camp in a rural part of Nepal treating more than 700 patients. He was also a part of the Khaptad Camp organized by SHF, Nepal.
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Aditya's R-Journal archives:
| Date |
Link |
| April 27, 2009 |
It's over, already ? |
| April 23, 2009 |
It's Fox Day !!! |
| April 09, 2009 |
Homecoming 2009 |
| March 22, 2009 |
Physics ! |
| March 04, 2009 |
Good neighbour ? |
| February 03, 2009 |
My Warm Winter |
| December 12, 2008 |
Bottom Rung on the top! |
| December 01, 2008 |
Diwali Dinner |
| November 10, 2008 |
Go Bottom Rung !! |
| October 27, 2008 |
Bela Fleck Rocks Rollins |
| October 06, 2008 |
Life in Ward Hall |
| September 20, 2008 |
Home...8,600 miles away |
| September 18, 2008 |
Nine Days in Khaptad |
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