VOLUNTEER VIEWPOINT:
AN INTERVIEW WITH MEAGAN BRORMAN

Meagan Brorman’s volunteer experience has taken her from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where she majored in English and minored in theology, to East St. Louis, Ill., where she divides her time between St. Mary’s High School in St. Louis and the Catholic Day Care Center in East St. Louis. She’s now living in a house in East St. Louis with other volunteers.

Tell us a little about your work at St. Mary’s High School.
"Along with keeping up a list of service hours worked by the students, I’m in charge of the spring Mexico immersion trip to DECAMP (Marianist Rural Development Project in Mexico), as well as the junior service project in May. I also help out wherever needed, in the office, answering students’ questions from the college English class that I sit in on, helping with testing and, right now, I’m pricing books given to the school."

What’s a typical day like?
"I get to school about 7:30 a.m. and do a lot of e-mailing and research for the service projects. My favorite part is working on the Mexico trip, since I will be going as moderator. I usually eat lunch with the teachers and spend afternoons helping out around school. After school, I head over to East St. Louis to help the brothers at the Marianist Day Care. I love being there! I’m mainly with the kindergartners, putting together puzzles or playing blocks with them. Once I’m home, I usually take a rest or start dinner, if it’s my turn to cook, or look for an evening prayer."

What has been the hardest adjustment for you?
"Adjusting to a new roommate, although we have settled into a good routine, and moving. Although I have lived away from my family before, I’ve been very homesick, but I am getting over it and settling into the St. Louis area pretty well."

What has been your most rewarding experience so far?
"Seeing the students’ faces when they learn they’ve been picked to go to Mexico. You can see how happy and excited they are, and their parents are grateful as well. It has made me see that I am really doing something here. I also love helping out at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Bus on Sunday mornings."

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about volunteering?
"That I like working with little kids. I babysat as a teenager, but it was more of a chore than anything else. But I have such a good time, it’s probably the best part of my day (or maybe I just like puzzles!)."

What do you do in your free time?
"I’m a big reader, so I take full advantage of the library near school. I’ve done some sight-seeing, and I keep in touch with friends, family and other MVPers through the internet. My newest hobby is bread baking, now that I have the time and kitchen space to do it."

What has the community experience been like for you?
"We cook for each other, pray before and after meals and go to church together. It’s been great not having to do those things by myself!"