by Wes Wegner

The Memorial Union has provided me with an outlet of both stress and tension, but, more importantly, has linked me into a chain of friends that are shaping my existence.  The people I have come in contact with over these past two years have been supportive and excited in all my endeavors.  This has been extremely important to me, because college has made me realize how much I, emotionally, rely on my family.  The Memorial Union has fit perfectly into this gap, and has filled my need for a tightly knit family.  If anything, I am debt to this community for my social and academic success.

The Craft Center, in particular, has also allowed me to grow and mature as a person.  The skills and talents that I have learned are helping mold me into the person I have always wanted to be.  More than anything, the experiences I have are strengthening my acceptance and ability to interact with people from all different sides of the social spectrum.  I have always considered myself a rather conservative individual, so I have not pushed myself to understand or get involved with other people’s walks of life.  I truly feel that this change in my social skills will be something that I cherish and use for the rest of my life.

The spirit of the Memorial Union has changed me in other ways as well.  I never had the greatest drive to volunteer in my community, but I quickly learned of the great impact it can have.  In light of this discovery, I have been volunteering in a variety of places around our community.  I have found that helping people without selfish intent is truly something remarkable.  The emotional change that it produces has altered my perception on many things.  It has most definitely convinced me that I was not put in this position solely for employment; I was also placed here to enrich the lives of everyone around me.

On the outside of the social and emotional changes that the Memorial Union has offered me, it has also provided me with a status that I truly enjoy.  I have acquired the responsibility of completely overseeing the use of the wood shop.  This has enhanced many of the underdeveloped skills that I have always had.  It has pushed me to realize that sometimes, for the better of the situation, everyone can not be pleased and that responsibility is essential in everyone’s life.  Rejecting the requests of peers has long been a situation that I have not enjoyed.  Through the Experiences I have had, however, has shown me that sometimes it is necessary.

Overall, I believe that the experiences that the Memorial Union has offered me have changed me in a variety of ways, and have helped me to become the person that I have always envisioned myself.