Greetings, BraveNation!
My name is Aspen An
dersson, and I am a senior majoring in Political Science with a Pre-law concentration and double minoring in Spanish and English. In addition to serving as the 2023-2024 Student Government Association (SGA) President, I am honored to work as a Service-Learning Intern at the Office for Community and Civic Engagement (CCE). In this role, I work closely with the fabulous Evan Long and the brilliant Dr. Scott Hicks to help the faculty in our service-learning fellowship connect with community partners in need and develop meaningful service-learning projects for their courses.
This semester marks my exciting return to CCE. Although I worked as a Service-Learning Intern throughout my junior year, I stepped back in the fall of my senior year to focus on my role as SGA President. However, leaving CCE left a large hole in my heart, and I did not hesitate to say yes when Evan invited me back for the spring semester! Returning to CCE is synonymous to attending that big family reunion with all your favorite cousins (except it's all love and no drama haha!). CCE is a place where all people are welcomed, loved, and respected.
CCE embodies the very traditions and values of UNCP that we all love and cherish: service and community. Everyone has a place here, and we all work to support each other in our various roles to make the community and our campus better for everyone (now and in the future!). My involvement in CCE, SGA, and other jobs/leadership roles on campus has played a huge part in helping me find my belonging and community on campus. However, with that being said, my best piece of advice to students who are getting involved is this: It is okay - and sometimes necessary - to say no! You are here to get an education, and while joining clubs and finding jobs can help you boost your resume and gain some professional skills, your education comes first!
Remember, take care of your physical and mental wellbeing, and don't stretch yourself too thin! It's better to do 1-2 things well than to try to do 10+ things and struggle to give them the effort they require. Keep up the good work and know that we would love to have you join the CCE family!
Go Braves!
Aspen Andersson
