A message to all: ‘Keep an open mind’

By: Lauren Gager, Staff Writer

There are many students at Bloomsburg University who go above and beyond outside of the classroom. Heather Mines is one of them. She has been tremendously involved on campus throughout her time here. She is an ASL interpreting major and a criminal justice minor. Mines started getting involved soon after her arrival at the university by working with the Living Learning Communities (LLC) as a mentee from 2008-2009, became an Orientation Workshop Leader (OWL) and joined Theta Tau Omega. By 2010, Mines had become a mentor for the civic engagement for LLC, joined the executive board for OWLs, as well as held the position of treasurer in the interpreting Club. From there, she only became more involved in activities and positions like president of the Interpreting Club, public relations and recording secretary for Theta Tau Omega, a program assistant, super mentor for civic engagement and head of mentor council for the Living and Learning Communities, and she has played a major role in Relay for Life. 

     

With all of this commitment to different organizations on campus, a lot of responsibility follows.  Mines says that the LLC takes up a lot of her time but she chooses to put more into her work, than is actually required. She works with all of the LLCs on campus and tries to enhance them to make them more exciting. “Lots of change is going on and I have been there to help and see it all happen,” Mines says. The Interpreting Club is also a big time consumer for Mines. She has been planning the Bloomsburg University Interpreting Club Biennial Conference, which is open to everyone, BU student and nonstudents. The event happens every two years, so it takes a lot of time and planning. She also dedicates a lot of her free time to Theta Tau Omega with social activities, executive board meetings, community service, and on-campus events. 

     

Among her busy schedule, she has learned to find some balance and relief. She says that her planner is her life line and time management is crucial. Among all of her responsibilities, Mines needs to find time, not only for school work, but also for herself. “Sometimes a balance is hard to come by but I make it work because I enjoy doing it and I can’t imagine having all of my activities in my life. I hope I have given back to them and continue to give back to them what they have provided me,” she says.

     

The benefits outweigh the stress. Due to her involvement on campus, Mines has had the opportunity to attend special events on campus, travel across the state to represent clubs, gained experience in so many different areas in campus life and network with countless people. She feels that she has grown and benefitted a lot from her involvement and she feels like she continues to grow. Heather says that the benefits she has experienced will keep benefitting her for the rest of her life, whether it is her personal life or in the work force. 

     

Mines thinks that getting involved in general is important. She feels that students who are not involved do not get the full experience or benefit as much as much as students who are involved. She points out that the university offers a lot of opportunities but not everyone takes advantage of that. “Join clubs that are relevant to your major because you can have fun and improve your résumé,” she says, “go to the Student Activities Fair, the Student Service Center, look at flyers, there are so many ways to get involved.” Her advice to younger students is to always keep an open mind.