Improving Bonner

I am a first year bonner as well and I have seen some of the good things and some of the bad things that Bonner has. I love how welcoming everyone is and everybody really wants to get to know you if you are new. I love how Bonner helps us form relationships that are deeper than some of the other relationships outside of Bonner in the Stetson community. I do agree with Courtney that the CLA's need to be a bit more broad than what they are now. Thankfully my CLA allowes me to work with different sites. I only wish that other students that cannot get all of their hours in at one site can combine different sites if they are related in some way. One thing that I would love to see more of is more Bonner fun time. The Bonner community is not always close and I would love to get to know some people better and to just relax with a group I know will except me for who I am and will not judge me. One thing is for sure, the Bonner community anywhere needs to know that it is okay to make mistakes. Mistakes and failures are the best things for foundations. They help the foundation learn and grow from those mistakes and keep going. If something does not turn out right than you need to get up and brush the dirt up and try again or adjust to make it better.

Improving Bonner

As one of the Senior Interns for this year, I've noticed that a lot of the changes being made in Bonner take place at the administrative level. The only problem with this, however, is that real - and perhaps most importantly - sustainable change only occurs when the majority of a program becomes involved in the process. It's one thing for the Lead Team, Senior Interns, and Coordinator to specify and address certain issues, but I think it's necessary to take this system one step further and really engage all of Bonner in the decision making process. Unfortunately, there's one very problematic component of a "majority rules" and/or "all or nothing" philosophy: someone always feels left out, rejected, belittled, or discouraged when all is said and done. I know this outlook is perhaps a little too cynical, but sometimes that's the most efficient way to be realistic. However, if we are to better Stetson's program and continue moving it forward, the program itself (meaning those who compose it and run it) must be amenable to an intense amount of evaluation and critique. It's one thing for schools across the nation (or perhaps more appropriately, the NE)to say that Stetson's got it all figured out - it's another thing for us to live up to such a claim year after year. For example, we talk consistently about the importance of long-term, meaningful relationships with our community partners, but we tend to fall short when creating those relationships in our own program. How do we encourage such relationships without forcing friendships? How do we teach our Bonners about the importance of such communal relationships if they are not first taking place within our own Bonner family? Personally speaking, I don't know if these are "fixable" problems per se, but I do think they are problems deserving of the aforesaid (all encompassing) input from those who make Bonner the amazing program it is. Issues related to CLAs, relationships, cornerstone activities, and the like will not be resolved within the confines of a one hour meeting nor will they evaporate or disintegrate as a result of blissful ignorance and/or avoidance. Taking on the challenge of synthesizing everyone's view points is a taxing endeavor we must be willing to take on if our program is to maintain the enduring legacy of which I know it's capable.

Improving Bonner

Firstly, I want to say that what Zack posted is completely correct. If the Bonner Foundation plateaus with the school we currently incorporate then how are we expected to grow and become more affective? Secondly, I feel as though even though Bonner has joined the 21st century in a strong way with blogs, wikis, twitters, and a myriad of other technologies, the things that we really need have not been completely given to us. For example, if we had a mobile application in which we could log hours into BWBRS I am sure it would significantly increase the amount of hours logged, and the amount of hours that are accurately logged. I also feel as though there needs to be more communication between strong Bonner schools and fledgling Bonner schools. As the Bonner National Advisory Board has been implemented for some of this reason I feel like the only way for real growth is trial and error. Obviously a larger, stronger Bonner program like Stetson's has had it's fair share of trial and error and if we cannot pass this knowledge off to others then there is no reason for communication whatsoever. We need to be able to help our fellow Bonner schools.
Finally I think the Bonner Foundation needs to always have reachable. realistic goals. It is great to aim high, in fact it is what everyone should do, but aiming too high for some things can end up being simply deflating. We have been very good about our goals setting, but now that we are becoming a strong national movement we need to make sure to keep our heads on straight, as well as humble.
-Jack

Improving Bonner

First and foremost, the Bonner Program needs to come through on any outstanding commitments to endow Bonner schools that excel. It is necessary to make sure a solid foundation is laid with the current Bonner programs across the country. Once that is done, it is important to spread the Bonner name to other parts of the country. Bonner programs are clustered in the northeast and south along the AT. There are too few programs in the Midwest and even fewer across the West. The Bonner model is something that can be exported across the country. Teaching a life of service learning, community and civic engagment, and taking ownership of and pride in one's community is the best means by which community growth occurs.

Bonner Improvements

As a first-year Bonner student I don't know a lot of the inner-workings of Bonner yet. However, I have a good idea of the first impressions that Bonner puts out. I think that this is one of the most important issues for the Stetson Bonner program to overcome. There needs to be more uniformity between leaders in the program in the sense that everyone has the right idea if they were asked questions. Sometimes I'll get three different answers from different people regarding a question.

I think that Bonner is a very effective organization on campus; however, it would be more beneficial to get our name more integrated into the school. I would like to see every student at Stetson know about the Bonner program and the great work it does. Also, I would like every person in this community to know about the Bonner program; and not just the community partners. If our organization is more known in the community then it is better for us to get support and to learn about new opportunities.

Finally, I think that Bonner needs to expand CLAs to more than just one location. For instance, while I work with the Coalition to End Homelessness there is often times not enough need for a student to get 8 hours of service there a week. In this case, we need to expand CLAs to incorporate more areas that may also help the same initiative. I understand that the goal is to build a relationship between the student and the community and ultimately the school and the community partner but it is hard to get so many hours for a CLA when the organizations already have outside volunteers or limited availability.

Ultimately, Bonner is a pretty smooth running organization and I love it. However, there are things that can be improved. :)

On The Topic of Race

Ya know it is a funny thing. I've never dealt with a ton of discrimination either against me or against people of race that I know. I guess I've been brought up in a pretty accepting personal culture. At least that's how I remember it. Maybe I'm just good at blocking out atrocities or something...possible but not plausible. We live in a pretty accepting culture now on the whole though there are still imbeciles who decide that racism and bigotry are their weapons of choice. Anyway, to hop down of that soapbox, I have had one experience with..color selection? I don't really know how to put it. While applying to colleges I was accepted to one and I told a friend who wanted to go where I was and he applied. This friend is of Indian decent and was immediately accepted on what he called the "brown" scholarship. It didn't really miff me that he got accepted so quickly, it's actually a great thing, but it was a little weird that I had based my entire high school career of potential college acceptance (not that he hadn't) and he was easily accepted. I do think this is a good thing though. I feel as though even if colleges are more accepting just for number reasons it still gives people a chance at college. Anyway. Before I get off here I wanted to post the poster for the Haiti relief show on Saturday. Try and come out! It will be great! (click to enlarge it)

Reflections on the Life of a Senior

As the end of the semester and yes, my undergraduate experience, come to an end, I would like to use the Bonner Blog as a way of sharing some of my thoughts and wisdom (yes, you gain a little wisdom after four years!) with you.

I am looking forward to heading back to Iowa over spring break. It will be nice to get out of this horrible Florida weather and get back to real cold and snow. And it will be nice to formally hit the campaign trail. I plan on meeting with many individuals and groups and spending a day in Des Moines to file my paperwork and meeting with party and legislative leaders.

I am happy and pleased with my Stetson experience. It has afforded me so many wonderful opportunities. But I am not and will not be sad when I walk across the stage, receive my diploma, pack up the car, and head home. And I would encourage each of you to do the same. Don't be sad. There is no reason to be sad. Don't be sad if you're graduating and moving on to the next stage in life. And don't be sad if you're an underclassman who feels like you're losing 'all of your friends.' Use this as an opportunity to reflect: look back at the ups and downs, the good times and the bad, the triumphs and failures. Don't be an idiot. Don't get caught in bad habits. In the words of the great philosophers in Wedding Crashers; "No excuses; play like a champ." Take lessons from these experiences and use them to be a better person.