Wyatt Retzlaff

I volunteered with Independent Works, an organization that holds events for adults with intellectual disabilities. As a volunteer I assisted with setting up food and drinks for the participants, welcoming them in, and spending time engaging with them. Throughout the event, I encouraged participants to socialize with others and join in on games and activities. One of the biggest things I learned from this experience was how rewarding this experience is for everyone, not just the participants. I was able to see how something as simple as engaging and encouraging someone was able to make a positive impact in the day. This showed me how important these events are for providing fun opportunities and a sense of community for these people that can be overlooked in today's society.
This event also opened my eyes to the importance of supporting and assiting nonprofit organizations as they are so impactful in many people's lives. As I begin my professional career, I want to ensure that I maintain a well-rounded lifestyle. I do not want to be someone who is swamped with work, rather someone who gives back to the community, and positively impacts the lives of those around me. I plan on doing more events like this in my time here at UNCW and hope that will lead into a continuation as I enter the professional world.

Robert Ferber  2 weeks ago Wyatt joined in, teaching a pool game to other players. I hope he comes back again.