Arianna Ruvalcaba  |  Contributing Writer

A sea of students in brightly colored shirts waited in their seats for the arrival of the speaker. The almost palpable energy bounced off the walls along with the chit chat spoken in English and Chinese. As the speaker stepped onto the stage, the crowd straightened up in their chairs and clapped until the presenter began his address with a question that silenced the crowd: “What is integrity?”

After the lecture, the crowd broke up into designated groups to contemplate this question. The groups participated in thought-provoking discussions and team-building exercises. And so the rest of the week went.

This summer, I worked on a program team at a camp in China that taught college-age students about servant leadership through a series of lectures and group activities, like scavenger hunts and trust exercises. Through this experience, I was finally able to understand what it is like to be part of a nonprofit organization that promotes positive change.

Coming together to create a unified community is the purpose of many such groups, whether it performs on a global scale or within a city’s limits. According to a report by the Center for Civil Society Studies at John Hopkins University, nonprofit workers represented 10.1 percent of America’s total private employment as of 2010, making them the third largest workforce of all U.S. industries.

“Working for a nonprofit has given me a broader perspective on different cultures and how to adapt, relate and work together with people in my everyday life or internationally,” said Nancy Delgadillo, an active participant and leader of mission trips around the world.

Delgadillo recalled one particular moment of insight while working on an outreach project.

“In Mexico, we were building a house for a family in need, and out of nowhere it started to rain really hard,” she said. “All of us were covered in mud. At the end of the week, we finished the house, and I would say getting muddy and wet all week long was worth it when I got to see the joy on the families’ faces as they stepped into their new home.”

The personal growth many people experience usually seems to be realized in hindsight, after a mission trip or other nonprofit project has been completed.

“I have always wanted to do nonprofit work and I love traveling [to] places,” said junior accounting major Catherine Adams, who taught English for a month in South Korea this summer. “I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to go to another country and to be able to help others with the gifts I’ve been given.”

Whatever the project or mission, it is apparent working for an organization focusing on helping others can reap a number of benefits.

“It’s actually a lot more fulfilling and rewarding,” Adams said. “I have a job at the Den right now, and it’s really fun, but at the end of the day, it’s just a job. Maybe I do put my heart into making a pizza, but it’s not the same as going and teaching students in Korea and giving a piece of my heart to all the kids. It’s much more meaningful.”

Door of Hope is a nonprofit organization that is stationed a bit closer to home. This group is located in the Greater Los Angeles area and aims to rebuild the lives of homeless families by providing the tools needed to obtain employment, reach financial stability and find permanent housing.

“We believe in equipping homeless families to rebuild their lives, the emphasis being on the family unit,” said Jasmin Navar, the interim coordinator of volunteers and interns for the organization. “Volunteers will work with children that are beaming with joy and energy, regardless of what they have endured at such a young age, which leaves a lasting impression on anyone that comes into Door of Hope.”

By working with the homeless, Navar has been positively impacted and now advocates for nonprofit work.

“It will make you so unbelievably grateful for what you have and push you to want to help others in any way possible,” Navar said.