Have you ever seen a preschooler's face when they have finally complete that puzzle they've been working on for a week? Have you ever helped a first-generation college student choose their classes for their freshman year? Have you ever gotten to be that person that helped someone through a difficult time in any way?

These are all moments that I have had the opportunity of experiencing through the Bonner Leader Program at Lynchburg College. I would feel a little selfish if I did not all of those great experiences with everyone and tell them why they should also be apart of this life-changing organization. So here are the top 10 reasons why Bonner is so great.

1. Fun!

Of course that has to be the number-one reason! We have so much fun together playing wacky games and just joking around with each other constantly!

2. Family

Ohana means family -- nobody gets left behind or forgotten! We build strong relationships with each other. Every Tuesday night it feels like good old family dinner and hanging out with the family!

3. You get to know the Lynchburg Community!

You are spending four years here, so it is pretty cool that you get to get off campus and immerse yourself in the community that you call home for your college years!

4. You get to meet important people from that community!

Last year, we got to meet the mayor of Lynchburg. I think that is all I need to say.

5. Learning experiences

Through you work with Bonner in the community and on campus, you get to learn a lot about a lot of different things like social justice issues. You also get to learn a lot about yourself, especially your passions.

6. Work experience

Bonner is a job, so you are working one-on-one with community partners just like it is your actual job. You can put it on your resume, and you get to develop lots of skills that will help you in many different job fields!

7. Awesome trips

We take orientation and pilgrimage trips where you get to see places you have never seen before or places you have been a million times, but you get to see them in a totally new light! We get to serve those communities and learn about the similarities and differences between them and us.

8. Nationwide community

Bonner is not just a Lynchburg College program; there are programs like ours all over the country, and no matter what, you are a part of something much much bigger than just our little crew.

9. Friends

The people you meet in Bonner are like no other. They are people you know you have got for life. I am a pretty big fan of them, and I know that they will always be there even long after I am gone.

10. World perspective

One of the coolest things is that we try to look at the world in a whole new way. We want to see how the world is now and what we can do to change it for generations to come. I know that there are so many worldwide issues that I would not know a thing about if it was not for Bonner!

So thank you, Bonner, for giving me all of this and many more moments and experiences to come. Hopefully, some of you out there will read this and maybe go out of your comfort zone and change the world, one step at a time ... with Bonner.