Passion for Service and the Environment - Participant Story Langavi Makaringe traveled from South Africa to study at the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) thinking she was going to learn about American culture, go to college, receive a certificate, and then leave.  Before the program she thought all that mattered was obtaining a certificate or some credential she could hold in her hand.  Today she advises other students to re-examine the purpose of education, saying “Remember that a certificate is a piece of paper, but what you do with it will make all the difference.”  

Langavi majors in Industrial Engineering at (NVCC) and during the course of her studies found a way to combine her passions for the environment into her academic program through coursework, volunteer work, and internships. 

“I have done more in these eight months than I have in my entire life,” says Langavi.  “I completed over 100 hours of community service and made many friends.  I learned to balance two internships and regular classes.  I also served as a Youth Advisory Board Member with Volunteer Fairfax, one of the best volunteering agencies in my area, to plan Global Youth Service Day events for April 2012.” 

Langavi has also attended several conferences including the Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Amnesty International’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference.

Volunteering with environmental organizations in Virginia, she monitored water quality in local streams, planted trees, and participated in environmental stewardship and conservation projects.  Langavi’s environmental science courses and volunteer work have supplied her with first-hand knowledge used to excel in internships with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and Anacostia Watershed Society.

Her view of what is valuable has changed from a tangible certificate to the intangible knowledge gained through rigorous academic coursework and practical application outside the classroom.  She now believes that education is not just about learning, but also about how you use the information and knowledge to build a better world.

“Being realistic does not mean being pessimistic,” says Langavi. “Beliefs shouldn’t make us judgmental.  Freedom is not free but once obtained it must be used wisely.  We might have barriers that hinder us from doing everything we want, but that should not stop us from dreaming beyond the oceans.”