Story #25: Katherine Schwarzenegger
This week, we are sharing the story of Katherine Schwarzenegger (‘12) who participated in numerous JEP assignments during her undergraduate years at USC. In our interview with her, she shares insights about how her family’s history with service has sparked her passion for this work at a young age, how she was impacted by the many different service activities she has participated in since, and why she thinks that JEP assignments should be mandatory for every student at USC. Please read more below:
Rising: Good morning Katherine, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us – I know how busy your schedule is. Only through wonderful alumni and friends like you are we able to continue to do what we do. With that being said, I’d love to jump right in: As we have already learned about you from the Dornsife News article that was written about your involvement years back, your family’s history is steeped in public service – How did this guide your experience with JEP?
Schwarzenegger: Community service and just giving back has always been a huge part of my life. Ever since I was born it’s always been something that we’ve done together as a family. Service has been ingrained in me since the beginning of my life. I believe we’re here to make a difference and we’re here to give back to the community, and when I say we, I mean everybody. No act is too big or too small and you’re never too young or too old to make a difference. That was always the way that I grew up and the philosophy that my grandma instilled in us all of us in our family. When I came to USC, I knew that I wanted to become an active part of the greater community around USC’s campus and, consequently, get involved in giving back to that community. So when I heard about JEP through one of my classes during freshman year, and learned that I could volunteer with children, and I was sold. I had already done a lot of volunteering with kids through Headstart when I was growing up and with my dad’s program called After School Allstars, so I had already been familiar with those opportunities and was excited to continue to contribute in a similar way at USC while at the same time getting to know the community around me, which was really important to me.
Rising: I love that you took such an active approach! I believe you participated in JEP a few different times – was there anything that you remember specifically that stood out to you?
Schwarzenegger: Overall, I just found it to be really exciting and really rewarding. I remember going to this one school and working with a second or third grade student who needed some help with reading. We worked together by reading lots of books and working on homework assignments together, and he was able to improve over our time together. All of the students I got to work with were amazing. I appreciated just being there for them not just as a tutor helping them with their school work but also as a person who can offer encouragement, hear them out, understand their struggles with class subjects, and just support them on a personal level. I learned a lot from them that way as well. I think it’s beneficial for everyone involved and something that I always encourage people to do when they join USC. Whether they want to be part of the after school programs or help kids in different subjects, or tutor – whatever it is, it will be meaningful to you and the people you work with.
Rising: That’s great to hear that you encourage new students to get involved as well! Following up on what you just said about this mutually beneficial aspect of service – looking back at your participation from the perspective of everything that has happened since – what impact did your participation in JEP have on you?
Schwarzenegger: It totally goes back to how I was raised, I think! I was raised with the understanding that you can always make a difference in the world, whether that’s in your own backyard or on a larger scale – it matters. Your work matters, your actions matter – and that can be really empowering. I’ve been involved in so many different things – since I was born basically – whether that was the Special Olympics, Best Buddies, working with homeless shelters, or animal-focused organizations, all of these experiences have had an impact on me and on the people I worked with. It’s important to stress that giving back to your community is not something that’s reserved for a certain group of people, but it’s something anyone can do. I think especially since my grandmother’s and parent’s work in this area was on such a large scale it was important to let us know as children that we don’t have to wait until we can do something of similar magnitude to get involved but that we can start right where we are. I also tried to instill this in the children I worked with and the ones I am raising now – you don’t have to wait until you’re 18 to be empathetic and compassionate, or to make a difference. You can help out at church, you can help out by playing with other kids who might have fewer friends, you can help out by just being kind to the people you encounter. Because at the end of the day, it will help others but it will also help you see that you and your actions matter, so it’s a win-win all around. I used to volunteer at a retirement home where some residents would help other residents with some of their chores and one of them told me it made her feel good to be able to make an impact on the people around her. So you’re never too young but you are also never too old. I actually think that it should be mandatory in school to participate in something that benefits your community because I don’t think enough people understand how much joy it might bring them to experience that. Especially in today’s world, which can be such a challenging place – where people struggle financially, physically, emotionally or in other ways, just being kind and doing what you can will go such a long way. Whether that’s just treating people with more compassion and empathy or if that is volunteering at an after school program or picking up trash on the beach or in your neighborhood, or fostering an animal – no matter what you do, it can make a difference. You can make a difference and make this world a little better. And if children learn this early on, for example through mandatory school programming, it will help all of us, because the children are our future.
Rising: That is so true! Well, those were really all of my questions – is there anything else that you would like to share about your work with JEP or your passion for this work in general?
Schwarzenegger: I am grateful to be included in JEP’s 50th anniversary celebration, even so many years later. I really found my experience with JEP to be super impactful for me as a person who was able to learn more about the community. I also am happy that I am able to spread awareness about JEP and encourage others to get involved with it when they come to USC because it’s so invaluable. I know that at least during my time in college, USC could really feel like a little bubble sometimes and JEP helps you break out of that and see that you can engage with the community around you. There is never a shortage of a need to be helpful and be of service to children, and you can do so much to get involved in that area with JEP. I just found that to be incredibly rewarding. At USC there’s so many people who come from all walks of life and it would be awesome for all students to see that there’s so much more than just the campus. There’s such a great community just blocks away that is willing to welcome and work with all students to benefit a greater mission .
Rising: That’s such a great note to end this interview on – who knows, maybe one day we can make that happen! Thank you so much once again for your time, your passion for JEP and for everything you shared with us. I think you brought up so many important points that we all can take away, like the sentiment of working together to benefit everyone involved, that’s something that really matters to JEP, as well. So, in that regard, thank you!