Interview with Jason Stewart: Volunteer of our Generation

Jason Stewart is a college senior and current president of Circle K International (CKI). It is the world’s largest collegiate service organization with more than 12,000 members in 17 nations. Each year Circle K members perform more than 1 million hours of service on their campuses and in their communities every year.

As the international president Jason chairs the executive committee of CKI helping make decisions that will affect all members. He visits various districts around the country to deliver motivational speeches, facilitate leadership development workshops, and educate members on different service initiatives. Jason estimates he gives between 200-400 hours of community service on an annual basis, but he is witness to many more hours beyond that. I wanted to find out how he views our generation as volunteers.

Q: How long have you been volunteering?

I got my start in community service my freshman year of high school when I was asked to join Key Club International which is the high school version of CKI.  I have been doing community service for eight years now and have loved every minute of it.

Q: Is there a particular cause or project that is especially important to you?

One of CKI’s service partners is the March of Dimes.  This organization is very important to me because it works to develop solutions to premature birth.  I was born nearly a month and a half premature and spent two months in the hospital fighting for my life.  I really value that work that the March of Dimes does.

Q: Do you see certain projects or causes that overall tend to be more important to our generation?

I have noticed that our generation really likes to participate in projects that will have a global impact. Working with UNICEF and the CKI Six Cents Initiative is a great cause because it allows us to buy water re-hydration packets for just six cents.

Q: What message would you give to someone who argued that Millennials are lazy or uninterested in giving back? Have you faced this stereotype before?

I would say that you can’t judge all of us. There are tons of young people that are interested in community service and giving back.  The media might depict us in a bad light, but we want to do what is best and be helpful members of society.

Q: You have the chance to interact and meet college student volunteers on an almost daily basis. What characteristics do you notice about our generation as volunteers?

We are willing to do just about anything to help someone out.  I feel that I could have just about any service project put before me and I would be thrilled to give a helping hand. We are very compassionate and get very emotionally attached to our work.

Q: How can we encourage other college students and young people to get involved in service? How do you motivate your peers?

I think simply by just showing others how fun service can be. Also, by explaining that it is our duty to give back to a society and that we need to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  I think getting people together to do large projects really shows young people what a huge impact they can have.

Q: Do you think you have a future in helping others? Are you a volunteer for life?

Definitely, the Kiwanis family has changed my life and made me the strong-willed, caring, and motivated young man that I am today.  I have been touched my so many people in my life and can think of nothing more rewarding than doing service forever.  I hope to find a career working with young people in leadership development or possibly with a non-profit as a volunteer coordinator.