In the following interview, Carly talks about what motivates her volunteerism, and how she connected to existing networks in the Duke community to act on her interest in human rights.
LTMD: What was your first step toward your current level of involvement?
Carly: My parents gave me my sense of responsibility towards others, inspiring in me not only a sense of fairness, but a need for action in defense of one’s beliefs, and most of all, the obligation to care about the world: for my parents apathy was unacceptable.
When I was seven, my mother took me to visit our distant relatives, who live in the Venezuelan rainforest. Although the village was extremely poor and our truck was filled with gifts for them, the second they saw me, they did everything to pamper me. I was family and a visitor, and given more food than a child my age could possibly eat, just out of generosity. The whole incident gave me a sense of my privilege, of how closely I was tied to a world that was so different, and of the power of giving.
LTMD: At Duke, how have you found mentors to help you pursue your interests in social action?
Carly: At Duke, it has been surprisingly easy to find mentors. I didn’t even have to search for them. I’ve met, just through working in my organizations, so many professors who are so active inside and outside of academia and many of whom have been exceedingly generous in their time and advice to me. Many times I would just email a professor a question regarding something I was interested in, and they would ask that I’d come to their office, we’d start talking, and a mentor relationship would develop. And there are many people whose job it is to help. Robin Kirk, with the Human Rights Initiative, Tony Brown with the Hart Leadership Program, and Cloe Liparini with the International House, have been exceptionally helpful in advising and guiding students in acting on their passions.
LTMD: What tips do you have for other students for getting support for a civic engagement project?
Carly: Talk to as many people as possible. Everyone I have ever approached with a project idea has either helped me or directed me to other people who could. Make sure you contact the Community Service Center, the Human Rights Initiative, the Multicultural Center, etc. Those institutions have amazing resources and can direct you to other students you may not know who are interested in the same thing. And of course, talk to your classmates: you’ll inevitably find a group who want to help you on it.
LTMD: Where do you go from here in pursuing your interests?
Carly:In the long term, I want to work for the United Nations in human rights and development. I am considering law school and studying international/comparative law. I am still debating exactly how, but I want to find a way to learn skills and obtain tools that would make me useful in defending human rights and working on development
LTMD: What do you wish someone had told you about getting involved at Duke?
Carly:I wish I had realized earlier how much support there was out there. Reach out, don’t force yourself to reinvent the wheel. There are a huge number of students and resources, and you owe it to your projects and to yourself to utilize them all.