by Martha I. Fernandez
Features Editor
Volunteer work and helping others are activities that many hold in high regard but never accomplish. Jesus Luna decided not to be one of those people.
For many, life after La Verne consists of going out into the “real world,” finding a job, and settling down. Luna hopes to take this route and continue to serve others.
Helping others has always played an integral part of Luna’s life. He has worked on programs to feed AIDS patients, teach the blind and in the future hopes to house the homeless.
“I love helping the needy more than anything,” said Luna.
Luna is a resident of Bloomington, Calif., and transferred to ULV from Citrus College during fall 1993 as a math major. However, continuous interaction with children led him to change his major to diversified education. Due to this alteration in his education, Luna will be at La Verne two extra years to complete his degree and credential programs.
“I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, so I just went ahead and transferred over to diversified,” said Luna.
After working for two years in Azusa Unified School District’s special education program at Valleydale school, Luna transferred into the visually impaired department. Azusa is the central institution for the visually impaired and receives children from neighboring communities.
His current duties include teaching children from pre-school to fifth grade. The main objectives are to make their fingers sensitive to braille and touch—to help them see through touch and to learn to read braille. Luna learned braille when he applied to the program.
“You have to have a lot of patience, especially with the blind. It’s harder to work with the blind because most special education students can at least comprehend what you are trying to get across,” he said. “But when you teach the blind, and they can’t see, it is very hard. You have to try to provide visuals for them.
“If you want to talk to a kindergartner about a truck, we need to get a small toy truck, let them feel it and tell them the proportions. Blind people see when they touch. We have to provide things so they can get an idea about how it looks,” said Luna.
The school does not limit activities for the children due to their disability. Field trips include whale watching, trips to a laserarium and the beach.
“People tend to laugh, but we go to give them the experience of being on a boat and so they can feel the breeze,” said Luna.
Not all the children in the program are blind. Some have a fraction of eyesight suitable to help them get the effect of going on trips. This was especially true of the laserarium.
“They have some eyesight and since it is so dark (at the laserarium) that when the lights turn off and on, they can see that. They really like that,” he said.
Luna confesses that working with the visually impaired has given him a new view on life.
“It’s opened my eyes because in a way, it’s like we are blind. It has just made me realize and appreciate life a lot. There are so many things that we take for granted and so having eyesight is essential. We can drive; we can do a lot of things that blind people will never be able to do,” said Luna.
His experiences working at the school has reaffirmed his vocation to be a teacher.
“I love my job. I look forward to it everyday because working with kindergartners and kids who are just so innocent, and just helping them is something I get a lot of satisfaction from,” said Luna.
Prior to working with the blind and visually impaired, he volunteered for three years with Project Angel Food. The program was to cook and deliver food for AIDS patients in Los Angeles.
“Gathering with the people who cook the food, you meet so many different people. You meet people who are homeless, pretty much, and they still have a big heart. They rather help other people. Some people who can’t get a job and instead of just sitting around, they rather volunteer.
“Working with the AIDS patients made me realize that there is a life to live and there is a lot to give. It has made me see there is something out here called life and we should enjoy it,” he said.
At ULV, Luna has taken other leadership roles. He is the resident assistant for C-top in the Oaks. He applied for the position after being at ULV for one year.
“The thing I like the most is when they open up to you and you become a counselor,” said Luna.
It is not difficult to distinguish Luna’s floor from any other. He has put every resident’s name in braille outside each room. Luna has even hosted a braille workshop.
He also participated in last year’s Summer Service program. He was sent to Tonasket, Wash., which is the furthest place north any volunteer was sent. Due to his location, Luna, was able to occasionally cross the border into Canada. He worked with the church, the elderly and youth group.
“Summer Service is basically going to a totally different place, not knowing anybody, and just saying here I am, how can you use me,” said Luna.
Luna, however, is not only involved in helping those in need. Currently, he is the editor for La Verne’s Spanish literary magazine, La Vernacula.
“I’m very proud of the magazine,” said Luna.
He also is active with the Catholic Campus Community and was one of the people sent to an ecumenical conference in St. Louis, Mo. Luna is also a member of the Latino Student Forum.
In his two years at ULV, he has run cross country, but had to leave the sport due to health problems.
“Being a distance runner gives me time to think a lot about my life. It’s quality time. It relaxes me,” said Luna.
In his future, Luna sees teaching for a year or two and then engaging into, what he says, will be the biggest challenge in his life—Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit international organization that builds homes for the homeless and poverty-stricken. He plans to make a three-year commitment to building homes in Ecuador.
“It will probably be the biggest experience in my life,” he said.
Martha I. Fernandez
