When junior Reece Helms came to The University of Alabama, she knew she wanted to make this campus feel like home. Originally from Georgia, Reece wanted to get involved on campus quickly. Just days after arriving on campus, she went through the sorority recruitment process and found a sisterhood that became a quick support system. However, it was her deeper involvement across campus that helped her find her place at the Capstone.
“I have found my friends that I enjoy being around. I have created spaces that I enjoy being in,” said Reece. “That has helped me a lot in functioning and being my own person.”
Reece, who is majoring in social work and minoring in theatre on the pre-law track, found her first collegiate leadership opportunities through the UA School of Social Work.
“Our school is small, but we have a lot of opportunities to get involved and to know each other,” she said. “Being able to plug into that was very beneficial. It has been such a fun experience getting to lead my peers in ways I would not be able to otherwise.”
Her heart for serving others led her to take on other positions across campus. Reece now serves on the Student Government Association (SGA) as the Deputy Director of Programming for Belonging and Wellness.
“That is something that is passion of mine, but it really just came down to, I wanted to play a part in making that difference,” she said.
The role has connected her to initiatives that support student well-being across campus, including the recent Capstone Wellness Expo, where she served as emcee.
“SGA has brought me a lot of different opportunities that I would not get otherwise because it is such a large vessel of students,” she said.
One of those opportunities includes a partnership with the Camellia Center, a resource on campus that offers advocacy, counseling and support for those impacted by interpersonal violence (sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, etc.). Reece has been helping develop a bystander intervention training designed to help students better understand the center’s mission and the resources it provides.
“Being able to use SGA’s reach to show students what kind of services they offer, what they can do for you, who they can point you to, is very important to me.”
Reece hopes that increased awareness leads to more students understanding how to intervene in difficult situations and how to guide their peers toward available support.
“I just wanted to be able to use that impact to better our community. If we can have people that know how to intervene in situations, then let’s do it,” she said. “That can lead to more people volunteering with the Camellia Center or helping other students get connected to what they need.”
Her campus involvement aligns closely with her long-term goals. Reece plans to attend law school and hopes to work in family law, particularly in cases connected to domestic violence. Her work with the Camellia Center has strengthened her interest in the field and helped her gain valuable insight.
“It has strengthened that I want to do what I am doing,” she said. “I know it is a tough field but gathering resources and trainings to be able to do it is helpful.”
As she reflects on her time at UA so far, Reece says she is grateful for the growth she has experienced and the opportunities she has earned.
“I truly cannot see myself anywhere else,” she said. “I do not believe I would have grown and progressed the way I have if I had been in a smaller environment or in an environment where everyone thinks or is the exact same as me.”
She shared that being surrounded by students with different ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives has helped her develop empathy, patience, and a stronger sense of who she is.
“I know that I would not have grown and had the opportunities that I have had anywhere else,” she said.