Sessions with Sydney is a weekly column by features editor Sydney Ray. For more installments of Sydney’s ideas, opinions and ramblings, check out the opinions page, and check back every Friday for a new issue.

Last year over spring break, I spent the week serving a young girl with Down Syndrome and her family in Wonder Valley at a Joni and Friends camp.

Joni and Friends is an organization that hosts events, including the Wonder Valley camp, for families with disabled children. The purpose is to give the families respite from their struggles with disabilities. As volunteers, we baby-sat the kids so parents were able to enjoy some relaxation.

My camper, Megan, and I made crafts, jumped on a trampoline, attended Bible classes and rode in canoes. In addition to having a lot of fun with my camper, I also learned a lot about myself and about people with disabilities.

I was blessed by Megan and her family because I was taught about compassion and how to appropriately act around people with all kinds of disabilities. I also learned that I am capable of helping people and that it can be enjoyable ? not just an act of self-sacrifice.

However, due to financial struggles, I decided to stay home and work at Togo’s & Baskin Robbins this year. I have been working at my job for nearly two years.

Over the break, I made lots of sandwiches and scooped a ton of ice cream. Although I did make money over break, my experiences were neither maturing nor exciting.

Only working over break felt wasteful, if relaxing. Much of my time was squandered away sleeping.

I did enjoy a nice Easter Sunday with my family, which included attending a church service and having dinner at my uncle’s house, but it just did not compare to the unique adventures of last year.

There is nothing wrong with taking a little time for relaxation purposes. But when it came at the price of not volunteering, the trade-off was not worthwhile.

When there is a large amount of time on my hands, I am disposed to be unproductive. Over spring break, it seemed l had so much time, but I fell short of my goal because of procrastination.

I now kick myself for making the decision to not attend Joni and Friends camp over the vacation. I would have helped others as well as myself by having a productive effect on the world.

This is why I look forward to summer vacation. I made a personal resolution to volunteer and work over the three months that will stretch before me. I have learned that double duty is possible: I can serve others, while still making the money I need to survive.

For more information, read the April 27, 2009 article Disability camp blesses volunteer.