My Decision to Enroll in a Service-Learning Section of Connections and Decisions

Last summer, before I began my first year at Northeastern, I received an email from my Explore Program advisor. The email was about my Connections and Decisions class, asking whether or not I would like to enroll in a service-learning section. In high school I had been very involved in service programs and organizations, and I knew I wanted to continue to this involvement at Northeastern. Although I essentially had no idea what a service-learning class actually entailed, I decided to go ahead and do it. I knew I enjoyed both service and learning so how could I go wrong?

For my service I was assigned to work with one Goodwill’s Youth Services Programs. My job was to tutor and build relationships with high school students from Boston who came from low-income families. I met with a group of five or six students every Thursday and helped them with homework and college essays and applications. Many of the students came from struggling households, so I would also talk to them and listen when they needed someone. I worked with two women from Goodwill, who guided me and helped the students open up to me. None of the students were ever forced to attend the program; they all came because they wanted to be there, making the job much more rewarding and enjoyable.

During my service, I also had the opportunity to talk to the people who ran Goodwill’s youth programs about their careers and career paths. I learned that many of these people had had all kinds of different jobs, and had majors that weren’t always closely associated with their careers. Advisors will often tell you that your major doesn’t define your career, but I never really believed it until I actually met people who this applied to.

Aside from the actual service, taking a service-learning class also allowed me to meet people like myself- people who felt a strong call to help their new community. Everyone in my class cared about making a difference at Northeastern and in the surrounding Boston community, making it easier for the class to talk and bond as a whole. Based on my experience, I would recommend taking a service-learning class to anyone who has an interest in getting to know the various neighborhoods and people around Northeastern and who wish to explore different types of careers through service.