The most rewarding thing about my year of service is seeing my students improve academically and socially every single day.
Why did you feel it was important to commit to a year of service?
I believe that it is important to commit a year of service because it is important to invest in communities that are in need of assistance, especially when it comes to education. Committing to the communities and the students was important coming into the experience. The most rewarding thing about my year of service is seeing my students improve academically and socially every single day.
Who is a memorable mentor in your life, and what would you say to them today about the impact they had on you?
A memorable mentor in my life was a woman from Ursinus College who always told me that sometimes rivers have pebbles and road blocks but that current must keep flowing. It helped me to realize that things always have to move forward no matter what, and I take that lesson into the mentoring I do with my students. Her impact on me made me love education even more and realize that I had the power to uplift someone.
Give a specific example of progress you have seen in your students.
One of my students was having a hard time interacting with others and controlling his emotions, so I helped him create a list of steps that help him calm down when he gets angry. The steps are designed to help him think through his choices, and his behavior has improved tremendously since then.
