Student Resources
Reflections on Service-Learning  

Through Calvin, I have done a variety of service-learning. I have
gotten to do three years of helping in schools, Streetfest and Special Olympics, but my favorite activities have been with Horizons (Beets-Veenstra's community partnership). The community that has developed amongst the participants has done nothing less than teach me more about who God is and how he wants us to love one another. How awesome it has been to be a part of a group that provides an opportunity for people (disabilities included) to have fellowship!

-Jennifer Ray, '07

Noah

 I did ABSL (academically-based service-learning) for Spanish as a freshman and have chaperoned Special Olympics every year. I've participated in residence hall partnerships and lots of other service-learning activities. 

These activities taught me about the societal structures that affect our world and how unjust many of those systems have become. Interacting with incredible people in the community inspired my career and vocational goals. I want to be involved in educational reform and see more under-represented students achieve.

-Noah Kruis '04
Through class I have tutored at Park School and served at Adams Park Apartments and Domestic Assault Response Team. Outside of class, I have worked at Mel Trotter Ministries, Family Hope and Special Olympics.

Service-Learning is a very reciprocal relationship. At every agency I've learned so much from the staff and clients. I have a greater understanding of issues that affect populations these agencies serve. I understand policies that affect agencies, see how they're funded and experience how these organizations function. It's great experience for my future career in social work.

-Heidi Pfinister '05		 Heidi
Greg Using the theme of welcome and hospitality, our philosophy prof, Jamie Smith, assigned a service-learning project at Degage Ministries and Inter-faith Hospitality Network. I learned a lot about the connection between philosophy and the concepts of responsibility-as it actually plays out in my life and in the lives of others.

It is fascinating to see how humans are interconnected and how our relationships with others must be held to a standard of serving others and humbly accepting service.

-Greg Veltman '04

I've been involved with quite a bit of service-learning - doing bereavement counseling at Heartland Hospice, delivering food from a church food program to shut-ins, tutoring special ed students in several schools, working with a neighborhood association...

But participating in Camp Tall Turf's summer and school -year programs has been the most influential in shaping my character. At Tall Turf I discovered my heart for people, children to be specific. Since then I've been committed to rightings wrongs and working for reconcilliation.

Mary Beth Botts '04

Mary Beth Botts
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