When I first heard “service learning,” I kind of rolled my eyes. It sounded like another college box to tick—get the hours, write a paper, move on. Honestly, I just wanted the credit. No big expectations.
Then one Saturday, I was carrying bags of groceries up to a small apartment. A mom answered the door, thanked me three times, and then apologized for “taking too much.” That stopped me cold. She wasn’t taking too much—she was feeding her kids. That’s when it hit me: this wasn’t about hours or requirements. It was real life, and I was in it.
The funny thing is, I used to think volunteering didn’t “count” as school. No exams, no grades. But then I met Jamal, a fourth grader I was supposed to tutor. He was sharp but kept saying sorry whenever homework was unfinished. Later, I found out his family had no Wi-Fi at home. That taught me more about education gaps than any textbook. One kid, one situation—and suddenly I understood “access” in a way lectures never touched.
Not everything was inspiring. Some days were just frustrating. People didn’t show up. Schedules clashed. I once tried to organize a park cleanup, and literally two people came. I almost bailed right there. But we stayed, filled a few bags of trash, and left the place better than we found it. Small? Yeah. Pointless? No.
Weirdest part: I ended up in leadership roles without asking. One week I was just showing up; the next I was the one telling others where supplies went. At first, it felt awkward—I’m not the loud “in charge” type. But I realized leading didn’t mean bossing people around. It meant listening, figuring out what folks needed, and keeping the thing moving.
Looking back, I wouldn’t call service learning a requirement. It was more like an unexpected class in empathy and grit. The kind where you don’t get a grade, but you walk away changed anyway.
I thought I’d check a box. Instead, it rewired the way I see people—and myself.
Sources:
Eyler, J., & Giles, D. E. (1999). Where’s the Learning in Service-Learning?
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse