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Public Service Residential College students reflect on trip to Chicago
Students from the Public Service Residential College at Central Michigan University completed a service-learning trip to Chicago April 17-19 to build opportunities for community engagement and teamwork. They shared time together navigating public transportation and visiting city landmarks such as Navy Pier and "The Bean," and participated in a spring cleanup at the Burnham Nature Sanctuary with Chicago Cares volunteers.
PSRC director Kathy Rise says the trip provides meaningful shared experiences and encourages independence while they explore the city together.
"This trip helps the students build teamwork and creates a strong sense of belonging within PSRC while also working with local volunteers to help care for the nature sanctuary," said Rise.
Participants included Natasha Wright, Bhayga Shri, Jennifer Kuehl, Maddie Madsen, Ren Aug, Diana Ledesma, La’Niya Jones, and Emily Fuhrmann.
The overall experience was well-rounded, enjoyable and rewarding. I got to form a deeper connection to the PSRC community and its mission, and the experience gave me the opportunity to lend a helping hand to a community that would normally be considered out of reach. Personally, I also got to experience new things that made me reflect on parts of myself that I didn’t even know existed. Furthermore, with it being a smaller group overall, and we often split into even smaller groups, I felt that my opinion had more value, and that no one felt left out. - Ren Aug
What moment or experience in Chicago stood out to you the most, and why do you think it will stay with you?
I would say it was when we were at our service site - Burnham Nature Sanctuary - volunteering for Chicago Cares and we were chatting with one of the volunteer leaders, Kathleen, and she was so shocked to hear that we came all the way from Michigan. She said that it must've been the first time in a very long time - she'd been volunteering there for more than 20 years - that anyone came from that far away to help clean up their trail at Burnham Park, and that just stuck with me.
To us, PSRC, helping out comes as such a natural thing to do, we organize events, trips, and collaborate with other groups on campus to create opportunities to help out not just in our closer community, but in far away places too. And so when we found out about Chicago Cares and the Burnham Nature Sanctuary, we knew we wanted to be a part of that and help out. - Diana Ledesma
What value do you think PSRC and trips like this bring to students?
The value that PSRC and trips like this bring to students is this idea of community and a network of support and connections. Not only are you able to help others, but also others are able to help you. I feel like many people see volunteering as a way to help other people and outer issues, but they never look at it on an inner, personal level. Not only does volunteering make you feel good but also gives you connections to people and lifelong memories. It opens your eyes to the world around you and makes you stop thinking about the little bubble you live in but look at how the bubble you live in is a part of a bigger dynamic. Programs and trips like this give you great skills in teamwork, communication, independence, and much more as you start to open your mind and heart. In this type of community, you don’t have to be scared and feel like you are alone when going through things; instead, you have a wonderful support system around as well as great opportunities. All you have to do is take that leap and understand that risk and change are not always bad. Despite their challenges, they can bring so much positivity and light into your life if you allow them the opportunity. - La'Niya Jones
What did you learn about Chicago or its communities that you wouldn’t have learned in a classroom?
I learned how beautiful the city is. I learned how nice it was to be able to take public transportation anywhere in the city and now wish we had that here. I learned how so many people work together to make sure the city keeps being so beautiful and well taken care of for the residents and for visitors.
Something I learned about Chicago that could not be taught in a classroom is that everyone experiences it differently. For those performing acts of service, especially if they’re visiting from a different location, they get to feel that they belong to the local community through their joint efforts and service. Additionally, every individual can get lost in their own world and not feel lonely. In the city, there are a lot of hidden gems tucked away in plain sight, and one simply has to look in order to see the true beauty in the city. Despite its many flaws, the hidden charm of the city is quite beautiful. - Emily Furmann
