May 08, 2009
Theology Professor Clarice Curry believes that the rich,
deeply-rooted tradition of Christianity, service, and compassion
are firmly embedded in the educational experience of every St.
John’s University student. Through Academic
Service-Learning (AS-L), a classroom-based program that
involves students in some form of required community service
activity as a means of understanding course concepts, her students
are learning to relate classroom theories to civic engagement and
reflection.
A trained Social Worker and Bereavement Counselor, Professor Curry
teaches courses in Moral Theology of Catholic Healthcare and
Spirituality and Mysticism in the Christian Tradition in St. John’s
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
“I implement AS-L in all the classes I teach. It’s very important
and adheres to the Vincentian mission of service,” says Professor
Curry. “Through AS-L, students prepare to change the world, enrich
their communities and their futures.”
Students work at various community sites including nursing homes,
hospices, soup kitchens, children’s agencies and homeless shelters.
They offer direct service through personal interaction and shared
conversations, serve meals and perform other tasks.
“Christian spirituality is a key element to knowing that
you’re a child of God,” adds the Theology Professor. “We must all
use our knowledge and talents to assist those less fortunate in our
communities.”
According to Professor Curry, students are required to maintain a
journal of their day-to-day activities, describe how the experience
has affected them as well as how it has enhanced their academic
career. Many of the clients at these community sites are in need of
one-on-one attention. They want someone to talk to, someone
to listen to them and treat them with dignity and respect.
St. John’s student Reshma Lakhram gained first-hand knowledge about
the impact her interactions had on the residents at the Ozanam
Nursing Home. They were able to talk to someone about their life
stories and experiences.
“The AS-L program at St. John’s is magnificent. My volunteer
experience has changed my life. At the nursing home I learned to
take care and appreciate the elderly community. I heard such
marvelous stories. This experience has confirmed my career path to
become a doctor.”
“These students are proud to be a part of the AS-L experience,”
explains Professor Curry. “I see their excitement and how they
relate the experience with spirituality and the concept of living
out their values not only as a student of St. John’s but in the
real world.”
Professor Curry credits the Office of Academic Service-Learning for
its support and financial contribution. By applying for an AS-L
stipend from the University, faculty members obtain student
assistance to help with AS-L paperwork and project
coordination.
A Difference One Person Can Make
St. John’s College student Nicholas Doyne likens his AS-L
experience to that of a big brother. “It gives me great happiness
to feel like an older brother to younger kids. By volunteering
outside of the classroom, I not only became a mentor but developed
an understanding of others that has helped enhance my academic
career.”
Sabino Curcio, a Liberal Arts student, reports that “AS-L was a
foreign concept before attending St. John’s. The notion of linking
classroom theories and direct community service is a wonderful idea
that gave me the opportunity to reflect on my experiences. I have
newfound admiration for people who give their life over to serving
others. It makes me feel good to know I have made a difference in
someone’s life.”
“I owe my service-learning experience to the efforts of Professor
Curry,” says undergraduate student Kimberly Khan. “Academic
Service-learning has changed my way of thinking. My service to
disabled children has allowed me to see that it is not always about
my wants and needs but that by simply helping others I am making an
impact in their lives.”
VISA
Academic Service-Learning enhances the educational experience of
St. John’s students and is a major component of the University’s
2009-2013 Strategic Plan. It’s also a part of the Vincentian
Institute for Social Action (VISA), which was launched by the
University to more visibly embed St. John’s Catholic and Vincentian
mission into the educational experience of its students. VISA
provides an organizational focus for a variety of new and ongoing
programs through which faculty and students can work together to
explore the causes of and develop solutions for poverty and social
injustice throughout the world.