Volunteering at BC

Seven weeks into the semester and the academic year is in full swing. Midterms are upon us all and the mood on the Heights is busy but not wholly stressed. I find that I always have a pressing academic endeavor, but with the help of effective time management, I am fortunately able to remove myself away from the grindstone and evaluate Boston College from the outside—as a person separate from the student in me. This salutary removal can take many forms, and for me it comes in the form of volunteering off campus every Thursday via 4Boston.

For those of you who are unaware, 4Boston is a student organization run by Campus Ministry that sets up volunteer opportunities all around Boston for BC students to pursue. The program is decidedly popular, attracting hundred of invitations annually—a testament to the importance of service to Boston College students. Each program asks for each participant to dedicate 4 hours of service per week along with an hour of weekly group reflection. The philosophy is that action without reflection risks futility and that reflection without action risks irrelevance.

My 4Boston involvement began freshman year when I began working at the Community Based Acute Treatment (CBAT) unit at the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton. Without delving into details about my individual placement, I will say that the volunteer opportunities I have pursued through BC have been invaluable. It provides the chance for students, who are learning to make a difference in the world later, to make a difference in the world now; whether it be educating adults at night school, mentoring kids at an after-school program, or building a Habitat for Humanity home on an Appalachia trip, the vast array of volunteer opportunities at BC lets the undergraduate experience improve with profound episodes in the “real world.”

So to you prospective students, if and when you do arrive on the Heights for freshman year, I would strongly encourage pursuing service—whether it be through Pulse, 4Boston, Appalachia, or Learning to Serve. It is a huge part of overall student involvement, and a great way to enhance your personal experience.

Until next time,
William