Finding the PULSE!
/By Fiona Morrison, Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Each week, SSYP sees dozens of volunteers come through our doors to help run our after-school programming. Of these many volunteers, the largest group comes to us from Boston College through the PULSE program.
A Boston College PULSE student helps a LEARN participant with his homework.
The PULSE program at Boston College is a year-long, 12 credit service-learning course that melds philosophy, theology, and hands-on service with communities around Boston. Over 500 students participate in the program at over 300 service locations each year. As one of the largest host sites, SSYP is excited to be hosting 29 students this year between the LEARN and YLC programs.
The PULSE volunteers assist with a wide range of tasks during their twice-weekly service. Each day, the students prepare snack for the youth and assist in picking up the youth from school. During program rotations, the volunteers work one-on-one with students, helping them with their homework and working through literacy rotations together. In addition to helping with academic time, PULSE students also build close relationships with youth during more active times, playing basketball and soccer with the students during outside time or painting with watercolors and building with legos during Skillz Lab.
Diana Flynn showing off one of the projects she has worked on with our youth at SSYP!
PULSE students remain with the same group of students for the entire year, allowing them to build strong relationships with students. Diana Flynn, who works closely with our second-youngest group, believes this consistently has had a positive impact on her service: “I’ve had the time to develop one on one connections with many of my ‘Astronauts’, and to me, that’s what’s made my experience, thus far, so meaningful.”
As leaders and mentors in their groups, PULSE students are encouraged to bring their own experiences and talents to program to share with the students. Choice time, which happens every Wednesday, has been an ideal opportunity for volunteers to put their leadership skills to use. Two PULSE students, Alexandra and Bella, have begun hosting a Kitchen activity during choice time each week, making treats such as cake pops and mini pizzas. Of her experiences this year at St. Stephen’s, Alexandra said: “The connections I've built have been incredible to watch grow throughout the year as they welcomed us from the very start. Whether it be homework, outside time, or SSYP's activities, seeing how the kids have developed from when I first met them has been so fulfilling and they continue to surprise me every day.”
Supervising the PULSE program, I have had the privilege of getting to know and work closely with our excellent volunteers this year. I have seen first hand how passionate and dedicated our volunteers are and how willing they are to help with whatever they can. They are always willing to learn, sitting through trainings on mentorship, restorative justice, and even elementary school math. Jack Klinger, who works with the YLC, also notes that getting off campus and coming into Boston “has been a great opportunity to learn about the Lower Roxbury community and to give back to a program that represents more than just a place to go after school. I have formed relationships with the students and other volunteers that will last a lifetime and I would not trade the invaluable time that I get to spend with them for the world.”
Many aspects of our after school program would not be able to run without the help of volunteers like the PULSE students. The work they do and the relationships they build with students and staff are invaluable and we at St. Stephen’s are lucky to work with so many amazing students!
Fiona Morrison was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Fairfield University, having majored in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. This year, she is working at St. Stephen's as a part of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Fiona is passionate about the power of education and is excited to be working with a focus on education equity this year.