Pack with a purpose

As I start bookbagging for the last time as a senior, I find myself paralyzed by all of the options. Suddenly, I regret not taking a class with every professor I was inspired by and not exploring interesting subjects regardless of whether or not it was relevant to my major. There is no more “maybe next semester.” All of a sudden the endless possibilities that bookbagging used to represent have become painfully finite.

I have only four or five spots left, and while other seniors may be looking forward to a “chill” semester, I intended to spend my last semester at Duke excited to go to each and every one of my classes.

Reflecting on my past seven semesters on this campus, the courses that have been the most meaningful and have taught me the most about myself and the world around me have been service-learning courses.

Service-learning at Duke has led me to work in public schools in Durham, at a political think tank in Raleigh and a home for the elderly in Costa Rica—and these experiences only scratch the surface of the diversity of opportunities available through service-learning courses.

More than just the opportunities available through these classes, experiential learning classes at Duke are where I’ve learned the most about myself and others. In most lecture and discussion-based classes, you learn theories and how to apply them; however in service-learning classes, theories are challenged in the field, and you are forced to confront all of the complexities of society in a way that can’t be achieved through textbooks alone. Through these classes, I have learned how to please a client, think on my feet and conduct community based-research; and, I’ve fostered invaluable relationships with professors and community partners along the way.

Although service-learning directly aligns with the university’s motto, “knowledge in the service of society,” only about a third of Duke students take at least one service-learning class before they graduate. Before you’re like me and it’s too late, put yourself out there and take as many service-learning courses as you can, as early as you can. Go to the advanced search section of ACES and under course attributes and interest area select “Service Learning Courses.” Here you will see that there are experiential learning courses for all interests, from natural sciences, engineering and business, to ethics, languages and the arts.

Imani Moise is a Trinity senior.