How does this service experience help you apply course concepts in a real-world context?
Did the experience support or challenge what you’ve learned in class?
How did course materials or methods help you respond to challenges during the experience?
What new insights or skills did you develop through your service experience that connect to course learning?
Issue Focus Questions
What community need is your service activity addressing?
What factors might contribute to the need or challenge you observed?
Who is working to address this issue, and what are they doing?
Are there any relevant local or state policies connected to the issue?
What types of partnerships (community, educational, or governmental) could support progress in this area?
What actions could individuals or groups take to support positive outcomes?
Client Focus Questions
What commonalities do you share with the people or organization you are serving?
What strengths did you observe in the people or communities involved in your service?
How might the people you’re working with view your role in the project?
What do you imagine a typical day might look like for someone in the community you are serving?
What assumptions (if any) did you bring to the experience? Have any of those changed based on what you’ve learned?
Career focus questions
What skills do you want to develop or enhance as a result of this experience? How might these skills be valuable in the future? How might you develop/enhance these skills?
How might you use this experience to build your professional network? Who do you want to meet, how might you stay in touch, and how might these people support you in your future?
What have you learned about your likes/dislikes and your strengths/areas for improvement as they relate to future employment? What are your next steps for continuing to build skills and gain experience?
How could you describe this experience in a job interview or resume?
Self Focus/Personal Development Questions
What aspects of this service experience have been most challenging for you, and how have you responded?
What personal strengths (e.g., leadership, reliability, communication) have helped you contribute to this project?
In what ways has this experience helped you grow personally or clarify your goals?
Did anything during your service help confirm or change your interest in this field or type of work?
Civic Focus Questions
How can you use the knowledge or skills gained from this experience to contribute to your community in the future?
In what ways is your academic field preparing you to contribute to community efforts or public service?
What actions could you take in the future to remain engaged with this issue or organization?
Has your perspective on this issue changed based on your hands-on experience? If so, how?