How Service Teaches Lessons You Can't Learn in a Lecture Hall by Nicole

How Service Teaches Lessons You Can't Learn in a Lecture Hall by Nicole - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

When students sign up for college courses, they are often met with a list of required classes for their major. Typically, most classes involve writing assignments, studying for exams, giving presentations, and sometimes attending lectures or fairs. While these classes may be informative, students can still feel a lack of purpose or struggle with real-world interactions, especially when much of their time is spent isolated while studying. A truly transformative change in curriculum would be for colleges to include service as a required course. Service work allows students to connect with people from different backgrounds, develop leadership and confidence, and find purpose in their career paths.

Service often requires stepping outside your comfort zone to engage with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds—individuals who are sometimes stigmatized or misunderstood. From personal experience, I’ve learned how powerful this kind of connection can be. As a college freshman, I volunteered in Panama with Marquette Dental Brigades. I didn’t know the other students, and I had never been to the country before. Yet, to my surprise, rural Panama reminded me of the small community in Poland where I spent my childhood summers. When locals shared their health challenges, I remembered my own relatives expressing similar concerns. That trip helped me realize how much I shared with people who, on the surface, seemed completely different. It opened my eyes to the importance of empathy and the shared humanity that exists across borders. I believe all students, regardless of major, could benefit from learning how to build these kinds of connections. In a diverse college environment, service could promote understanding, respect, and compassion.

Another major benefit of service is how it helps students develop real-world people skills that traditional classroom experiences often overlook. Before I got involved in service, I was timid and more hesitant to take initiative. That began to change when I volunteered as a tour guide for my school’s Biomedical Sciences Department. After taking two anatomy courses, I was invited to lead tours for high school students visiting our gross anatomy lab. At first, I was nervous—answering questions, keeping students engaged, and speaking confidently in front of teachers was a challenge. But over time, I gained confidence and began to enjoy it. That experience encouraged me to pursue more leadership opportunities.
One of the most impactful roles I’ve taken on is serving as a site coordinator for Marquette’s Midnight Run, a volunteer organization that supports local shelters and meal programs. In this role, I led weekly service groups, built relationships with nonprofits, and drove volunteers to service sites—often starting my Thursdays before 7 a.m. It was a big responsibility, requiring punctuality, strong communication, and the ability to lead by example. But it was worth it. The joy on people’s faces when we delivered a warm meal reminded me why I kept showing up. If I hadn’t first gained confidence through service at the anatomy lab, I might never have stepped into that leadership role. Service helped me grow in ways the classroom alone could not, and I believe it could do the same for others.

Beyond personal growth and leadership, service can help students find greater meaning in their future careers. College is often a time of uncertainty, especially when it comes to choosing a major or professional path. I entered college as a biomedical sciences major interested in dentistry but was still unsure of my decision. It wasn’t until I began volunteering, both in Panama and at a dental clinic in my hometown, that I began to see the real impact I could make through dentistry. I watched dentists use their technical skills and artistry to improve the lives of patients, whether by selecting the perfect shade for a filling or creating dentures that restored confidence and comfort. I also witnessed the deep gratitude of patients whose lives were changed by care they couldn’t otherwise afford.
These moments transformed my uncertainty into conviction. Today, I’m an incoming dental student, confident that I’ve found a career path that allows me to serve others meaningfully. While my story focuses on dentistry, service opportunities exist for all majors. My university offers trips to Panama for students studying business, engineering, ecology, and law. Locally, students can tutor, assist at clinics, or work with nonprofits related to their fields. No matter your major, service can show you how to use your skills and passions for the greater good.

Incorporating service as a required college course would offer far more than just volunteer hours—it would offer students the chance to grow into empathetic, confident, and purposeful individuals. Through my own service experiences, I’ve learned how to connect across differences, step into leadership roles, and find deeper meaning in my chosen career. These are lessons no textbook can fully teach. Whether students plan to be doctors, engineers, artists, or entrepreneurs, service can help them see how their skills and passions can be used to improve the world around them. Making service a standard part of education wouldn’t just benefit students, it would benefit the communities they serve and the future they help shape.