Shannon Harris, an education freshman, still finds time to give back to the community amid classes, homework and finishing her first year as a college student.
Harris participates in Jumpstart, an AmeriCorps program aimed at getting college students involved in working with underprivileged pre-schoolers at local elementary schools.
She said the program convinced her to change her major from mechanical engineering to elementary education.
“It showed me that teaching was my calling,” Harris said. “I could be making more money, but sometimes it’s about your calling and not how much you make.”
She said the reaction she receives from the four-and five-year-olds at Highland Elementary is enthusiastic and uplifting.
“As soon as you walk in the room they say, ‘Jumpstart’s here! Jumpstart’s here!'” Harris said.
She said although not all children are in the program, everyone benefits in the end.
“Some of the parents don’t sign the papers or don’t get them in on time, but even then it lets the teacher give those kids more attention while we work with the others,” Harris said.
Danielle Marshall, an Academic Affairs coordinator, said Jumpstart began at the University two years ago with the intent of recruiting college students to become involved with AmeriCorps.
“The students help children who may be behind in language, literacy and social skills,” Marshall said. “They go out two days out of the week to give individual attention to the children and aid the teachers.”
She described the program as sessions involving one-to-one reading, “circle time” and “choice time.”
“These activities allow the kids to be vocal at a time when we’re often talking for them,” Marshall said.
At the end of the year, Jumpstart assesses the children to determine any progress. Marshall said in every case the children have passed the program, and some even show development past their peers.
University students who take part in this service can receive up to $1,250 in scholarships good for seven years at any university.
“Students have to sign up for either 300 or 525 hours, and they can put that money toward school or loans,” Marshall said. “They can also receive service learning credits.”
Laurel Boudreaux, a sociology senior, has been involved with Jumpstart since it began at the University. She heard about it from a friend who received a flyer about work-study programs on campus.
“My major is sociology, and I knew in some way I wanted to work with kids,” she said. “It’s just a feeling you get when the child you’re working with says, ‘I love Jumpstart.'”
Boudreaux, who works at Polk Elementary, said the program not only does so much for the children but also for the college students.
“It teaches you a lot about yourself,” she said. “I thought, ‘It’ll be fun. I get to color and paint.’ But it’s a lot of work.”
She said scheduling around the program is difficult as she gets closer to graduation, but being involved is worth the extra effort.
“It’s my time away from school, from Spanish and statistics,” Boudreaux said. “It’s my stress-free time.”