All of our undergraduates do some form of service learning or working in the community as part of the liberal arts curriculum at Richmond American University London.
One of our students, Alina, who’s studying BA Psychology, shares her experience of service learning. Alina worked at Skylarks, an independent charity offering a range of activities for children with additional needs, their siblings and parents/carers, both online and face-to-face.
Alina says:
“From the beginning it was important to me to find a place that would align with my interests and passions. I am currently studying psychology, so I found it in my best interest to find something operating in that field. Developmental psychology and child therapy are fields that I am very interested in, which resulted in me actively searching for a charity that worked with children.
Skylarks charity gave me hands-on experience to see how much children with disabilities struggle with day-to-day tasks. This is one of the reasons I aspire to help individuals that have a disadvantage.
I was given the opportunity to develop skills that will assist me with my future career path, in my personal development, my academic studies and for my employability. My future profession will require me to logically solve complications, make informed decisions regarding someone else’s well-being and to demonstrate accountability for the psychological judgments I make.
Skylarks has influenced my personal development in many ways and has displayed how important emotional skills are in the field of child and adolescent psychology. I gathered a new hands-on perspective on what it takes to work with individuals suffering from mental disabilities.
Volunteering can be one of the most fulfilling experiences.
Every act of kindness, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect of positivity that can change someone’s life for the better.”
