I knew I wanted to do something big after college – something that would allow me to apply my skills and interests to a good cause, but wouldn’t restrain me to a cubicle. My passion for helping others brought me to Service Year, and I’m excited to discover what opportunities await.

Name: Jason Hughes

Education Level: College Graduate

Preferred Service Location: Philadelphia, PA

Focus Area of Interest: Education & Youth

After exploring many great options for organizations, I knew that Soaring Eagle Elementary was a good match based on my passion for special education. I was able to narrow down my search results based on my skills and interests, and that made all the difference!

Program Name: Soaring Eagle Elementary

Mentoring Position Name: Youth Mentor

Start Date September 2015

Traveling to a new city for my service year position meant exchanging the comforts of home for an exciting new experience. Keeping an open mind and hard work ethic during my first few weeks allowed me to truly embrace everything new that came my way, and I’m so glad I did!

I have learned so much from serving as a mentor! Each day is challenging and different, but it is extremely rewarding. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel like I’ve made a difference and helped at least one of my students overcome a challenge. I’m proud to be doing meaningful service! This experience has helped me build practical skills that go well beyond what I learned in the classroom, such as collaboration, patience, and flexibility.

Now that my year of service is complete, I’m ready to put my new skills towards my career! I’m very confident my Service Year experience will continue to serve me well!