At Seattle Prep, The Sophomore Service Program (Soph Serve) is a testament to the Jesuit value of service to others, providing students with opportunities to engage in hands-on service experiences and make an impact in their local communities. As the semester progresses, students involved in soph serve are not only participating in meaningful acts of service but are also experiencing the Jesuit mission of cura personalis – care for the whole person, through their involvement with the program.
For students, Soph Serve offers more than just an opportunity to volunteer; it allows them to integrate service into their everyday lives, without requiring a significant amount of extra time outside of their school schedule. Prep makes getting to the service sites very convenient and accessible as described by student Matt Reyna ‘27 who attended this Soph Serve saying, “Completing it after school knowing that my ride and supervisor would already be taken care of, made it so much easier for me and my schedule with schoolwork”. There has been very positive feedback about these outsides of school service opportunities from the students, and they have expressed that at the sites they always have something to do, and they feel a sense of fulfilment as if “their cup is full.”
Mr. Meza, Science Department Chair, volunteered to chaperone a service event with the sophomores at the University District Food Bank in the middle of October. They were put right to work serving food to people facing food insecurities, bagging groceries, and making to-go bags and meals. Meza decided to volunteer even though it wasn’t required, saying “How can I as a teacher here expect students to do service if I am not willing to.”
Meza emphasized the impact the service had on him, saying “It felt bad to leave. There was that much needed.” It was important to him that he was making a difference and helping those who needed it most. The events being outside of school is a good change of environment in serving beyond Prep’s campus. Meza added “I was able to serve in a way that I don’t normally get to.”
Similarly, Reyna expressed how “Serving the community through this service opportunity only encouraged me to do more, and as a person who is really into social justice and awareness, I signed up for more Soph Serve’s almost immediately afterwards because of my wonderful experience”.
As the semester continues, and as we move into the second semester, Soph Serve opportunities remain very available. The service calendar is coordinated to ensure accessibility, with dates for events scheduled as frequently as every two to three weeks. The program is currently set to run through mid-January and into the second semester, with a well-organized system that ensures both students and faculty have the chance to serve in meaningful ways.
In Seattle Prep’s community that values service and social justice, Soph Serve stands out as an intentional and effective model of how service can be integrated into daily life. Through the outside of school service experiences, students and faculty are not only learning about the importance of giving back but are also living out the values of solidarity and the shared responsibility to work for a more just and compassionate world.
