Reflections on CST 462S

June 15, 2025

Participating in Service Learning this semester was a very interesting and great experience. One of the things that went well was being able to connect my academic learning with real-life community needs, especially while researching issues among older women in Latin America. Working in my group made the experience better as it helped us work through the issues as a team and helped built our teamwork skills, we supported each other, shared ideas, and stayed focused on our goal. The most impactful part was hearing personal stories and realizing how much older adults are affected not just by lack of technology, but also by loneliness, low income, health struggles, and lack of social connection. These issues are deeply connected, and it showed me how important it is to create support systems that meet more than one need. I also saw the value of creating a broader support network, connecting with classmates, mentors, and community leaders. One thing I would improve next time is starting outreach earlier. A challenge we faced was getting responses, which required persistence. My advice to future students is to stay organized, communicate with your group, and listen deeply. 

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