Rather than focusing on preparing students for a particular job, service learning prepares students for practical community-based problem solving. Many students treat college as no more then a hoop to jump through, when it should be viewed as a personal challenge. College gains more meaning if students investigate, analyze and apply theory into praxis to help people. Service learning can allow students to express an interest and manifest small and significant actions to gain deeper understanding and pursue enlightenment. In service learning, the subject becomes real.
People realize their life choices and can help or hinder others.
People begin to learn about cooperation. The experiential approach to education can enhance the knowledge base. There is so much room for creativity and different approaches to knowledge. Service learning isn't the flavor of the month forced upon educators by the administration to meet a requirement brought down from an elected official. It is educators and students realizing that education must be more than information in a book and a grade after sixteen weeks.