When she wasn't doing odd jobs like putting a desk together or filing charts, she did research on what young mothers need to know about the dental health of their babies. Then she put her creative writing talents to use on a new brochure for the clinic. Baer said she got research experience and made some important discoveries about healthy living. It definitely made me more aware. McNicol said the talks to youngsters have helped him organize his thoughts about the choices everyone needs to make and the importance of determination to succeed.
Service is a powerful vehicle for promoting leadership.
So says Alexander Astin , the nation's leading authority on student assessment who has researched student and education issues for 35 years. Participation in community service, Astin says, can serve as an antidote to the increasingly individualistic, materialistic and competitive values he sees in many students. Service-learning is part of a curriculum that prepares students to be engaged citizens.