While service trips often bring Boston College students to various parts of the country and world, one lesser-known service trip brings other students to the BC campus. This week, a group of Native American high school seniors visited BC for five days as part of the Jemez to BC Immersion Program. In January, BC students will in turn visit Jemez Pueblo, N.M., on their own service trip.
The idea of having other students come to BC in a mutual exchange originated while BC students were on their own service immersion trip. Since 2003, a group of about 20 BC students has traveled to Jemez Pueblo, N.M., every year. These students engage in traditional service trip activities, including volunteering in the community, forming relations with community members, and experiencing a new culture. The students who have gone in the past enjoyed the trip, but were looking for something more.
"The idea is that all of the service trips go somewhere else to experience a different culture. We wanted to make it a two-way street where they experience our culture as well," said Margaret Raskob, A&S '11.
Last year, the group decided to bring several seniors from the local high school in Jemez Pueblo to BC to experience the culture of a Catholic university. According to the Jemez Pueblo Service and Immersion Trip Web site, "The Jemez to BC Immersion Program was founded with the dual objective of demonstrating continued solidarity with the members of the Pueblo while also encouraging innovation in service on campus."
Some students have said that they appreciate this aspect of mutual exchange. "I have done other off-campus service trips, but I thought this was unique. Instead of going somewhere else, other people get to come here," Kevin Schuster, A&S '11, said. "It is an opportunity to share our culture with them."
Jordan Ferguson, A&S '11, agreed. "BC always goes to other places, where we get to immerse ourselves in their culture. This trip gives them the ability to get to see our culture and what we do. They get to see what we have at BC," he said.
Spring Break
