As part of the service learning assignment, I had the opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization as a web developer. This was an excellent experience for my professional growth. The first week was challenging; there was a lot of information to absorb during a short orientation, and I was unfamiliar with navigating and working in WordPress at the time. However, after the first week, I felt confident and comfortable using the platform, solving issues, and even assisting other web developers on the team. That said, I did encounter issues with code from previous developers, which required additional time to fix.
If I could suggest one improvement to the program, it would be a more structured orientation to help new service learners get up to speed faster. One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was being able to help and answer questions from a fellow developer, which made me realize how much I had learned in a short time.
For future service learning students, my advice would be to manage your time wisely and not approach the experience with the mindset of just doing the bare minimum to earn credit. I completed 34 hours, even though only 25 were required, because I wanted to make the most of the opportunity. Treat it as a valuable chance to build skills and gain experience.
