When Ally Capriotti 鈥�15 was a senior at 探花族, she took a service-learning class with Dr. Shelley Grant, professor of sociology. The class involved mentoring high school students through a partnership with Communities in Schools (CIS), where Capriotti would later become an intern. The lessons and values of mentor relationships stuck with Capriotti, and after graduating and beginning a career in Human Resources, she reached out to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida to be connected with a Little. Soon after, she met a five-year-old named Abby.
At the time she signed up, she was looking for an opportunity to mentor outside of her nine-to-five work schedule. Big Brothers Big Sisters offered a flexible schedule of committing to spending four to seven hours a month with a Little, whenever both schedules allowed. In the nine years since they started meeting, Abby has grown into an ambitious and vivacious young woman who ranks among the top middle school cross country and track athletes in Florida.
鈥淚 have seen her mature into a thoughtful and resilient 14-year-old with a strong sense of identity,鈥� Capriotti reflects. 鈥淪he communicates more openly now, showing greater confidence in herself, and is beginning to think more seriously about her future and setting goals.鈥�
Last December, Capriotti was recognized with the Big Sister of the Year award by Big Brother Big Sister of Northeast Florida. Later that spring, she received the honor again at the state level, earning Big Sister of the Year from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Florida. Research shows that Littles are more likely to graduate high school, enroll in college, and develop stronger confidence, relationships and decision-making skills.
鈥�Consistency is key. Showing up regularly and keeping your word builds trust and creates a sense of stability that Littles can rely on,鈥� says Capriotti. She encourages anyone who鈥檚 interested to pursue mentoring opportunities in their area and says the relationship is mutually rewarding. 鈥淭he experience is so fulfilling, and the impact you make is absolutely worth it.鈥�
Today, Dr. Grant鈥檚 service-learning class has been integrating students in the 探花族 community for 15 years. Each fall, JU partners with CIS to place undergraduate students as mentors in a dropout prevention program at Terry Parker High School and Arlington Middle School, giving students the chance to examine how media shapes public perception of at-risk youth, and then test those ideas against their own lived experiences. Students complete a minimum of 12 contact hours working directly with CIS students, who have gone on to tour campus, attend and receive scholarships from the University.
鈥淪ervice-learning specifically is extremely valuable because it allows students to support their academic work through community service, while at the same time benefitting their community through the service project,鈥� says Grant. 鈥淚 have had numerous students through the years tell me that their service-learning courses are the most meaningful courses they take because they allow them to live their learning, and we have amazing students (like Ally) at JU who have heart for helping others.鈥�
