Making the “gap year” count
Fear of the unknown is a common, shared experience for many college seniors. While some people toil over their futures, others take action to transform the lives of others — and, in the process, their own lives too.
Donnelly Academic Support Specialist Molly Moore falls into the latter category. Moore — who originally hails from Denver, Colorado, and attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington — says she felt drawn to make her first year out of college matter. After researching different service opportunities, she chose Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC).
“I was really involved in our Social Justice and Service Learning department [at Gonzaga], so that’s what really got me interested in JVC,” she explains. “I was deciding between JVC and Teach for America. Ultimately I chose JVC because of the support that they provide for their volunteers. I’m supported financially through [JVC] and through my community, since I live with four other JVs.”
Founded in 1956, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps helps organizations that serve underprivileged or marginalized populations. Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) are stationed at more than 40 sites nationally, in addition to a few international appointments. Each domestic JVC commitment lasts for one year, from August through the following July. After many years without this type of aid at Donnelly, the College has hosted JVs the past four years. Since then, one volunteer per year has held the Academic Support Specialist role, lending a hand in the tutoring center and testing center.
The Academic Support Specialist role in particular is well-suited for a Jesuit Volunteer, shares Associate Director of Academic Support Yvonne Telep, because each JV in the role can have a very multi-faceted experience.
“Molly is somebody who’s looking for a diverse experience,” Telep emphasizes. “She brings so much thought and so many ideas to what she’s doing in a way that if you just had a person who’s just part-time clerical work, it wouldn’t be as beneficial, so it’s great to have a JV in there. Molly in particular is great because…she’ll jump into anything.”
Above all, Moore says her greatest joy thus far has been forming bonds with Donnelly students.
“I have learned to not judge people before I get to know them... So many students have, first of all, different backgrounds than me, but everyone has a story behind them,” she notes. “And [I try] not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions based
off of the little piece the story that I may know about a student or not know at all.”
According to Moore, her role as a Jesuit Volunteer provides her with opportunities not only to learn about and live in solidarity with a new community, but also to learn about herself and grow individually.
“Even though we might have different personalities or backgrounds, [I enjoy] making the connections with students that show them also that I’m a real person and they’re a real person and I’m not this evil tutoring center lady,” she says.
Only a couple months after starting at Donnelly, Moore says she hopes to go into admissions counseling after her time as a JV expires.
Telep says she is quite pleased with the efforts Moore already has put forth.
“She has been priceless,” Telep says. “With the change that went on right at the beginning of the school year, her help and her ability to jump into so many roles
has been super, super helpful. I’m sure all the JVs are great, but she’s terrific. She’s just terrific.”
Donnelly Academic Support Specialist Molly Moore falls into the latter category. Moore — who originally hails from Denver, Colorado, and attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington — says she felt drawn to make her first year out of college matter. After researching different service opportunities, she chose Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC).
“I was really involved in our Social Justice and Service Learning department [at Gonzaga], so that’s what really got me interested in JVC,” she explains. “I was deciding between JVC and Teach for America. Ultimately I chose JVC because of the support that they provide for their volunteers. I’m supported financially through [JVC] and through my community, since I live with four other JVs.”
Founded in 1956, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps helps organizations that serve underprivileged or marginalized populations. Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) are stationed at more than 40 sites nationally, in addition to a few international appointments. Each domestic JVC commitment lasts for one year, from August through the following July. After many years without this type of aid at Donnelly, the College has hosted JVs the past four years. Since then, one volunteer per year has held the Academic Support Specialist role, lending a hand in the tutoring center and testing center.
The Academic Support Specialist role in particular is well-suited for a Jesuit Volunteer, shares Associate Director of Academic Support Yvonne Telep, because each JV in the role can have a very multi-faceted experience.
“Molly is somebody who’s looking for a diverse experience,” Telep emphasizes. “She brings so much thought and so many ideas to what she’s doing in a way that if you just had a person who’s just part-time clerical work, it wouldn’t be as beneficial, so it’s great to have a JV in there. Molly in particular is great because…she’ll jump into anything.”
Above all, Moore says her greatest joy thus far has been forming bonds with Donnelly students.
“I have learned to not judge people before I get to know them... So many students have, first of all, different backgrounds than me, but everyone has a story behind them,” she notes. “And [I try] not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions based
off of the little piece the story that I may know about a student or not know at all.”
According to Moore, her role as a Jesuit Volunteer provides her with opportunities not only to learn about and live in solidarity with a new community, but also to learn about herself and grow individually.
“Even though we might have different personalities or backgrounds, [I enjoy] making the connections with students that show them also that I’m a real person and they’re a real person and I’m not this evil tutoring center lady,” she says.
Only a couple months after starting at Donnelly, Moore says she hopes to go into admissions counseling after her time as a JV expires.
Telep says she is quite pleased with the efforts Moore already has put forth.
“She has been priceless,” Telep says. “With the change that went on right at the beginning of the school year, her help and her ability to jump into so many roles
has been super, super helpful. I’m sure all the JVs are great, but she’s terrific. She’s just terrific.”