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Boston University Community Service Center 2018-2019 Annual Report
FIRST YEAR STUDENT OUTREACH PROJECT 2018
The First Year Student Outreach Project (FYSOP) 2018 was the 29th iteration of one of the CSC's anchor programs. FYSOP allows first year students, freshman or transfer, to come to campus early to participate in a week of community engagement and reflection before classes begin. In a small group of other first-year students led by two or three student staff leaders, participants in FYSOP build connections with Boston's neighborhoods and people, community organizations, Boston University's campus, and their future classmates. In this section we have student testimonies and quick numbers to show how impactful this program can be on first-years and staff leaders.
BY THE NUMBERS
14 Coordinators
169 Staff Leaders
650 volunteers
100+ CPs
21+ neighborhoods
STUDENT TESTIMONIES
I came to Boston all the way from Utah, and it was my first time traveling alone. Being in a big city without knowing anyone was the scariest thing I've ever experienced! But I'm so glad I did FYSOP. Seeing the same group of people and getting to know them every day helped with the shock of being in a completely new place, and the service we did helped me to focus on the world around me rather than myself. By the time the first week of classes rolled around, I had started to adjust to the new setting and I was in a much better headspace to start the academic year. FYSOP set me up for success!
-GRACE FERGUSON, FIRST-YEAR, COM '22
My favorite Community Partner experience was definitely helping The Mathers School decorate and move things around before their school year started. It was just awesome to see how different people in FYSOP groups, who did not know each other, worked together to help the community. In addition, it was also great to meet some of the faculty in this school and have genuine conversation with them; they appreciated our help and I could remembering just seeing their gratitude.
-ANDREW KIM, FIRST-YEAR, SAR '22
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The relationships you build as a staff leader are some of the strongest you will ever have in college or life. You spend so much time with these people and your costaff are people who you come to value and respect on a deep, deep level. You can have fun with them and talk about really important issues. You build friendships and mentorships with your first-years that are fulfilling and encourage you both to learn from each other.
-TYLER ARMEY, STAFF LEADER, COM '19
My favorite part of FYSOP has been seeing my first years flourish in their own environments on campus. It might be them promoting something they are passionately involved with on campus, us catching up and them talking about how happy they are in Boston, or seeing them on campus without them seeing me and they are talking to a new friend, and I love it all. In terms of my first years engaging in their passions, I've loved when my first years have returned has staff. I was actually in a staff group with one of them in 2017 and it was such a full-circle experience for both of us.
-MEGAN MARKOVITZ, STAFF LEADER, WHEELOCK '19
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