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Student Success Coach Riya Sembhi (pictured front row, right, with her Sullivan Elementary team) shares her experiences serving a gap year midway through college.

Deciding to Serve

It was fall 2022, and I was sitting in my dorm at Widener University with my roommate, chatting about our upcoming graduation in two years. This led to a conversation about whether we had chosen the right majors. As a Secondary Education major, I wanted to immerse myself in the education field and gain practical experience working with children to discover if it was truly the best path for me. With these intentions, I found ��ɫ��Ƶ Philadelphia!

My brother had served with ��ɫ��Ƶ Philadelphia the year prior, and he encouraged me to apply to get experience in the schoolhouse. This meant taking a gap year from Widener University, moving to Philadelphia, and diving into a year of serving students—with the possibility that I may not enjoy the experience. I applied early for the 2023-24 service year in November 2022 and accepted the position in December. It was both exciting and sentimental, knowing I would leave my college friends for a year and embark on a totally new adventure.

Riya (third from right) with her Sullivan Elementary team on the first day of school.

Reflecting on My Year of Service

Now that my service year is complete, I realize I have gained invaluable perspective about my future. I started the year feeling nervous and uncertain, yet enthusiastic. Taking a gap year from school can be both stressful and brave, as you don’t know how your interests, goals, or personality might evolve by the end of the year.

Having never worked with students before, I developed a growing appreciation for educators and a deeper understanding of myself as I learned how to engage with students every day. I focused on my students’ literacy skills, which was always the best way to connect them to the texts they were reading in class. We often altered the texts and created scripts for them to read aloud to each other, and they had so much fun acting and expressing themselves while improving their literacy skills. Without even realizing it, they were learning, and that was the most rewarding part of my job.

Riya (top row, center) with her teammates and students at Sullivan’s afterschool book club.

What surprised me the most was how much I learned about myself this year—both professionally and personally. Learning to work in a team with people from different backgrounds and personalities was a great skill I developed. Appreciating, communicating, and connecting with my team was crucial for the service year. It’s important to rely on and encourage each other because everyone is going through their own growth journey. Personally, I learned a lot about what I value as a future educator. It was easy to lose sight of why I chose to serve, but reminding myself often and embracing the learning curves allowed me to show up for my students fully engaged and attentive to their needs.

What’s Next for Me + Advice for Those Who Follow

I will be returning to Widener University this fall. After I graduate in 2026, I will have a degree in Secondary Education with a focus in English. With everything I learned from working in the schoolhouse, I hope to apply my experiences to my education. I’m also excited to return to school and see all my friends and professors again.

For Student Success Coaches starting their service year, I recommend working on your Life After ��ɫ��Ƶ (LACY) plans early on. It’s one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success after ��ɫ��Ƶ Philadelphia. If you’re interested in taking a gap year, always have a plan. Whether it’s to return to school, transfer, or continue with another year of service, the year goes by quickly, and it’s important to keep an open mind while staying proactive. If you’re planning to return to school after service, be sure to check out ��ɫ��Ƶ’s university partnerships. I took the opportunity to connect with Widener University about their partnership with ��ɫ��Ƶ, and it was beneficial because I was able to receive Widener’s scholarship through ��ɫ��Ƶ.

Are you considering a year of service, or do you know someone who is? ��ɫ��Ƶ Philly is currently hiring full-time tutors and mentors for the 2024-2025 school year. Start your journey today!

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