NEXUS OF UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY: TRANSFORMATIVE REFLECTION OF STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

Abstract

To connect the university and community, this paper aimed to describe how the student volunteers gave meaning to their participation in the ALS Assistantship Community Extension program. Anchored on Edmund Husserls phenomenology, the researchers explored the experiences of 8 student volunteers, specifically the student interns, through their written transformative reflection journals. The result revealed 50 significant statements that generated 5 themes. These themes emphasize the experience of student volunteers in their participation in the community extension program of the department as 1.) Recognizing the highs and lows of the volunteers community experience 2.) Making strides toward becoming a dedicated individual 3.) Aligning oneself to the calling of the teaching profession 4.) Establishing nodes in the community through camaraderie, and 5.) Nurturing reflective practices toward excellence. These themes are further discussed through textural and structural descriptions. A description of the essence of student volunteers lived experience is provided. Results from this paper offered practical insights into improving the implementation of community extension programs in the department and ensuring that the volunteers participation truly enhanced learning.