The adage “Enter to learn, go forth to serve” is a slogan many BYU students are familiar with. The calling inspires students and graduates to use their education to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Two BYU students are learning that this call to service doesn’t always require grand gestures or distant travels.
“Going forth to serve can feel like I need to go somewhere far away,” said Jared Weight, a BYU senior studying neuroscience. “But it’s about lifting where you stand. Rather than saving the whole world, I can help in my local community.”
In a collaboration with the United Way of Utah County, BYU students including Weight and Mazzy Marcucci (also studying neuroscience) are embodying the spirit of service. Both Weight and Marcucci volunteer a few hours each week at the reading club run by the United Way's South Franklin Community Center in Provo.
Each week, BYU students and other volunteers lead reading sessions for kids and teens, focusing on building reading comprehension, vocabulary and pronunciation. The reading club plays a crucial role for immigrant children who are navigating the challenges of adapting to a new country and learning English. Many of these children have faced significant difficulties before joining the club, such as: political and social unrest; separation from loved ones; and economic uncertainty.
“These kids are only 7 or 8 years old, and they’ve been through probably more than I ever will have to go through in life,” Weight said.
Marcucci, who directs eight BYU-supported programs at the center, has been a constant source of support for the children. Her dedication is evident in her work with a young girl who initially doubted her ability to attend college. Through Marcucci's unwavering encouragement, the girl is now excited about her aspiration of attending BYU, just like Marcucci.
Both Marcucci and Weight say the opportunity to serve with the United Way has played a pivotal role in their education and career goals.
Marcucci decided to pursue a career in medicine after her sister was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, while Weight’s path was influenced by a humanitarian trip as a teenager. Serving at the South Franklin Center has given the students a direction and purpose in their journey to medical school.
“While these kids have a need for reading English, they also definitely have a need for healthcare and proper access to it,” Marcucci said. “Serving has only perpetuated my goals to become a physician because I’ve seen that there are a lot of healthcare inequities in the United States.”
Weight shares the same conviction: “I still would love to do a humanitarian trip as a doctor someday,” he said. “But I’ve realized there’s so much need in marginalized communities right here.”
“It’s not about the B I got on a test or about all my worries. It’s about loving and supporting God’s children.”
Serving these underrepresented populations has enriched the students’ education in a way classroom learning alone cannot offer. The few hours spent each week at the reading club is a small sacrifice when compared with the blessings the BYU volunteers have experienced.
“When I leave reading club I think, ‘This is what life is about.’” Marcucci said. “It’s not about the B I got on a test or about all my worries. It’s about loving and supporting God’s children.”
To learn more about BYU students volunteering with the United Way, watch the video below or click here.
