Each spring, Boston College Lynch School students venture to Iceland for a trip grounded in Jesuit tradition. Hosted by Compass Path, a faith-based organization, the spring break excursion is one of many service-oriented programs centered around their mission, “A Path to Purpose.” The organization’s emphasis on reflection, justice, and community closely aligns with Boston College’s commitment to cura personalis—the education of the whole person. As students reflect on their experiences abroad, many say the trip did exactly that.
“One of the things that drew Compass and the Lynch School together was a shared belief that education is about more than what happens in a classroom,” explained Executive Director of Compass Path, Bryn Clark. “We wanted students to have an experience that challenged them to serve others, build present relationships across life experiences, and reflect deeply on their own values and sense of purpose.”
Students visiting Iceland on spring break service trip
Students traveling to Iceland visit one of two main service locations for their spring break. One group travels to Akureyri, where students partner with the Salvation Army to support low-income families, refugees, and other disadvantaged groups through food distribution and daily assistance. Another cohort travels to Krýsuvík, where they participate in ocean restoration efforts through coastal cleanups and environmental work. Though different in practice, both experiences are rooted in the same purpose: serving others and becoming agents of positive change.
The Compass Path service trip to Iceland was introduced in 2023 as part of an effort to further develop the Lynch School’s undergraduate offerings. While assessing the four-year landscape of the undergraduate experience, a Lynch School committee, including Julia DeVoy, associate dean of Undergraduate Programs and Students, saw an opportunity to provide further enrichment and support for Lynch School sophomores.
Students visiting Iceland on spring break service trip
During their freshman year, students participate in Experience, Reflection, and Action (ERA), which guides them to become familiar with Boston College. Junior year is absorbed by study abroad and practicum placements, while senior year is largely dedicated to cumulative projects, individual capstones, and the job search. This left the sophomore year as a blank canvas for exploration and community-building.
“As I looked at this stage of emerging adulthood, I thought that there was a piece missing. I kept seeing undergrads in the sophomore year feeling a little bit lost,” shared DeVoy. “I thought the perfect thing for Lynch would be something like this service trip, which is formative, service-oriented, and well-rounded.”
Lynch School’s Kathryn Mattocks ‘27 (Applied Psychology and Human Development) experience reflects the power of service and the importance of empathy and human connection—two central values of a Jesuit education. Mattocks described her time in Akureyri as deeply moving. She cooked and shared meals with refugees and, despite language barriers, still felt what she described as “genuine human connection through the small gestures they exchanged.”
Kathryn Maddocks with a group of students in Iceland
Whether through a hug, a high five, or even a simple wave, these moments of recognition allowed Mattocks to connect deeply with the community she served while abroad. Beyond these interactions, she remembers Iceland for the beauty of its natural landscape. From swimming in hot springs to witnessing the Northern Lights, Mattocks was amazed by the country’s scenery as well as the warmth of its people.
What proved to be most impactful for Mattocks was the reflection sparked by the experience. Referencing a phrase commonly heard at BC, she shared that after her time in Iceland, she “more fully understands what it means to be a person for and with others.”
Though the trip spans just one week, these moments leave a lasting mark on students, often inspiring new paths of academic and social involvement following their return to the Heights.
Clark reflects on the experience, stating that the most encouraging part has been witnessing “students return with a broader understanding of service. They arrive expecting to help others, but many leave having discovered the importance of listening, building relationships, and being fully present.”
One student remarked, "Staring at the constellations from the lagoon, with these people who were all strangers to one another just a week prior, made me realize the power and ability we all have to connect and unite for a common goal." Another shared, "The table talk allowed me to be vulnerable in ways that I feel is challenging in regular life. Through this experience, I grew meaningful connections with peers at BC I never would have met otherwise."
Mattock’s experience embodies the vision of the trip as described by Compass Path: to reflect on how one’s journey is part of a greater call to justice and hope.
As a cornerstone of the Lynch School’s offerings, the spring break trip to Iceland encourages students to lead with their heart, soul, and mind in environments that challenge them to grow through service and reflection.