Livi Chinsen

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Livi Chinsen
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Livi
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Chinsen
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Class of 2025
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BC Relay For Life has helped me grow as a leader and understand that the BC community is so supportive of one another. To say that BC Relay For Life has meant everything to my BC experience is an understatement.

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Hometown: Canton, Mass.

Major: Biology

Program: Relay for Life

Memorable experience: I've been involved with BC Relay For Life since my freshman year. Our overnight event in the rec center happens every spring and it is so amazing seeing our club celebrate our fundraising efforts for the year and honor and remember those who've been impacted by cancer. My favorite part of the night, the Luminaria ceremony, offers time for reflection and community building where we take a community lap around the illuminated track. It's a beautiful moment that you have to experience yourself but is one of the biggest reasons why I love BC Relay so much. Without the support from the VSLC staff, the club would not be able to run and host the biggest non-athletic event on campus! 

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

Serving for others can look different in so many ways. Whether it be a listening ear for people, making cards for cancer patients, or fundraising for the American Cancer Society, service can be seen in the quietest moments to the biggest non-athletic event of the year! BC Relay For Life has helped me grow as a leader and understand that the BC community is so supportive of one another. To say that BC Relay For Life has meant everything to my BC experience is an understatement.

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Sophie Liu

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Sophie Liu
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Sophie
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Liu
Title
Class of 2026
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Through my time at BC BIGS, I recognized the most important aspect of building a community was to hear every voice and person, and to get to know each individual on a personal level. 

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Hometown: Houston, Texas

Major: Biochemistry

Program: BC Bigs

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: As a campus-based BIG, my most memorable experience was at every event grabbing Starbucks with my Little because that was our special time to catch up about school, friends, and life. My Little with her vanilla bean frappe and me with my java chip frappe, which she always made faces at because she hated coffee. We would take a stroll around campus to check out events happening or just enjoy the nice weather and sit on the lawns for a bit to talk. Those moments always felt like a steady progression in our friendship!

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

As a current BC BIGS leader, VSLC has provided me the opportunity to implement activities and reflection in order to form a community out of our program with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Massachusetts. The events that my leaders and I plan revolve around teamwork and community whether that be between pairs of BIGs and Littles, or Littles with Littles/BIGs with BIGs. Through my time at BC BIGS, I recognized the most important aspect of building a community was to hear every voice and person, and to get to know each individual on a personal level. That was the key in the success of how impactful and enjoyable our Saturday events and family groups were.

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Yazmeene Louis

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Yazmeene Louis
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Yazmeene
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Louis
Title
Class of 2026
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It is an honor to be surrounded by people who devote their time to others and have inspired me to become more selfless. 

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Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Major: Neuroscience

Program: BC Bigs, Welles Crowther Leadership Fellows

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: One of the most memorable experiences from my time in BC Bigs was our Halloween event from the Fall semester. It was my first semester as a leader and the first event that my co-lead and I spearheaded. I deeply appreciated how dedicated the other leaders were to organizing the event, and incredibly proud of how other Bigs came together the day before the event to decorate. All of the Bigs truly believe that we need to be our best to give our kids the events and effort that they deserve from us, and this experience showed that. Seeing the older kids excited to join in on the planning and the younger kids excited for candy made the hours of preparing worth it.

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

In my time at Boston College, I have realized that it is not only my responsibility, but a privilege as a new member of this community to lend my service to others. My involvement with the VSLC has awarded me a community of my own at Boston College in exchange for my involvement in the greater Boston community. It is an honor to be surrounded by people who devote their time to others and have inspired me to become more selfless.

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MJ Ardito

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MJ Ardito
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MJ
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Ardito
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Class of 2026
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By investing in a single connection and walking alongside someone through their day-to-day life, I’ve come to see how sustainable and transformative that kind of service can be. It shifted my view of leadership and community from something large and kind of removed to something relational, consistent, and rooted in love.

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Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Major: Marketing and Management & Leadership

Program: BC Bigs

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: One of the most meaningful parts of my time in BC Bigs has been the relationship I’ve built not just with my Little, Zoe, but with her entire family. Over the years, I’ve been welcomed into their lives and treated like a member of their family. As someone who moved far from home to attend college, that sense of belonging has meant the world to me. I have also found community with other Bigs in the program who share similar values, and some of them have become my closest friends at BC.

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

Before joining BC Bigs, I used to think that the only “real” or impactful service was about helping large groups of people or organizing big initiatives. Being a Big has taught me that service can be just as powerful when it’s focused on one or two deep, meaningful relationships. By investing in a single connection and walking alongside someone through their day-to-day life, I’ve come to see how sustainable and transformative that kind of service can be. It shifted my view of leadership and community from something large and kind of removed to something relational, consistent, and rooted in love.

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Marco Nader

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Marco Nader
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Marco
Last Name
Nader
Title
Class of 2027
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My involvement in RTB has shaped my understanding of community because it has made me realize how capable we are of actually making things better.

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Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Major: Business Analytics

Program: Rebuilding Together Boston

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: In April, about 20 of us visited an elementary school in Hyde Park and lent a helping hand. Their garden had deteriorated with time, and we were able to revitalize it by building plant beds and filling them with new topsoil. The project left the school's garden in great shape for their students and staff to plant new flowers. Every time I take the train home from BC and I pass the school, I can see the new garden from the window. I love projects like these because they have a very tangible impact on our community.

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

My involvement in RTB has shaped my understanding of community because it has made me realize how capable we are of actually making things better. Most of the time, it can seem like the problems our community faces are insurmountable, and that it will take a force larger than us to fix them. Through the projects I've been a part of in RTB, I've seen that each of us has the power to make our community better. Even if it's just one house, or one park, or one school, it's a worthwhile endeavor because this service is actively impacting our neighbors' lives. We have what it takes to lift our community up.

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Gabriela Quirk

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Gabriela Quirk
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Gabriela
Last Name
Quirk
Title
Class of 2028
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I still look back in my journal from the trip to remember those moments of immense community and connectedness! 

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Hometown: Southington, Connecticut

Major: International Studies

Program: Jamaica Mustard Seed

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: At the close of each day during our service trip, our group participated in reflection sessions. I learned so much from hearing others' experiences which gave me great insight about my fellow volunteers. Being able to take a moment in silence allowed me to be present and to recognize my own personal journey as the week went on. I often found myself continuing to write in my journal after reflections ended to capture all the thought-provoking concepts our group discussed.  I still look back in my journal from the trip to remember those moments of immense community and connectedness! 

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

My involvement in VSLC programming helped me to understand the different forms of communication and engaging in a relationship with another. Most of the residents we engaged with were unable to speak, which caused me to find other ways to communicate without speaking.  Most times, just by spending quality time holding hands or simply sitting and existing. This was an extremely comforting and peaceful feeling that allowed me to learn unique capabilities and life lessons.

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Jedson Dimanche

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Jedson
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Dimanche
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Jedson Dimanche
Title
Class of 2026
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This trip opened my eyes to the reality that there is so much work to be done in this world for the less fortunate, so many lives that need hope, love, and care. Now, I want a job that allows me to make a difference, to bring light into someone’s darkest moments.

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Hometown: Dorchester, Massachusetts

Major: General Business, Pre-Med

Program: Jamaica Mustard Seed

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: A memorable moment is when I was in Jamaica. When I first got there, they told me that they had some Haitian kids there. I thought it was only one or two. When I finally met them at one of the communities called "Jacob’s Ladder," I was so happy to see them, and I almost cried. I almost cried not because they were taken from Haiti in the middle of gang violence, but because they saw someone who spoke the same language as them. They were so happy to talk to me. One of the girls was talking to me, and she said, "Mwen renmen w," which means "I love you." It reminded me that sometimes, just being present and speaking someone's language can bring hope in ways words alone never could.

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

It shaped my understanding by making me pay more attention to my peers, be more present in every moment, and helped me choose what kind of career I want. If you had asked me back in the day what kind of career I wanted, I would have said I wanted a career that could make me rich. But after participating in the Jamaica Mustard Seed trip, everything changed. I realized that money is not the most important thing in life. I discovered that helping others brings a kind of joy and purpose that wealth alone could never provide. This trip opened my eyes to the reality that there is so much work to be done in this world for the less fortunate, so many lives that need hope, love, and care. Now, I want a job that allows me to make a difference, to bring light into someone’s darkest moments. This experience didn’t just inspire me; it reinforced my desire to become a doctor, someone who heals, serves, and uplifts others when they need it most.

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Marissa VanOrmer

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Marissa VanOrmer
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Marissa
Last Name
VanOrmer
Title
Class of 2027
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Each [VSLC service program] is deeply rooted in the same guiding principle: a love for others. When that love remains at the heart of service and leadership, it fosters genuine connection and meaningful impact, making every avenue of service 'correct.' 

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Hometown: Thomaston, Connecticut

Major: Applied Psychology and Human Development and Theology

Programs: Prison Arts Outreach, BC Bigs, and the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice 

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: One of my favorite moments from my VSLC experiences happened recently at Prison Arts Outreach's first-ever speaker event called Voices of the Justice System. We had an incredible group of speakers from many aspects of justice work, including a BC Prison Education Program student (BCPEP). While the whole evening was powerful, inspiring, and impactful, what specifically made it so special was the many other BCPEP students who came to support the gentleman on the panel. Seeing such a close-knit, special community at an event put on by our small club was beautiful. As a PAO volunteer, going into the prison and spending time with the women there is one of the greatest blessings in my life. Because they have such a big piece of my heart, listening to the panelists and audience members passionate about social justice, specifically related to the carceral system, was just as heart-warming as it was a call to action. 

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

My involvement in VSLC programming has profoundly shaped my understanding of community, service, and leadership, particularly in realizing that there is no singular or ‘correct’ way to serve. My experiences have been vastly different, whether being a 'big sister' to an elementary school student, leading workshops with incarcerated individuals, or collaborating with Jesuit schools across the U.S. in advocacy. Nonetheless, each is deeply rooted in the same guiding principle: a love for others. When that love remains at the heart of service and leadership, it fosters genuine connection and meaningful impact, making every avenue of service 'correct.'

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David Kim

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David Kim
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David
Last Name
Kim
Title
Class of 2024
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Through witnessing the work of JMS, I have become a more compassionate, empathetic person who strives to acknowledge the humanity in every person I interact with.

Description-1st Column

Hometown: Cary, North Carolina

Major: Neuroscience

Program: Jamaica Mustard Seed

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: One of the moments that stuck out to me both times I visited JMS communities was the dedication of the people who worked for the organization. It was inspirational to see groundspeople, nurses, administrators, priests, and the entire staff work together for one common goal: to enrich the lives of and care for the residents. Seeing the persistent compassion of the JMS staff has informed my career, my relationships, and my everyday interactions.

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

I know this sounds so cliche, but my involvement in VSLC/JMS has shown me what being a servant leader means. Through witnessing the work of JMS, I have become a more compassionate, empathetic person who strives to acknowledge the humanity in every person I interact with. Especially, I think I've seen the importance of loving those who we often view as hard to love. I've also become someone who can bring some of these core experiences to others, whether that be through creating similar opportunities for others or by starting similar conversations. 

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Jack Devine

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Jack Devine
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Jack
Last Name
Devine
Title
Class of 2027
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This program reminded me how vital an open mind and an open heart are for growth. Through hearing what others believe and what others have gone through, I not only grew closer to them, but also challenged my own worldview. 

Description-1st Column

Hometown: Norwalk, Connecticut

Major: Political Science

Program: Jamaica Mustard Seed

Describe a memorable experience participating in one of our programs: During the Jamaica Mustard Seed immersion trip, I had many new and memorable experiences. For instance, I remember feeding and bonding with the residents during the first day. At first I was a little timid; I didn’t know how to go about feeding another person. But, after watching the aunties proceed with a selfless sense of enthusiasm and joy, I soon joined in and their attitude set the tone for the entire trip. 

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How did your involvement in VSLC programming shape your understanding of community, service, and/or leadership?

Our group was comprised of a set of people with various personal and religious backgrounds. During this trip, I discovered how easy it was to bond over our differences and grow in community through simply sharing our beliefs with one another. This program reminded me how vital an open mind and an open heart are for growth. Through hearing what others believe and what others have gone through, I not only grew closer to them, but also challenged my own worldview. 

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