It is difficult not to get involved with a service project or two at Aquinas. Whether it is on campus or in the surrounding community, service opportunities abound. All it takes is some motivation on the part of the student and the drive to make a difference in the world. Now in her senior year at Aquinas College, Leah Nawrocki knows the ins and outs of service at Aquinas better than most. Dedicated to her work with children, Nawrocki is passionate about making service a constant part of her life.

Pursuing a double major in psychology and Spanish, Nawrocki will graduate in May 2014. A local of Grand Rapids, she chose Aquinas partly because of the study abroad programs available. After much deliberation, seeking the best program for her interests and schedule, Nawrocki studied in Costa Rica in the spring of 2012. Among her experiences was the chance to stay in the village of an indigenous tribe. Even abroad, she was able to satisfy her love of service through the reforestation project her group participated in.

On campus, Nawrocki is a member of the Psychology Club, the secretary of the Social Action Committee (SAC), a member of Saints for Life, and the founder of the Aquinas College Child Life Group. Nawrocki collaborated with Annmarie Post, Associate Director of Career and Counseling Services, to begin the Aquinas College Child Life Group. The group provides a place for her and others to share resources and information about the Child Life Specialist career option.

Nawrocki knew she wanted to study the social sciences and had the idea to become a Child Life Specialist before she came to Aquinas. Nawrocki was helped by a Child Life Specialist when she was hospitalized at nine years old. The positive impact and familiarity with the position helped her decide to pursue it herself. As a Child Life Specialist, Nawrocki could work as an advocate in a variety of medical settings including a hospital, helping children deal with traumatic events, or in a dental office, helping them cope with new experiences.

Nawrocki’s experience with service began in high school, when she became involved with the local organization, God’s Kitchen, and with opportunities at Catholic Central High School. However, upon coming to Aquinas and joining the AmeriCorps, Nawrocki dove into service with new enthusiasm. In her freshman year, she worked to earn an education award from AmeriCorps which required that she log three hundred hours of service. With the help of Eric Bridge, Coordinator of Service-Learning, and Dr. Kathy Kremer, Dean of Curriculum, Nawrocki was able to access more than enough resources to get her involved with organizations such as the Salvation Army Action Group, the cancer support community of Gilda’s Club, and the Child Life teams at De Vos Children’s Hospital - where she has the chance to use her Spanish - and at Metro Health.

After her freshman year, Nawrocki chose to stay involved with most of the organizations she had worked with. “Even though I didn’t have to count hours anymore, I just wanted to keep going with some of the organizations.” Her service work is not just a hobby or extracurricular activity, but plays directly into her plans to become a Child Life Specialist. When asked how she found the resources to connect with her service opportunities, Nawrocki said, “I think a lot of it had to do with the track I was on, career-wise, as well. I knew there was a select few organizations I wanted to get involved with that had Child Life Teams.”

Recently, Nawrocki has received significant recognition for her service in the community. After being nominated for the Michigan Campus Compact (MiCC) Outstanding Student Service Award, Nawrocki was selected as one of six students to receive the award. She formally accepted the award on April 12, 2014. In addition to this honor, Nawrocki was able to choose a non-profit to which MiCC will donate two hundred dollars. Her choice was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a charity which spreads awareness and raises money for a cure.

Nawrocki has made service a consistent part of her life and through it she has discovered the kind of career she wants to pursue. She credits Student Support Services with being a huge help to her and encourages other students to “be open to the service opportunities that are around campus and in the community. Listen to your advisors when they offer those suggestions that can help you really discover your career path.”