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First and last name: Alyssa Label
Year in school: Senior (Graduate 2006)
Major: Psychology Major with a Gerontology emphasis. Sociology and Women’s Studies Minor.
Home city/state: Nevada City, California
1. Where did you work?
Pedro Arrupe Center. Adults with Disabilities and Skills Plus in Santa Clara; and Julian Street Inn in San Jose.
2. What was the title of your position?
Volunteer.
3. When did you work there?
Adults with Disabilities: September 2004-June 2005.
Skills Plus: March 2005-June 2005.
Julian Street Inn: March 2005-June 2005.
4. What did you do?
I will focus on my placement at Adults with Disabilities. I worked in a cooking class that’s purpose was to help students practice and learn basic cooking skills. My primary objective was to interact with the students while I assisted them with tasks. I would guide the students at a distance in order to help them establish more independence.
5. How did you hear about this position?
I had to complete an Arrupe placement for a psychology course.
6. How does what you learned through this experience relate to your coursework and/or career goal?
I have found that the students at the Adults with Disabilities program have many
7. How did this experience help you develop your skills and abilities, your personal qualities, your values and perceptions?
Interaction with the students has allowed me to apply much of the material I have learned as an aspiring Clinical Psychologist. We would often talk about our personal lives. We would discuss coping strategies for their disabilities. It was an invaluable experience.
8. What did you learn about yourself that surprised you?
I have learned not to take every minor bump in the road so seriously. Whenever I was stressed about my coursework, the students would tell me not to worry and that everything would work out. The students helped me see that.
9. How would you describe the value of this experience to other students?
Santa Clara University is such a developed and intimate environment that it is easy to become isolated from the world outside of our school. The Pedro Arrupe programs works to help the students leave this security bubble. This experience has become an essential component to developing my well-rounded education as a Santa Clara student.
10. What advice would you give to students interested in doing this?
Absolutely participate in a community service program. It is extremely rewarding and will provide you with valuable tools for social interactions. | 
