Chelsea Glidden, Class of 2011

I graduated in December 2014 from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and a Minor in Psychology. While at SNHU, I was a Resident Assistant, a member of the University Honors program, and had been very involved with the Center for Community Engaged Learning. At the Center for Community Engaged Learning, I was the Head Site Coordinator for multiple after-school programs that worked with the immigrant and refugee populations of Manchester, New Hampshire.

I  was also awarded the Campus Compact Presidents’ Leadership Award for my involvement and dedication to community service. The award is given to one student per university that “has made outstanding contributions to community service, service learning, and/or civic engagement efforts on their campus. This award is for a student or student organization that has made service an integral part of their college experience as evidenced through their contribution to the community.”

In December of 2014, I led an Alternative Break service trip to the Dominican Republic. On this trip, I worked with the organization Outreach 360 to teach English to children and help them to break out of the cycle of poverty. After graduation, I am currently serving a year of service with City Year. If I choose to do so, I hope to stay in Manchester, New Hampshire and continue to work with the populations and children that I worked with during my time at SNHU.

I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today if I had not been a part of the Trekkers program. Trekkers taught me to embrace who I am, and to push myself outside of my comfort zone. It sparked my love for service and my passion to make a difference in this world. Trekkers taught me more than I can express in words.