Jackson Academy’s Service Fair inspired students to make a difference. The Performing Arts Center Gallery was bustling as 20+ service organizations shared their missions, motivating many students to get involved and contribute to their community.
Theresa Berman, advisor of the Interact Club, reflected on the impact of service and its connection to the school’s spiritual theme this year. “Service helps students cultivate the light of God within them so that they can share it with others for His glory,” she explained. “It opens their eyes to community needs and encourages growth — sometimes in uncomfortable but valuable ways.” Meeting new people, praying with others, serving those in need — all of these broaden students’ understanding of the human experience and their role in creating a better world.
Learning about Community Needs
Senior Lucy Jones shared how her experiences at the Mississippi Children’s Museum have given her new perspectives. “I’ve learned so much about myself,” she said. “I used to think I just followed directions, but now I realize I can be a leader, too.” She hopes to continue volunteering at the museum during college and beyond.
Lucy also likes how serving can help solve problems. “You see the needs in your community that a lot of times go over your head. It’s really eye-opening,” she said. “When you’ve been made aware of these needs, you become aware that you can be a solution to it.” She is hoping to be a part of the group that helps decorate the Children’s Hospital at Christmas. With other service opportunities she has experienced, she believes that “just bringing them a little bit of joy is so worth it.”
Giving and Receiving Joy
Junior Steven Hederman spoke about the joy experienced by both the giver and the receiver. He volunteers at a drive-through food pantry at First Ridgeland Baptist Church, transporting food and supplies and seeing the happiness of those served and the witness of the church. “I love that we share the word of God with them, too, because the food is important, but at the end of the day, God is much more important,” Steven said. “He’s bigger than all of our problems and all of their problems that they are facing.”
When Steven sees the gratitude from those he helps with food and drinks, he is happy that he can be part of providing that. “And I’d say a lesson I’ve learned is a lot of gratitude toward the opportunities that I have in life,” he said. “I encourage students to go out and volunteer because you just never know the people you’re going to meet.”
Berman emphasized that JA does not require service hours. Faculty believe students develop hearts for service when they volunteer, not because it is a mandatory obligation. “When students serve from the heart, they receive so many blessings, new insights, and true joy,” she said.
We Are In This Together
Berman also sees how students benefit from getting to know each other outside of class. “One of the most enjoyable aspects of serving in the community is doing it with friends from school. Service projects double as team building experiences as students get to know each other better while working together to serve others. Friendships are cultivated through these service opportunities. It’s really wonderful to see.”
Berman concluded by encouraging all students to get involved. “It is so rewarding to serve together in the community. You’re going to experience things that you’ve never experienced before. You will go to new places that might be a little out of your comfort zone, maybe that you’ve never been to before. Your eyes will be opened to the needs of others, and you will be able to share God’s light and love with them. You will make some new friends and meet some new people, and you will be blessed by lending a smile and a helping hand,” she said.
