On a warm morning in July, Senior Amanda Hudak was frustrated beyond belief.  Children were running crazily all around the classroom and would not listen to a word she said.

But this was all forgotten by lunchtime, when Hudak was laughing with the same children from the classroom in the cafeteria.  This is what a typical morning was like when Hudak participated in the summer service program Students Serving Students.

Taking place at different high needs elementary schools around Harford County, Students Serving Students entails “students interacting with [high needs children] throughout the course of the day, acting as tutors, teacher support staff, and modeling social behavior,” Service and Outreach Coordinator Tony Martin said.  The students also write reflections for each day they work.

These high needs children come from unsafe neighborhoods, have economically struggling or dysfunctional families, have low mental capability, or have mental disabilities such as autism.  Volunteers also enjoy the large amount of service hours that they accumulate when working with the program, according to St. Margaret’s teacher Laurie Christesen, founder of the program.

However, some students don’t participate  for service hours alone, but because of their genuine interest in the program.  “I’ve done it all four years and love it,” Hudak said.  Hudak assisted teachers in the classroom along with other volunteers.  She enjoys helping the children and recommends the program to all JC students.

Sophomore Alexis DiPeso also took part in the program by working with kindergarten classes.  She helped the children stay focused on the school work and complete their homework.  It was DiPeso’s second year working with the program and her favorite part has not changed.  “I love the kids,” DiPeso said.  She recommends the program to students looking for more service hours and a fun time.

The program was started in 2003 when Christesen’s son, Joe Christesen, pitched the idea of JC students working in high needs summer schools to Principal Paul Barker and the Harford County Superintendent of Summer Schools.  The idea was one that had never been attempted in Harford County and involved the students helping out in the classroom and eating breakfast and lunch with the students, according to Christesen.

Joe Christesen is now an athletic tutor at the College of William and Mary.  He got the idea for Students Serving Students from a Baltimore County high school that host a full day program for inner city children.  The program really gives JC students a chance to get “outside of their “bubble,” Christesen said.

The students must attend a training session that helps them cater to the needs of the children.  This training session helps the volunteers because the program serves about 450 high needs students each summer.

Though they participate in these sessions, the volunteers can’t always anticipate what the children will be like.  “I thought it would be poorly dressed kids,” DiPeso said, “but the kids were all in very stylish clothing.”

While the program only takes place during the summer, 57 students from JC participated and accumulated over 4000 hours collectively.  “There’s a lot of one-on-one interaction,” said Martin.  “I know [Students Serving Students] touched a lot of people both students and tutors” Christesen said.  Each tutor and student gets something different out of the program. According to Martin, the enthusiasm of the JC volunteers helps to keep this program alive.  Students Serving Students has had an impact on many people, both JC students and children, and is unique way to spend one’s summer.

Kirchner can be reached for comment at [email protected].