Defining Service: Saba Almuthafar

Saba Almuthafar, B.S. Psychology '26, Pre-Dental 

Joppa Mountain, TN 2025

Going to Rutledge, TN on a service immersion trip was my first experience with service immersion. It was a refreshing, eye opening week that had me reflecting on what service meant to me. We spent much of our time on different sites with goals to accomplish - building a ramp, creating a hiking trail, and being in community. 

Since starting college, I think I lost how to define a day as good or bad, a day without a to-do list of tasks checked off meant a ‘waste’ of a day to me. To go on a trip where I wasn't sure of the to-do list was a change, to shift how to define a day and a moment. As a result, I find myself slowing down more after this trip, taking moments to see the sunrise and spend time reflecting within myself. 

Something I learned is that servant leadership comes from the heart, using experiences you hold to serve others in the way you would want to be served. I got to redefine what service meant to me, to serve others in a way I don’t think I would’ve made time for in my daily life. I want to change that, that’s something I’m working on!