|
Suggested Timeline for Lang Scholars
Pre-Orientation:
Lang Scholars are invited to come before new student orientation and participate in the Chester Road Workshop. Meet your peers and learn about the best practices in community service/social justice. You also meet local community leaders and learn of opportunities in the local area.
First Year: Now is the time to explore Swarthmore and the options it offers. Take this opportunity to feel comfortable with the freshman transition. You might start working with a campus or community organization that involves your interests. Most Langs agree that trying to do everything at one time, and taking on too many leadership roles is detrimental right now.
Become part of the Lang group by getting to know the other Lang Scholars and their work. Attend presentations, workshops and social gatherings of the Lang program. Get to know the Lang advisors. Second semester start planning for a summer internship. You may wish to continue or start new activism activities. You will also help host the prospective weekend for the new Lang scholars.
Sophomore Year: The experiences of your first year should have given you a better idea of Swarthmore, as well as your personal goals. Think about what you have done in the past and what you learned from your internship. How do they relate to seminal ideas about a Project?
If you haven't started to already, consider taking classes that will give you more experience and background in your possible topic. Think about members of the faculty that specialize in your area, and if you have trouble locating them, just ask around (Lang Scholars, professors, Lang Office). Some Lang Scholars will propose a Project, and once approved, start in the summer. Other Scholars will do their internship to explore ideas of feasibilities for a Project. Remember, you must complete your internship before you enter you junior year.
Junior Year: Projects are being formulated, started, revised, and completed. Often junior year is the time Scholars take time off to do their Lang work. As most students can tell you, sometimes the Lang project process is stressful and taxing. Consider that when creating your academic schedule and be realistic about how your project will be received by the community, its sustainability, and the amount of time it will consume.
Senior Year: Complete your Lang Project if you have not already do so. You may have continued involvement with the on-going work you started. Write the final report for your project, and monitor your previous work, with an eye to sustainability and success. Evaluate your project both informally and formally. You may be asked to make presentations about your work, so this is the time to achieve a synthesis of the effort. Share your expertise with the younger Langs who are just beginning to take up the initial stages and plans of their project, if necessary.
Investigate post graduation possibilities such as Echoing Green and Coro opportunities. Career Services and the CIVIC office can help plan for employment opportunities involving community work.
Post Swarthmore: Sign up to be a mentor, internship site or advisor for the Lang program. Come to the occasional Lang reunions. Keep in touch with the College.
|
