Learning From Sequoia Students: A Guide for Future Volunteers

Abstract

This project centers the voices of immigrant students at Sequoia High School who participate in a long-standing partnership with Stanford volunteers. While much of the program’s impact is typically discussed through the perspectives of teachers or college students, this project asks what the students themselves think. Through audio interviews with Sequoia students, I document their reflections on working with Stanford volunteers, what support feels most meaningful to them, and what could be improved. Drawing from my own two years as a volunteer and my background as the child of Mexican immigrants, this project aims to shift service learning away from a helper-centered model and toward one grounded in listening, reciprocity, and respect. By preserving student voices and sharing them with future volunteers, this work seeks to strengthen the partnership and encourage more thoughtful, consistent engagement.

View Senior Project here.