How to Make the Most of your Youthlinc Service Year Experience

By: Matthew Cordner

The Youthlinc Service Year experience is one that will truly change your life, but how much you gain depends on how much you put into it. The Youthlinc service year is about more than just the capstone trip, it’s about serving others and building connections both in your local area and abroad.

First, invest yourself fully into your local service. This is where the real change happens. When I was a humanitarian, I would volunteer twice a week at the Springville Food Pantry. At first, I would show up, but I wouldn’t truly “show up”. I would just do my tasks without really immersing myself into the experience. Over time, I realized that the more I put into my local service, the more rewarding it became. 

Another important part of making the most of Youthlinc is building strong relationships with your team. Your teammates quickly become a support system, and learning to work with different personalities helps you grow as a leader and as a person. Being patient, encouraging, and willing to step up when needed makes a huge difference in the overall experience.

When the time comes for the team to travel abroad, it is important to do so with an open mind. You’ll see cultures very different from your own and meet people who have life experiences far different than yours. Remember, you are not only there to serve, but to learn as well.

A vital part of Youthlinc is its phone policy. Youthlinc has a no-phone policy while in country. When I was a humanitarian, I was extremely nervous about feeling disconnected from the world without my phone. However, after a few days, I hardly even thought about it. Not having my phone actually made the experience far more enjoyable. I felt fully present in each moment rather than distracted by a screen. If you travel with an open mind and embrace the experience as it is, you will get so much more out of Youthlinc than you ever expected.

Overall, Youthlinc is an exciting opportunity that I’m extremely grateful for. I encourage every humanitarian to dive into the experience of both local and international service, and I promise it will change you for the rest of your life.