When you are preparing to graduate, you have lots of options. This series highlights people who chose service, and how the volunteer experience has made an impact on their lives.

Name: Kalene Weber
Volunteer Program: Mercy Volunteer Corps
Location: Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD
Hometown: Park Falls, WI
College: Viterbo University ’16, Nursing major

How did you first learn about post-graduate service? I first heard about Mercy Volunteer Corps on Facebook.  

What other options were available to you, and why did you decide on Mercy Volunteer Corps? I could have gotten a job right out of college, or I could have done a different service program. I knew in my heart that I was being called to volunteer, and after looking into MVC more, I knew that I was being called to serve with this organization.

Tell us about your service experience. I am a nurse at Mercy Medical Center on the mother/baby unit. I work as a nurse in the clinical setting, but I also help with other projects such as car seat education and a NICU parent support group. I live in community with three other volunteers. We spend the evenings and weekends together exploring Baltimore and the surrounding areas. It is a blessing to have my community members by my side through this experience because they are living out the Mercy values with me, and we can encourage and support each other through the good and bad times.

What benefits have you gained from this experience that you might not have received otherwise?  I have gained a lot of personal development in having to learn to advocate for myself. Not everybody understands what I do as a volunteer or why I volunteer (especially as a nurse), so I have to explain myself a lot and hold true to my values even when people question me.

What advice do you have for someone considering post-graduate service?  I think that post-graduate service is something to really pray and contemplate about. It is not always easy, but it is rewarding to know that you are helping in ways that are, at times, unknown to you. Plus, it is a great way to experience a new city, culture, and meet new people!  

To learn more about post-grad service opportunities, check out our RESPONSE directory, listing thousands of opportunities across the United States and abroad.