Looking back on my freshman year, I regret not venturing out of my college campus bubble to interact with the greater Richmond community. I never realized how important involving myself in community service was until the first few weeks of sophomore year. This semester taking a class that focuses on justice and civil society has required me to commit to a service project in the city of Richmond.

Often times as college students, it is easy to get wrapped up in our own lives trying to balance academics and our social lives. It's common for us to become complacent in an established routine, and because of this, we miss out on opportunities to engage in things other than the library and fraternity parties.

Last week when my roommate and I were driving home from the city where we tutor kindergartners, we became more aware of the importance of interacting with the people in the area in which we go to school. We have not only been able to create connections with the children who live in this area, but also enjoyed the chance to explore different parts of the city that we most likely never would have seen before.

Because our class focuses on the challenges that American families face, especially when it comes to poverty and lack of resources, our community service projects are focused in the areas of Richmond where these things are more prevalent. Before taking the class and choosing a community service project, I could not have ever imagined that families in this area lived in such poverty.

In tutoring young children, I have turned my attention to the limited access to adequate schooling in the Richmond area. It is hard to believe how poor the quality of education is, especially when it exists right outside of the University of Richmond campus. It has been rewarding and fulfilling to be able to help tutor kids who are in dire need of academic support.

If I had never gotten involved with giving back to the community, I don't think I would've realized to the fullest extent how lucky we college students are to have access to such amazing resources. While our plates our often full with the pressure of achieving academic excellence along with maintaining a diverse social life, it is extremely important to expose ourselves to the community in which we are living for four years and understand what is taking place outside of our campus bubble.