Healing Through Helping: The Power of Service at Pacific
Through service, students discover fulfillment in showing up for others and themselves.
Volunteering is not only a powerful tool for community change, but also a meaningful way to support mental well-being, especially for college students navigating academic pressures and personal growth. At the University of the Pacific, the Volunteer Center’s initiatives are built with the dual purpose of serving the Stockton community while boosting the mental, emotional, and social development of Pacific students. By offering a wide range of service opportunities, from one-time events to ongoing partnerships, students are encouraged to explore service as a consistent and fulfilling part of their lives.
Programs like One Bus One Cause, which provides bi-monthly transportation-supported service days, expose students to the real needs of greater Stockton and San Joaquin County while promoting a sense of pride and connection. Research has shown that such volunteer engagement can reduce stress, build a strong sense of community, and improve overall quality of life.
“Personally, I enjoy volunteering as it allows me to interact with others and work together for a common cause. I have had nothing but the best experiences working with One Bus One Cause and many other on-campus opportunities. If I wasn't meeting new people, I ended up learning new skills and honing my own skills.” - Brylo Lopez Lara, Political Science ‘28
Moreover, these programs go beyond volunteering, they promote leadership development and hands-on learning. Programs like College Corps and the Community Involvement Program (CIP) help students become change-makers who care about education, equity, and community connection. These experiences help turn service into something that is not just a one-time event, but a regular habit that supports both the community and students’ own mental well-being.
Pacific is one of only four private universities in California recognized for its commitment to community engagement and service-learning, authorizing Pacific to conduct its own branch of College Corps. College Corps offers students the chance to earn academic credit and up to $10,000 by completing 450 hours of service during the school year. That kind of consistent involvement builds structure, ambition, and connection, which are key ingredients for better mental health. A study from the Journal of Happiness Studies found that people who volunteer regularly feel more satisfied with life and report better mental health than those who do not volunteer. With College Corps fellows committing to an academic year of service, the consistency of volunteering for a civic space they are dedicated to will help students find meaningful purpose.
In CIP, Stocktonian natives recognize the importance of helping out their community. Each cohort of CIP Scholars becomes a tight-knit learning community, where students grow from engaging in valuable community service and leadership experiences beyond the classroom. Finding an academic, social, and professional life balance helps scholars develop a sense of pride and identity. The more CIP members feel better about themselves through volunteerism for their hometown, the more likely they are to have a positive view of their life and future. Active volunteerism helps students realize how much of an impact they will have on Stockton and beyond once they attain their degree.
People volunteer for all kinds of reasons, such as exploring potential career paths, building skills, meeting new people, or to simply make a difference. No matter the reason, at Pacific, there are tons of ways to get involved based on your interests. One easy starting point is participating in Pacific’s annual Day of Service during Week of Welcome, a fun way to connect with others, help out the community, and maybe even discover a new passion. You never know, volunteering might be just what you need!
Link to College Corps Application: https://connect.pacific.edu/register/collegecorps2025
Link to Community Involvement Program Application: https://connect.pacific.edu/account/login?r=https%3a%2f%2fconnect.pacific.edu%2fapply%2fform%3fid%3da9a638be-d2a5-40f6-87fa-2a3b9321da39
Sources:
https://www.nami.org/people/how-volunteering-improves-mental-health/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-8