When I learned that my class was to be the inaugural one, I became excited to be a part of something new. I was able to give feedback each step of the way, and really enjoyed being able to shape the program for future students. We heard from teachers, coastal researchers, physicians, politicians, journalists, and social workers. The idea was to gain a composite understanding of LA's problems and try to formulate plausible solutions. This inspired many of our service projects, which included taking on "reading buddies" and planting grass in the coastal wetlands. Poverty resonated with me the most, especially in the way it affects the education of young children. It forced me to acknowledge the world outside of college, and understand the plights of others. My experience with my reading buddy has influenced the service projects I coordinated in the following years, especially with Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baton Rouge.