MVS Program at Bethel College
The Mennonite Voluntary Service program shows how a gap year can be useful.
Last week a couple of students came back to Bethel to promote the opportunity for current students. This opportunity comes in the form of a gap year for students. This gap year allows students to work out in the community to figure out what exactly they want to do.
The organization they were promoting is called Mennonite Voluntary Service or MVS. The students take a gap year in order to participate in service opportunities. Examples of this is in hospital, clinic, or schooling areas. MVS can help students decide if that career path is one they would like to go into.
Schyler Entz, a Bethel College Alumni, came back to Bethel to share what this opportunity means to her. She states “A gap year or MVS provides a perfect opportunity to slow down and explore a new city.” Entz explained her uncertainty for the future “At this time last year I was in a position of what am I going to do next year?” Currently, she is working to become a teacher and plans to do that next year.
Entz also said “I’m happy I was able to reach out to Bethel students now that could be in a similar boat that I was in just last year.” Entz came back from Tucson Arizona to share with Bethel students the idea of this opportunity. She also notes that she encourages all students to look into joining the MVS program.
The students camped in front of the cafeteria for a couple days spreading information as well as taking names for the opportunity. They also gave out free candy and pens to students. There was also an announcement made during convocation to make students aware of this opportunity.