STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Marissa Manzo ’28 Discusses Service Trip

By Marcus Smith '27, student correspondent

Marissa Manzo ʼ28 is an occupational therapy major with a guaranteed seat in her master's program from Shelton, Connecticut. During winter intersession, she served as the peer facilitator for a domestic service trip to Syracuse that was run by The University of Scranton's Center for Service and Social Justice.

With five other Scranton students, and University chaperones Reina Prado, graduate admissions counselor and Traci Vennie, assistant registrar, Manzo volunteered with L'Arche Syracuse, a residential service that helps people with intellectual disabilities live independently.

On campus, Manzo is an aide for CSSJ's SMART program, a student tutor, a member of the women's crew team, a board member of the neurodivergent inclusion association, and a participant in the Occupational Therapy Department's Go Baby Go program.

She recently sat down for an interview with Royal News student correspondent Marcus Smith '27 about her experience as a peer facilitator.

Q: How did you find out about domestic service trips?

A: CSSJ, the Center for Service and Social Justice, does a bunch of service trips throughout the year. We do domestic and international trips. I did FIRST, which is First-years Involved in Reflective Service Together. [KGC1] So, that was my intro. Before I even came to college, I went for a week there. Then I was involved with them through other service trip-esque kinds of stuff. I did something called SPARK. I'm doing something called SMART right now. Both work with at-risk youth.

On the intersession service trip, we worked with a community called L'Arche, which supports adults with mental, physical and developmental disabilities, which was intriguing for me as an OT major. I was like, oh, this is right up my alley. So, I really wanted to go, but I didn't think I was going to be a peer facilitator.

Q: What were some of the things that you would do as a peer facilitator?

A: Once we got our group, we had weekly meetings. Ours was on a Tuesday night. … We talked about what we expected for the trip, any apprehensions we had about it, if we wanted to do fundraisers … just kind of getting to know each other. I would also meet with the chaperones and I'd keep everyone in the loop before the trip started. Then, during the trip, I would lead reflections. I created reflections, like any kind of service trip you go on or any retreat at Chapman Lake. I kind of based my reflections on themes of L'Arche like acceptance, diversity, living the Gospel. Then when we were there, I would lead the reflections. I was also like a point of contact for the person at L'Arche so, I had someone to contact with our itinerary.

Q: What expectations did you have going into the trip? How did it live up to or surpass those expectations?

A: I did service trips throughout high school, and they were very much based on active service, like building houses. This …was an immersive service trip, which I'd never been on. An immersive service trip is less about doing; it is more just being with the people, which at first was kind of scary for me. I have to be doing something at all times, my hands have to be busy, or I have to be talking or moving. So, it was definitely a change of pace to just sit and hang out. Maybe I was coloring with someone. Maybe I was sitting in silence. By day three, I kind of got comfortable with it. It was definitely different from anything I've ever done before.

Q: How would you say it fits into the Jesuit teachings and ideals that we try to follow here at Scranton?

A: L'Arche's whole idea is that we're working with an underserved and very vulnerable population. The way L'Arche looks at it is: Yes, this person may have autism, but this person was also, in their youth, on the Olympic or Paralympic bowling team. The members of L'Arche community have all lived such interesting lives. I think learning about them kind of fits into cura personalis and searching for more.

Q: How does going on a domestic trip compare to doing a service trip abroad?

A: I understand the temptation to want to go abroad and see a whole different culture, but I still think I got just as much cultural understanding as I would have if I went abroad. In the United States, we have so many different cultural pockets that are so different from each other.

Q: Do you have a particular favorite memory or moment from the trip that stand out to you?

A: The core members, the people who live in this community, are very funny and very vibrant. They tell you exactly how it is. We went bowling with them. I'm not the best bowler. I was bowling and I thought I did pretty well; I hit four pins down. I turned around all happy. I looked behind me and three people (from L'Arche) were sitting booing me.

Q: Any advice for students who are interested in service trips but still on the fence about committing?

A: Yes. I say like Nike, 'Just do it,' and don't say no. I'm someone who has a lot of apprehensions about new things. However, I think if I hadn't gone on this trip, my life wouldn't be going on the route it's on. I think it really has changed me for the better. Whatever service trip you go on, it is meant for you; the service trip finds you. I think if anybody has apprehensions, just go into it with an open mind and heart and really just dive right into it.

Q: Do you plan to participate on more service trips with CSSJ?

A: Yes, absolutely! I definitely hope to do more service trips in the future.

Read about CSSJ intersession domestic service trips to Florida, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.