“It’s hard after college to go from a ‘ready-made’ social circle of people in the same stage of life to living in a city on your own. I’d say the best part of PULSE is that it gives you a group of people who are going through similar things.” – Sarah Slater
A native of Southwestern PA, Sarah Slater graduated from Houghton College with a Bachelor of Science in International Development and Business Administration. While at Houghton, Sarah wrote for the campus newspaper, served on the Student Conduct Committee, and was involved in spiritual life on campus as a chapel deacon. Over the past year, she completed an honors thesis on mission change in Christian international development organizations. Sarah spent one semester in Romania working with a youth development organization and studying Romanian culture and language, and also took a month-long academic trip through the Balkan peninsula. She is passionate about urban development and public transportation, and loves investing time and energy in Pittsburgh. She is serving at the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG).
Stephen: What is the best part of the PULSE experience?
Sarah: It’s hard after college to go from a ‘ready-made’ social circle of people in the same stage of life to living in a city on your own. I’d say the best part of PULSE is that it gives you a group of people who are going through similar things.
Stephen: Tell me something you are learning about yourself through PULSE.
Sarah: I need to give myself the space to be an introvert, and not be worried about going places every single day. It’s just really important that I give myself the space to read things, think about things and spend time outdoors, and not worry about missing out on things.
Stephen Hart: What do you enjoy most about your nonprofit partnership?
Sarah Slater: Everyone who works there is an expert in their field. I’m trying to catch up. I like it because it’s very challenging, a stretching experience. They’re all really enjoyable people.
Stephen: What do you love about Pittsburgh?
Sarah: I went to a college that was close to national forests and farms. I really love being in a place where there are museums and cultural events and more than just a couple thousand people in the county. I love the city. That’s where I want to live.
Stephen: What’s your favorite “family meal” recipe at the house?
Sarah: My favorite is quiche. It’s really great because half of the house is vegetarian and the other half is decidedly meat eaters. One quiche is Italian sausage and another is cheese and vegetables.
Story by PULSE Participant Stephen Hart.
Read more Participant Stories from Fellows about their experience in PULSE. If you would like to learn more about the PULSE program, please visit our Serve with Us page.
Also, check out other Stories of Transformation: