Service and Self-Discovery
10/23/2025
Dodson attributes his passion for social work to his experience with Appalachia Build, saying, “Without this experience, I probably wouldn’t have gone into social work.”
A Student's Journey with Appalachia Build
Micah Dodson ’27, a social work major from Wooster, Ohio, had his perspective of life transformed during his work experience with Appalachia Build last summer.
Dodson worked as a job site coordinator last summer, already having four years of experience under his belt. No stranger to Appalachia Build, Dodson had spent two years working as a volunteer, and his last two as a paid employee.
Appalachia Build is a non-profit organization and a branch of the Mennonite Central Committee that relies on help from youth groups to rebuild houses in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. This summer, Dodson worked primarily on repairs to combat the flooding that destroyed many communities in central and north central Appalachia.
Dodson saw concepts from his social work classes at Bluffton University in action during his work experience. “Even though I’m technically not a social worker, I’m still experiencing the type of environment a social worker is in,” said Dodson. “I feel like because I’m in the environment I want to work in, it helps me build my skills.”
Dodson attributes his passion for social work to his experience with Appalachia Build, saying, “Without this experience, I probably wouldn’t have gone into social work.” Not only did he gain confidence in his ability to be a social worker, but he also learned life lessons along the way.
Through this experience, Dodson discovered that his mission in life is to serve others, and that “in life if you don’t complain, life’s better.”
“I’ve learned gratitude too,” Dodson said. “That’s the biggest hitter because the clients we work with generally live in not great conditions.” This gave Dodson some perspective, allowing him to compare his life with the lives of those he’s worked with. “Even though I might be having a bad day, I’m still having honestly a great day.”
“Learning how to be grateful for the things I have has definitely improved my mental health, and I have a much happier life than I did before this job,” said Dodson. “I used to hold a lot of anger, resentment, and frustration with myself and the world, but over the summer, my work was like a shower. When I came back to Bluffton, all that tension I had in my heart and my mind had disappeared.”
Dodson plans on working for Appalachia Build again next summer. “Over the years, I’ve created a bond with everybody there, and I feel like it’s my second home.”
Dodson has noticed “many small, sacred moments” in his time in Kentucky and West Virginia. “Not like huge epiphanies, but with dinners, with the nature around me, and with small conversations, I feel that I belong there, and that this is the time to be there,” he said. “I have a sense that I’m doing the right thing and the right work for the right reason.”
-Coen North ’26