This pilot study explored the effects of participation in a servicelearning initiative on first-year pre-service teacher education student development. The focus of the service-learning was a combination of problem-based learning and immersive activities, pairing pre-service teacher education students with an early high school-to-college bridge program established within a public urban high school in the Northeastern United States. Through examining pre-service (6) student interviews as well as content analysis of individual student journaling and researcher observations, three themes emerged that contribute to pre-service student development: (i) exposure, (ii) involvement, and (iii) learning from experience. Students who participated in the service-learning expressed perspective taking in relation to engaging and being responsive to school-aged youth. This in turn may enhance pre-service student views of their own personal growth; preparation for future work as teachers; and continued awareness and promotion of benefits to community engagement and applied learning.