Alternative Spring Break 2008

This week was an excellent learning experience of both negative and positive things. I’ve learned a lot about this community and the people in it, and their lives. And while learning about their lives, I learned about myself and to live life to the fullest and appreciate life each day as it comes.
Being here has helped me define my career path. I now know that in whatever I may do in my future, I will be sure that I am helping those who are less fortunate than me.
- Charita Capers, Senior, Marketing

The overall skill I feel that I learned from this trip is communication. The last months I’ve really been in a shell until I came on this trip. I can’t remember the last time I felt this good. Everyone on this trip was just awesome and seeing the looks on the people’s faces really made me come out of my shell. I will never forget the memories I’ve made from this trip. Not only have we touched the people’s lives that we’ve helped but they have touched us too. After working with Darren today, I might look into being an electrician. Then I could come and help out like he does.
I learned how to plant flowers and I’ve never done that before. I’m always going to have to work with people and I might not know them so this trip really helped me work with people I didn’t know at all. It was all in all a great time.
- Lenny Leclercq, Freshman, Undecided

This whole experience has influenced me to be a better person. To help those in need and never turn my back on ANYONE! Everyone is created equally… therefore we should treat everyone equally!
- Mokena Trigueros, Sophomore, Accounting

I’ve learned a lot of new skills on this trip. I have done work that I thought I would never do like use a power tool or dig a hole. There were also a lot of skills that I can transfer to my career.
I met a lot of new people and built a lot of lasting relationships. I was just so blessed to have participated in this experience although every day was not sunshine like I would like it to be.
Crystal Amons, Legal Studies, African/African American Studies

It wasn’t until we were ripping up the floor that I felt really challenged, and I feel like I hit that head on. It may seem weird but I really relish in the fact that I worked hard and did my part. I’m not sure exactly what I learned from this experience, but one thing that really surprised me was how friendly everyone ended up being. Of course I knew the people would be nice, but I was caught off guard with how easy it was to approach my fellow volunteers and just talk to them.
This can help transfer to my career field in the fact that it helps me realize how nice it is to help other people. I feel like I was all around well rounded on my skills for this trip, except for the waking up early part. I’m not sure if this trip changed me, but I know if it did it was for the better.
Joe Butler, Sophomore, Criminology

I can’t imagine growing up African-American in the south during the Civil
Rights Movement. Such pain and suffering and fear. I wonder if I would have
been passive or active about my rights—if I would have just gone with the
flow or stood up for my rights as a person. I honestly don’t know, but it’s
a good challenge to think about. I am very proud of the men and women who
dis so beacefully and non-violently. They did not stoop down to the level of
their oppressors, they rose above with honor and determination.
- Amanda Heshelman, Sophomore,

Things I learned from this experience definitely include sacrificing. There
will be times in my life when I will be apathetic or tired of doing the same
things day t day, but I know that life isn’t about me. I wasn’t made for
myself and to please myself. There is a greater purpose.
For example, at RFS I found out that spending three hours tutoring kids can
be hard on your brain—perfect place to deny yourself of what you want to do.
And at reflection time, being willing to be vulnerable with people is hard
at times. Always being in a group setting and not having your own personal
time is a sacrifice.
- Michelle Kreamer, Sophomore, Elementary and Special Education

As a white person visiting the King Center, I’m left feeling appalled. No,
I’m not personally responsible for the mistreatment of African Americans,
nor is my family, yet it pains me to realize the intolerance and cruelty of
these people that I am grouped with (white Americans). Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. was a wonderful man. While walking in amongst blacks, whites, and
Asian people, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought that his dream, for
the most part, has come true. I hope he knows what a difference he made.
I love that Africans are now coming to America as refugees. That means that
*finally* they are coming from oppression to freedom, unlike the slave trade
in which free people in Africa were kidnapped and taken to the “Land of the
Free” only o be treated as inhuman. I think MLK has helped to make refugee
resettlement in America even possible.
- Lisa Nepote, Sophomore, Elementary Education

I feel today came so fast and I feel that yesterday was Monday. Today I
found out that I helped a lot of people by spending six days of my life
doing community service. I will miss our great times of being with this
wonderful team, or friends, as they are to me now, and I will remember every
single moment I had on this trip.
- Komail “KJ” Quraish, Freshman, Safety Management

One of the students in the ESL class I was working with this morning was from Darfur, and during the break she got a call that some of her family had been killed. Someone had gone into the camp where they were and just burned it to the ground. They can just be there in a class and get a call like that, and she stuck through it and stayed the rest of the day to learn English.
- Mileah Davis, Freshman, Nursing

My day was great. I was nervous about the ESL classes because I’d never done that before. I was in a class where they knew enough English so they could ask me questions and I was able to help them learn words and their meanings. They asked me if I was going to be there tomorrow, and I said I didn’t know, and they said they wanted me to stay forever.
It’s heart breaking because its our last day [with the kids at RFS] and we’ve got so attached to them. It’s hard to say that we’re not coming back next week.
- Kendra Thomas, Sophomore, Public Relations and Spanish minor

I think ignorance is the largest part of the problem concerning refugee resettlement in America. Some people are completely in the dark, as I was prior to ASB, and others are simply unaware of the hardships they face once they do get here. Also, education courses and materials are often geared toward the American culture. This often makes homework for refugee and immigrant children hard, because they do not understand concepts that we feel are almost innate. I may ask to present about this experience in my Multicultural Education class.
- Lisa Nepote, Sophomore, Elementary Education

It felt great how when you smile at them, they smile back. They matched my smile every time.
- Mileah Davis, Freshman, Nursing

Some problems I’ve noticed is that refugees do not get a lot of one-on-one attention and help. It seemed that the kids were just passed over in school. Also, with so many refugees in this town, I believe it is harder to find a job, and they get paid much less.
This experience has really helped me to recognize the large population of refugees. I really think there is a need for people to stay involved with helping this population. This week has helped me to be more accepting and patient of those that speak another language or are from another country. They are trying so hard. I realize now how frustrating it can be and how many other problems a refugee could be having besides just with learning English.
- Katie Hunter, Senior, Family & Consumer Science

I think the first problem is that not enough people really know how bad it is down here. I never really knew how bad Mississippi was until this trip. I think everyone is focusing on the wrong things. Look at how much money we spend a day at war to help build another country’s government, why not worry about us first.
It’s like $20 million a day for us to be in Iraq. Why not put some, just a little bit of that money towards relief work. I think we need to focus on the people, the real stuff. It’s just bad to see this stuff still like this after three years. It kinda makes me mad after seeing how much still needs to be done, how little supplies and how little help there is.
- Lenny Leclercq, Freshman, Undecided

People who are poorer and less educated are the ones in need of the most help but they are the ones that have to go through the most work to get it. Less emphasis could be given to menial projects and more to rebuilding homes. Also, more coverage could be given about things. Some people have almost forgotten about it or think every thing is fixed. This experience makes me wish I could do more for the people affected by the hurricane and all other disasters.
- Chris Waters, Sophomore, Construction Management

I think the underlying social issues that influence the problem are that some people are trying to take advantage of the situation. I talked with Kevin today about apartments. I asked if rent would go up for people sine the complexes would be brand new. He said it would because not only are things new, but insurance would be higher and the owners need more money for rebuilding costs.
Most people think everything is back to normal down here. They think that since it has been three years that all the work has been done. If it was still talked about in the media, than people would recognize people still need help and would donate more money and participate more with volunteering for relief.

My future beliefs are that gulf coast will be like a ghost town compared to what it was because businesses are scared to build on the coast. People are not able to live back here because of the history Katrina left. The global warming scare will cause folks to not want to establish a home. The gulf will have the rich folks who can afford the high insurance and cost of living, and the poor folks pushed out.
- Justin Fenn, Senior, Radio/Television/Video

I learned the foundational work of running electricity. I spent some time on the roof and outside putting together the electric boxes. I drilled the holes put in the plugs around the boxes, and grounded the wires.
I really made an impact and progress on the two houses. We got a lot done and the house is really close to having electricity and taking a big step towards normalcy.
- A.J.Patton, Senior, Finance

I stayed back at camp today. We were in charge of cooking breakfast and completing the daily chores. We got to work very closely with Kim today. She told us several interesting stories about the people she’s helped and the differences that Hope City has made.
The cooking was a challenge, but we worked well together. We concocted a special dish for the morning. We called the dish the “Mona-Lisa Special” for it was a thing of rare beauty. It was a big hit! This is a big accomplishment for me, because I am uncomfortable in the kitchen. I enjoyed the day at the camp.
- Analyssa Noe, Legal Studies

Today was an all around rewarding day. First I must tell that I was a little uneasy because we saw the house and was told to watch out for snakes and mice, not to mention my phobia that I have…I was very proud of myself today. For there to only be four people in my group with that great of a job, we accomplished a lot! I really don’t think I would have changed anything about my day at all!
- Crystal Amons, Legal Studies and African/African-American Studies

I feel the impact we made mostly came from our experience at church. It reminds me of how unified we are. These people are just like us, despite the accents and sweet tea we are no different from the congregation. Chris Waters and I sat and had a conversation with the pastor about deer hunting that either of us had countless times before with any person in our own hometowns. The impact shared today I think was two-fold. We helped to fix up the church where these people congressed in search of spiritual fulfillment but they help us to realize yet again that we are all brought together across this country because we are all the same.
I used to think that American values were dying but the more I see, the more I realize that they aren’t dead, the are just overlooked.
- Michael Hull, Sophomore, Physics

I believe this experience will help me understand exactly how hard it is to be a refugee who speaks no English at all. I will have a better appreciation of foreigners who move here to America. I should be very grateful to live in a country where I am free to live my life any way I want without being persecuted.
At the refugee center we helped a boy from Somalia with a paper, and I helped a little African girl with her Math. Some of the refugees speak three or more languages—I’m struggling to speak two. I feel like I want to help international students learn English, and I can also learn a little bit of their language.
–Kendra Thomas, Sophomore, Public relations, Spanish minor

I had a really good day. Soccer brought me back to high school, and it made me feel good when the boys wanted to pick me to be on their team. I felt like I really did something today. There was one boy today that was having a very bad day and didn’t want to do anything. One of the teachers asked me to take him out to another room for one-on-one tutoring. It took a lot of time and patience, but I think I got through to him. He finally opened up and I found out he was upset about his brother. I thought it was really good to talk to him, because even though he didn’t want to talk to anyone, he would open up to me, and I feel like I really made a difference in his day. I felt bad because he thought I was going to be his tutor forever, but I was only going to be there for 2 days. The whole day today at RFS, and doing ESL this morning, it made me really want to be a teacher even more.
–Katie Hunter, Senior, Family and Consumer Science

I’m grateful for the experience, and it’s sad to know that tomorrow is really the last day that we get to work with these families, especially for Goreti who doesn’t get somebody to come and teach her English on a regular basis. I just wish we could stay another week and take more time to help her and her family. I’m excited for the relationships that we’re building with each other. … And I guess I’m just happy—happy to be here this week, and that I get the chance to be here, even after all the obstacles that almost stopped me from being able to come.
–Jacquelyn Wonsey, Graduate Student, Student Affairs and Higher Education

I had a fantastic time at RFS today. It, by far, has been my best experience of the whole trip. I feel like I’ve really made a difference with the refugee children I worked with.
I definitely wouldn’t have changed anything about my experiences today. The simple things I taught to the refugees I work with today will hopefully stay with them and help them advance even more in the English language.
I only wish that every day that I volunteer could be as fantabulous as today.
-Mileah Davis, Freshman, Nursing

Tomorrow I’m breaking out the play-doh!
–Kendra Thomas Sophomore, Public relations, Spanish minor

It is hard to understand how this helps, but it is because we are eager to help the very worse off. The storm touched everyone regardless of class.
We sometimes forget the basic humanity that is inside everyone. Just because some people are a little better off than others doesn’t mean they don’t realize the basic communal nature of humanity. They realize that we share the burden of those who live all around us and have made remarkable sacrifices to help after the devastation.
The park may have seemed at first like an unworthy venture, but we don’t work to help individuals, we work to help the human state of those who have suffered.
- Michael Hull, Sophomore, Physics

I learned that I can cook. This experience has impacted my values probably by making me realize that I can help people in another way. Today has made me confident about cooking and I’m about the same confidence level with building things.
- David Walenga, Freshman, Construction Management

Through today’s service experience I learned that the people you serve does not depend on status in societal settings, the storm did in fact happen to everyone, regardless of status or race or anything else.
- Kayla Elizabeth Rose Powell, Freshman, Undeclared

This experience has changed me already. I have learned to pay more attention, by this I mean care a little more about what is happening around me. I remember watching Katrina unfold on ever news channel that day. But by the end of the week, I was like ok, come on, that’s enough. But driving down the coast and seeing front porch stairs that lead to nothing three years after the hurricane, I need to care more when stuff does happen. I know that it has disrupted their lives completely. It will now disrupt my life too because after meeting the people I met, I know how they feel now.
I was talking to a lady today whose home was completely destroyed and said “Crisis brings opportunity.” I will see new things as opportunities and it wants me to do more.
- Ashley Sokol, Freshman, Dietetics

The group has developed through encouragement. I have noticed specific team members applauding other people’s services, such as how someone reads a book to an African child, or someone taking the initiative to take out trash.”
-Michelle Kreamer, Sophomore, Elementary and Special Education

I had my very first experience with a person who knew absolutely no English today. It was really cool and very encouraging to watch her diligently trying to learn and pronounce the words while her four children were constantly fighting for her attention.
Before Ms. Pat dropped us off to teach, I had a good conversation with her about how she got involved with helping so many international refugees. She inspires me so much. She has such a servant’s heart and a big heart for the world. Those are two qualities I hope are evident in my life some day.
-Amanda Heshelman, sophomore, Music Business

Terri introduced us to a young couple that have only been in the U.S. since July. The father could speak English pretty well, but his wife was still learning and not understanding much. It was amazing how welcoming the two families we saw today were. I am thankful that even though it is only day 2 I have gained a better understanding of how refugees live. …I am happy I got to be a small part of (helping refugees). At least now I have a better understanding to what the situations are and what can be done.
-Katie Hunter, Senior, Family & Consumer Science

I went to a Swahili home where there was a mother and her two children that were being taught by Miss Terri, who is a missionary for mothers and children that want to learn English as a second language. While Miss Terri was teaching Maria, the four year old child, it was encouraging to see the mother attempting to repeat and acknowledge the same words as the child. It made me think how ungrateful I am of my own family. My mother is Filipino and I know that English is difficult for her at times and I remember many times where my brother and I would taunt her for not saying certain English words correctly. It really broaden my vision for the world and how to really be thankful to God for the diversity of people and languages he made.
- Michelle Kreamer, Sophomore, Elementary & Special Education

Today, we went to the “Jolly House” with Miss Pat. This is a house that is used to rent out to people in need of a home for a short period of time. The house was proken into last week and the owners had not been keeping the house in good condition. We raked, picked up trash and sticks, and put the leaves in bags to be picked up.
Working at the Jolly House gave us time to chat and just learn about each other and have fun. We all worked really hard and good tgether. We split into groups and got the job done more efficiently.
After lunch we headed over to the RFS [Refugee Family Services] building, went through a quick introduction, and began working with the kids there. We all were split up and we helped them with homework, played with them, read with them, and just started to build relationships with the children.
-Amanda Heshelman, Sophomore, Music Business

Today was the real experience, finally! I have been waiting for this day a long time ago. I went to clean a house full of leaves and wood and a lot of other stuff. Even though the mission was hard, I and my “friends” enjoyed it. We all made it fun instead of a hard job.
Then, we went to the RFS… and we met the children, and it was a big shock for me because it was not like what I expected. The center was so organized and clean; the children were so nice and welcoming. I felt so comfortable, and I started to help. I had so much fun.
-Komail Quraish, Freshman, Safety Management

What I saw today, completely stopped me in my tracks. Its one thing to see this stuff on tv, but to see these things in person was moving. I can’t imagine going through and seeing the things that these people have seen and been through. Over all I’m really glad I came, this experience is one I’ll never forget.
- Charita Capers, Senior, Marketing

Today I went to help demo and put up new walls at a house. On the way to the house, I saw how empt the coast was. I did not expect to see the coast so empty. I expected for the coast to be a little more rebuilt by now since 2005.
- Bruce Black, Sophomore, Construction Management

I believe that all my group members are genuine and kind people. They are hard workers and I was appreciative that we all worked very well together. There were so many things we accomplished. The house was basically ruined, but I feel as if we made a lot of positive changes to make the house better.
I am (as well as my group members) anxious to return to Ms. Dorothy’s house to finish. I have a new found respect for construction workers!
- Armelia Walters, Junior, Public Relations

I was very impressed with my group members today. As a team leader I actually felt I did not do much. Every person took initiative and jumped right in working. It was obvious Andrew Willmann had been here before as it seemed nothing really fazed him. I was also impressed with Lenny. During changing the ceiling tiles in the sanctuary he had no trouble using wire to secure and fasten the vents. He was basically covered in mold but ultimately did accomplish the very difficult task.
I felt our group worked very well today. People automatically assumed roles and executed those jobs extremely well. The highlight of the day was a heartfelt thanks from local citizens who said we gave them hope.
- Pete Millar, Graduate Student, Recreation and Sports Management

Walking back really hit me how much devastation there was because I saw just three slabs and rubble everywhere and there were still houses boarded up three years after the hurricane hit. What I saw really couldn’t compare to my expectations because I wasn’t expecting to still see rubble laying around everywhere.
- Nikki Kiser, Freshman, History