Alternative Break Student Testimonials
Stephanie Manning '09
Student Co-Leader, ASB 2008
It is not every day you find a group of college students willing to trade their bathing
suits and suntan lotion for ladders and paint brushes. But this is exactly what seventeen
of us did for spring break this year, spending a week in New Orleans assisting with the
Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
We spent our time painting and nailing siding, doing demolition and laying floor boards,
anything to help homeowners return to the neighborhoods they have called home for so many
years. Meeting these long-time residents, as well as other members of the community,
gave poignant meaning to the work we accomplished. Whether it was a homeowner in the Ninth Ward or a shop owner in the French Quarter, everyone was so very grateful for our presence and the work we completed while visting the Gulf Coast.
For me, this is what this kind of trip is all about; bringing together a group of people with the common desire to make a difference in the world, and then actually making that difference, as you grow together. The genuine appreciativeness of the people of New Orleans, and the wonderful memories we brought home, speak to just how moving this trip was for me, and for my new found friends.
Sheena Hatch `09
My experience going on alternative spring break was amazing. In March 2007 a group of Endicott students and staff went to New Orleans for what would be an incredible life changing experience. We spent a week working on homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. It was an incredibly difficult job, but ultimately, very rewarding. Seeing the devastation still in existence after eighteen months was incredible. Just being able to lend a hand to families who had lost everything was an unforgettable experience.
We met homeowners who were so appreciative and got to hear devastating stories of what really happened during the hurricane. There were so many great parts of this trip that I could never name them all, but getting the chance to assist someone in need, meeting such amazing people from a different culture than my own, and working with such wonderful peers from Endicott made for an experience that I will never forget.
Some may think that Spring Break is for college students to party as much as they can, but I would never think twice about ever taking that kind of break when I could be changing someone’s hopes of being able to recover from such a tragic experience. ASB is a trip I would do over and over again and would recommend to anyone at Endicott College.
Nick Oldford `06
My experience on the trip to Immokolee, Florida was not only fun but touching as well. I do a lot of work for habitat here in New England, so going to Florida opened my eyes to what other communities go through. It was touching to know that even though my life is so far away, I was able to reach out and touch those in far away places. Living in the homeless shelter, was not something people do everyday. It was very interesting to see how the poor community lives and to learn why they are poor, and more about their lives in general. Knowing how much impact and the impression that my help had on that community gave me the motivation to go back and do it again."
Jaime Card `07
"I went on the Alternative Spring Break trip last year with nine other students and two advisors. The Alternative Spring Break gave me an opportunity to experience a culture different from the one that I am used to. During the week of spring break, our group stayed at a local homeless shelter/community center. The shelter was populated mainly by migrant workers who were working in the orange groves. Although our group did not get to interact very much with the clients staying there, we were able to see what long strenuous days they had, getting up at 3am and getting back at 5pm. Our group also worked with Habitat for Humanity during the day. I enjoyed working with the many different volunteers who came to help out with Habitat for Humanity each day. I was able to see how my work was directly affecting the families who were waiting to move into their house. A couple of the families whose houses were almost done came every day to help out with various projects that had to be done. All of them were so happy to be helping out because without Habitat they would not be able to own their own home. The bonds that I made during that trip with the other students in the group will never be forgotten. I am going on the Alternative Spring Break again this year. I am hoping to expand upon the wonderful experience I had last year."
Michal Trzaska '06
It would be an understatement to say that the Alternative Spring Break trip was a life changing experience. We build houses for the homeless, we cooked for the hungry and we helped the most needy of all, children. I say "we" because the effort was a group effort.
I was involved in community service projects in the past, but never as big as this one. In High School I did my fair share of giving back to the community, in college I did a number of small projects. In my third year of college I wanted to dedicate more time to something meaningful, ASB was the perfect opportunity for that. Not only did we go and provided help to a community in Immokalee, Florida but prior to our trip we learned about the social issues associated with poverty and homelessness. What we learned in our meetings and later applied in our community service project will stay with us for years to come.
During the week we spend in Immokalee we shared our living space and our food with the homeless and the hungry of this small town in Florida. We stayed in a Friendship House located downtown where we witnessed first hand the poor living conditions of the people that pick our oranges. Staying that one week in a shelter made me realize how lucky I am to have the luxuries we take for granted each and every day. Each day we did what we can to help with the daily operations of the shelter. It was also our responsibility to help make dinner for all the occupants of the shelter and other members of the community averaging over 40 meals each day. Witnessing the hard life of the people that stayed in the shelter I had a hard time understanding why they always had a smile on and a kind word to go along with it.
My Spring break of 2005 I went to Florida, I got a great tan, had a lot of fun with great friends, came back with even more friends. I did not witness party girls throwing their tops up in the air and I did not see drunken college kids fight with cops. What I did witness is 20 college students, 4 leaders, 15 to 35 senior citizens, 4 carpenters, 3 AmeriCorps members and one site supervisor build affordable housing one week in Florida on long, hot fun days they could have been spent on the beach. I'm planning to do the same next year.