I miss West Virginia already. There's a certain calm and peace there that I have yet to find here in New Jersey. The openness, freedom, unity, and old-fashioned fun were a much-needed refreshing break from reality.
I miss my Alternative Spring Break (ASB) crew that consisted of 12 other amazing, wonderful, driven, enthusiastic, I-now-can't-live-without Rutgers students. I loved eating lucky charms at midnight, playing taboo, mafia and bananagrams, late-night conversations about our lives and our futures, laughing so much in a way that I haven't done in a very long time, not having access to technology (there is a surprising sense of peace), talking to the locals, hiking and seeing waterfalls and mountains and trees, sitting by The Falls to enjoy lunch, accomplishing things I thought I could never do (hiking, hammering, spraying popcorn ceilings, building), playing with the kids in the afterschool program, and just being with a really good, solid group of people from whom I learned so much from everyday.
Over Spring Break, I volunteered with Rutgers Alternative Breaks Organization. No words can ever capture just how much amazing, humbling, and fun the whole week was when we were down in Beards Fork, West Virginia working with the Southern Appalachian Labor School (Please check out the link to learn more about SALS). The non-profit organization SALS really empowers the community and offers emotional, educational, and labor support for the residents in the area. We built an impressive ramp for one of the residents who needed to use a wheelchair and we fixed up the inside of another home. But more importantly, we made friendships with the locals who worked with SALS, shared stories, learned about the West Virginia culture and the Beards Fork community, and offered our enthusiastic support for SALS. It really was a mutual exchange on both ends-- and in the end, it was a very fulfilling and rewarding week.
This experience has changed who I am and how I look at the world. Thank you to the graduate student advisors, Louis and Alicia, and the undergraduate site leaders, Angel and Dana, for preparing an amazing experience I will always hold close to me.
I decided to run for Secretary of Rutgers Alternative Breaks, so I will continue to be involved with and dedicated to this community service organization next year. Without doubt, deciding to do this trip to West Virginia has been the best decision of my college experience so far. We'll be planning another 5 trips for the 2010-2011 school year. I really urge Rutgers students to give back to the community by reaching out and lending a hand! It's a transformative experience that words and photos simply cannot do it justice.
(Please note: I am still in the process of sifting through 90 clips of videos I took on the trip and the nearly 1000 photos we all collectively took. I'll be sure to share with you guys once it's completed. Life's been really crazy since I got back... but if there's anything I learned from West Virginia, it's taking time to breathe, to enjoy nature and to spend time with those who uplift you!)
The New River Gorge... beautiful scenery from hiking!
Location: SinglePost