For Spring break you always hear of the students going to Florida, Colorado, or even out of the country to have fun. For me, I had decided that I wasn't going to be going anywhere and wanted to spend that time doing something productive. I had heard of alternative spring break from classmates of mine, saying it was a very inspiring trip. I read more about it and decided that this is what I want to do for my Spring Break.
I didn't really have high expectations because I have never done anything like this before. I was excited that we were going out of state to Little Rock, Arkansas which is a place that I had never been to, but have heard about it because of the "Little Rock Nine". I found out that we would be helping the homeless and working with children which I was excited for. Working with children is one of my many passions and I was excited to meet everyone that I would be working with.
The night we left I was excited and nervous. Not knowing if it was going to be fine for me or if it was going to be terrible. That night I had a chance to meet people through many "ice breaker" games throughout the week. which I actually enjoyed because it helped me get to know everyone a little bit at a time.
Over the course of the week, we had all been helping a Shelter called "Our House" in Little Rock Arkansas. I learned about other peoples' experiences and hardships. Seeing first hand that humanity does still exist. I loved this shelter because they had realistic expectations for the people that stay with them and that they have so many resources that help people not only leave the shelter but stay out, and not in a bad sense. They help people save money and find jobs that help them get back on their feet so that they can make sure that they never have to worry about living in a shelter ever again.
Another reason why I love this shelter is because they are one of the very few shelters where single fathers and their children can stay together. From working at a referral agency, I can tell you that this is a lot rarer than people think. Their child care center was amazing, they had so many activities and learning assignments for the children so that they can receive the best education that they can. The children center was also amazing because they had kids from diverse backgrounds. Some kids lived in the shelters and others lived in the wealthiest neighborhoods around. creating an atmosphere with less prejudice.
Over the course of the week, I had an amazing experience getting to work with these people, helping at their shop and helping the children. I saw myself breaking out of my shell more and more with my group. I was playing the games and sharing my thoughts which were a rarity for me sometimes. I meet so many great people that I hope to stay in contact with over the course of my college career.
This was honestly one of the best times I have ever had. I was helping others while meeting new people. There is honestly no best way to spend my spring break than this. It will be an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.
