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Office of Community Service
Chad Burkart
I chose to go to Reserve, Louisiana because it was something I had to do as a person. I felt that in order to truly understand the nature of this disaster I would have to see it first hand.
Throughout the trip, I expanded my painting skills, organizational skills, and team-management skills. We had to help each other when in need, even if we were tired or didn't like working with a particular individual. Through this experience, I learned how to work well with others and learned the strengths and weaknesses of myself and my teammates. I also learned about myself and what I can accomplish in life if I set my mind to it.
The New Orleans community taught me to never stop believing because with belief there is hope. Everyone has different stories to tell about their lives: all we need to do as a nation is lend an ear and listen. Everyone in New Orleans has a story and all they want is an opportunity to tell it.
This trip will be something I take with me for the rest of my life: the stories I have heard, the people I have met, and the things I have done and seen. . . This trip will help me always remember that everyone is the same no matter where we are from or where we live. This trip will be a reminder to me everyday to be thankful for what has been given to me. I never thought of the people in New Orleans before Katrina. Now I will never forget them.
Cintia DePina
Honestly, I could have chosen to be anywhere during this week, but everyday, I see a need for capable people like myself to give back. In my heart, I knew that this opportunity was immense and the chance of a lifetime to give back. And what I took from this experience was more than I expected. I learned things about myself as well as others, and it made my career goals so much clearer.
Again and again, I worked with people who held different views and beliefs than myself. This experience taught me not only to observe but also to communicate strongly and effectively. I found that I need to be outspoken and that my words and thoughts matter, even while engaging in a new culture that is foreign to me. I learned that it takes patience, commitment and a strong sense of self to be part of a group.
This experience also gave me a chance to look at my education and career goals. Often times, I sit in class and wonder, "When am I ever going to need these concepts and ideas?" I now feel that classroom experience is necessary, but that real life applications are more important. Community service is a good example of this. I have always been involved in community service, and now, I want to build upon these experiences by entering the human services field. There is a great need for this profession, and from what I learned on this trip, I know I can make a difference.
Leah Levi
I chose to participate in Alternative Spring Break because it provided an opportunity to help in a local community. It is not often that something like Katrina happens, but disasters like this one could happen anywhere. I would hope that if I lost everything I had, my fellow Americans would help my family out in any way they could. If we can stop our lives for one moment and do something to help, it is our duty to do just that.
This experience was more than anything I could ever ask. I learned more in this week of service than I could in an entire semester of class. As a prospective teacher, I especially appreciated the opportunity to experience a different type of educational environment. I was able to use my teaching skills to connect my student teaching classroom in Cambridge, MA to the students I helped in Reserve, LA. Through letter writing and lesson plans, all of my students learned about one another's daily routines and idioms.
I learned many lessons outside of the classroom as well. I learned about the politics which occurred prior to and after Katrina hit, and how politics are affecting Louisiana. Most importantly, I learned more about myself and what is important to me. I learned how to work with others and about the importance and quality of group dynamics. I was able to look at myself from an outside perspective, and tried to approach situations differently. It is always difficult to identify personal flaws and to try to change them. I didn't always succeed, but I was able to work on these flaws and talk about them with my peers.
My peers themselves taught me to never judge a book by its cover. I was worried that I was not going to like anybody and wouldn't work well with them. I was completely wrong. I love this group of people and they will always carry a special place in my heart.
updated 11/20/06 | 02:13 PM
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