While some Ball State student were sunbathing on beaches, partying with friends or spending time in their hometowns, others took a different approach to Spring Break.
Student Voluntary Services sponsors intensive community service breaks for the Fall and Spring Semesters. This Spring Break, volunteers traveled to St. Louis to work with Neighborhood Houses, a not-for-profit organization that provides child care, after-school programs, health services, clothes and food.
"The past week is one of the most memorable weeks I've ever had," sophomore computer science major Andy Xian said. "It was stressful but also meaningful, busy but also joyful."
Xian helped with the after-school program, playing and helping the children with their homework. He also taught some of the children how to write their names in Chinese.
"We made a positive impact on the society by helping others, and at the same time we still had the chance to tour around St. Louis," he said.
For Jessica Chandler, a graduate student in the Student Affairs Administration and one of the advisors for the ASB trip, it was not the first time she chose an alternative vacation. She has traveled to Nashville, Tenn., Boston, New Orleans, La., St. Charles, La., Staten Island, N.Y. as well as this year's trip to St. Louis for various service projects.
"In the morning, we worked at different centers that were [run] by Neighborhood Houses. We organized, moved furniture ... and did general work that needed to be done," Chandler said. "Although I am the advisor, I was extremely excited to go on the trip to [St. Louis]. We did some great work and I am extremely proud of the 14 other students who made the commitment to join me on the trip."
It was Brandi Terry's fourth Alternative Spring Break. The senior journalism and women's studies major and Alternative Breaks' advisory board member has also traveled to Jonesville, Va. to work with the Appalachian Service Project that repairs and rebuilds homes for impoverished families and worked with One Mission in Galveston, Texas that provided relief to Hurricane Ike residents.
The Alternative Spring Break program was reinstated in 2004, and students have traveled to Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and West Virginia to help with projects like assisting refugees and immigrants to building and renovating homes, according to their website.
Xian realizes that other students might have chosen to travel to more tropical destinations with warm weather and good sightseeing, but he said he got more out of helping others.
"For me, the greatest warmth I got from the [Alternative Spring Break] is the long hug given by those kids before we left their school. That is the moment I realized I had done something meaningful not only for me, but for them," he said.
For more information, visit neighborhoodhouses.org.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
