Preparing for Spring Break
A week from today, I will be on a plane on my way to Los Angeles for my spring break vacation! While I hope to see many of the tourist attractions of LA, I will be doing service most of the time. This trip is one of the thirty-nine trips coordinated by Vanderbilt Alternative Spring Break (ASB). Vandy ASB is a student organization where groups of 10 to 12 students travel to different sites around the United States to work on a service project. This year, ASB will be sending over 450 students to help communities all over the United States and in some countries such as Jamaica and Nicaragua.
I became involved in ASB during my first year at Vanderbilt. The organization attracted me because of the variety of service available; for example there are sites which deal with poverty, medicine, environment, children, and many more aspects. I went to San Juan, Texas last year to work with two organizations helping immigrants with workers’ rights. I had such a great time that I decided to apply to be a site leader. This year, I am leading the site in Los Angeles, where we will be working with three organizations that reach out to the HIV/AIDS population.
I think one of the best parts of ASB is the group dynamic that is formed while on-site. Typically, the students in each group do not know each other beforehand. While this is awkward for the first few weeks, it provides the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. I remember I felt like I did not relate to anyone in my group last year and today we are still close friends. Spending a week together volunteering really solidifies a bond. I can’t wait for the adventures I will have in a week. The trip will definitely be blog-worthy.
As a side note: this year, over 600 Vanderbilt students will be volunteering during their spring break with organizations such as ASB, Best Buddies, Manna. That is almost 10% of the undergraduate population!