This Ain't No Turn Around - ASB 2009

I arrived back in Boston late on Saturday night, after spending the best week of my life in Mississippi. I went on Alternative Spring Break - something that Suffolk completely paid for - and spent the week working on a house in Waveland, where the eye of Hurricane Katrina hit. During the day, I worked on hanging sheet rock with some of our group, but at night we were able to hang out at the beach and explore the area. We had so much fun working on the job site and met some amazing people from the area. We worked on the inside of a house being built for an older couple, Bonnie and Jack. They are still living in the same trailor that they lived in before Katrina, only now its all moldy and causing both of them to have major health issues. While it was so sad to see Bonnie and Jack's current living conditions, their unwavering sense of hope and appreciation for our work was so inspiring; they were so happy, and their resilience was truly something I've never seen before. I honestly can't even put into words how moved I was by everyone and everything in Waveland.

Another cool part about the trip was that I learned how to build something. I now know how to use power tools, and am capable of putting up dry wall on the beams that support buildings. I was ridiculously exciting to see the house transform before our eyes from something that looked so empty, to something that really started to feel like a home. Here are some before and after pics of our work:

Before -




















And after (TA-DA!!!) -




















I was so proud of us! We accomplished so much in just five work days. While it felt great to help out and get so much done for Bonnie and Jack, the best part of the trip was meeting those who were on the trip with me. The people I spent last week with were honestly some of the best people I've ever met in my entire life. We had so much fun, and we had such a great vibe going all week long. We're actually all planning on hanging out again this weekend because we miss each other so much; it's corny but honestly these people are like family to me already. In the wise words of my friend, Michaela, "E-Harmony couldn't have picked a better group."

I could go on and on about this forever, but TJ told me I should wrap it up. One last thought: if you decide to go to Suffolk, definitely look into doing Alternative Spring Break; by far the best week of our lives.

Its 4 o'clock in the morning....

Ok, well, not exactly. Its really about 2am, and it feels like I've been up for days now. You may be wondering why: a. I'm blogging in the middle of the night, and b. I'm doing admissions work on a Saturday night. I'm actually getting ready to embark on the exciting journey that is Alternative Spring Break, which begins at 4:30 this morning when we're whisked away to Logan Airport. Our destination? Waveland, Mississippi. Our mission? We're building a house for a family of Hurricane Katrina victims. While this experience promises to be exciting and full of unforgettable moments with some of Suffolk's finest and most compassionate students, I'm sort of questioning why I applied to go. Don't get me wrong; I'm so pumped for this amazing opportunity, and I'm grateful that I have been given the chance to do something I've always dreamed of doing, but I'm tired. I'm sleepy, and want to do nothing more but curl up in my bed and sleep til noon. But thats just it: I'm tired. I'm not thinking clearly...

The upside to all of this is that I'm going to be arriving in Mississippi around noon instead, and on my way to exploring the city of New Orleans in the afternoon. This trip certainly promises to be an interesting one: 20 Suffolk kids sleeping in a still-unknown location for a week, soaking up the sun and battling the monsterous mosquitos that we've heard so much about.

The real reason why I wanted to go on this trip was to meet new people, from both my school and from a completely different region of the country. We've heard a lot about the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina throughout the past three and a half years, but you can't understand it unless you're there to witness it firsthand. And, that's right; its already been almost four years since Katrina hit, and there is still so much work to be done. Its so incredibly sad to think about, yet so motivating.

Some people have asked me, "Why would you want to give up your last Spring Break to do community service when you can go lounge on a beach somewhere?" The truth is that I can't imagine doing anything but this. I've always wanted to participate in ASB, and I consider myself so fortunate that I was able to have this experience at relatively no cost to my personal bank account. I want to be able to think that I've made a difference in the life of a perfect stranger, and what better way to do that than this? I have some preconceived notions of what to expect while on this trip, but I'm sure it'll end up being something more unique and amazing than I ever could have expected.

I won't have internet access for the next week, but I promise to blog all about my fantastic experience when I get back to Boston. For now, peace and love.

So... Its been a while. The last time I blogged there was just around 100 days left until graduation, and now we're down to about 75. I can't even believe how quickly the time is flying by! The senior class held an event at a bar in Faneuil Hall - McFadden's - last Thursday to celebrate the last 100 days of . It was such a fun time! A lot of people were able to hang out with current friends while catching up with old friends - friends from living in the dorms, friends from a course taken freshmen year, former coworkers, or whatever. And there was such an eclectic group of people there; it was definitely refreshing to see some new faces at a Suffolk event. This was the first Suffolk event that my friend Kelly's boyfriend had ever attended, and he was amazed that the unique vibe we had within our student population. He said, "Wow... I had no idea that so many different types of people go to Suffolk." Its absolutely so true; we have so many types of people here and the diversity of the student body really adds something to our campus - both in- and outside of the classroom. Anyway, it was such a great time, and I'm so excited for the rest of the "Senior Week" celebrations!

I also have some exciting updates for my graduate school applications: I was accepted into one of the programs I applied to at Tufts!! : ) I'm so pumped... I got accepted into their M.A. - Child Development program, and I have an interview this Saturday for their M.Ed. - School Psychology program. I also have an interview at Columbia University's Teachers College next Wednesday! Needless to say, I'm really nervous about the interviews. I mean, I was accepted into a program for next year so I have a definite plan to continue my education in the fall and therefore should feel a bit relieved about everything, but I'm still freaking out. Its funny, I tell prospective students on my tours that I know how anxious they are about college because I'm in the same boat. I absolutely know how you guys feel; its a bit overwhelming, but as someone who has gone through my undergraduate years, I can assure you that its well-worth the hard work and stress it takes to get to college.

Well, anyways... I guess that's enough "college wisdom" for now... Haha Catch ya next week! Peace and Love : )