Not your typical spring break
I've seen enough spring break specials and movies to have a basic understanding of a typical spring break. Days on the beach filled with friends, music, clubs and the prettiest most insta-worthy margaritas. Yes, this is considered a rite of passage for many and the perfect end to an eventful college career, but there are alternative paths you can take, and they are just as, if not more, rewarding.
To start, a disclaimer-- I am not being self righteous. I do not look down on people who have these awesomely fun spring breaks, I've had my share of care free weeks with not-so-alternative activities (i.e my whole week in Italy). But this is my spring break reflection, and my urge for everyone to experience the magic of an alternative break at least once before graduating.
I went to Immokalee, FL with 53 basically strangers to learn, immerse myself in the culture and become familiar with the struggle and lifestyles of migrant workers. I had the most amazing, growing experience that I couldn't possible put into words or share with others (although this is my mediocre attempt). I worked with organizations who are unknown to the rest of the world but crucial to their local communities. They give voices to an invisible population and try to build a sense of community and hope in Immokalee. I went into this break knowing close to nothing about migrant workers, and left realizing that there are not migrant workers. There are people who are migrant workers. People who have individual stories; individual struggles, lifestyles, and pasts. I wouldn't have gotten this out of my break if it weren't for those 53 basically strangers who experienced this with me.
Being in college I had let myself live in a bubble. I have my close group of friends, my patterned lifestyle and standard conversations. This trip brought adventures and experiences like no other. I saw incredible wealth disparity, I helped package 8,000 lbs of rice, I even witnessed A COW GIVING BIRTH! (Shout out to new baby calf UConn). And after all that, I still think that there is nothing more refreshing as sharing an experience like this with people who are open, engaged and don't have preconceived notions of who you are. I met people who I pass everyday on my way to class but never bothered to introduce myself too. Now that I have, and now that I've heard their stories, I learned that each of these beautiful people can teach me something new. I left Immokalee more knowledgeable about people who are migrant workers but also about myself. And that's something I would not have gotten if I had not gone an alternative break.
To start, a disclaimer-- I am not being self righteous. I do not look down on people who have these awesomely fun spring breaks, I've had my share of care free weeks with not-so-alternative activities (i.e my whole week in Italy). But this is my spring break reflection, and my urge for everyone to experience the magic of an alternative break at least once before graduating.
I went to Immokalee, FL with 53 basically strangers to learn, immerse myself in the culture and become familiar with the struggle and lifestyles of migrant workers. I had the most amazing, growing experience that I couldn't possible put into words or share with others (although this is my mediocre attempt). I worked with organizations who are unknown to the rest of the world but crucial to their local communities. They give voices to an invisible population and try to build a sense of community and hope in Immokalee. I went into this break knowing close to nothing about migrant workers, and left realizing that there are not migrant workers. There are people who are migrant workers. People who have individual stories; individual struggles, lifestyles, and pasts. I wouldn't have gotten this out of my break if it weren't for those 53 basically strangers who experienced this with me.
Being in college I had let myself live in a bubble. I have my close group of friends, my patterned lifestyle and standard conversations. This trip brought adventures and experiences like no other. I saw incredible wealth disparity, I helped package 8,000 lbs of rice, I even witnessed A COW GIVING BIRTH! (Shout out to new baby calf UConn). And after all that, I still think that there is nothing more refreshing as sharing an experience like this with people who are open, engaged and don't have preconceived notions of who you are. I met people who I pass everyday on my way to class but never bothered to introduce myself too. Now that I have, and now that I've heard their stories, I learned that each of these beautiful people can teach me something new. I left Immokalee more knowledgeable about people who are migrant workers but also about myself. And that's something I would not have gotten if I had not gone an alternative break.