Students find Alternative Spring Break experiences rewarding, uplifting, surreal
by anna rzewnicki
March 18 , 2008
Students, staff participate in service, learning projects during Spring Break
Eight MBA students from the Jenkins Graduate School of Management at NC State University’s College of Management traveled to St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana for an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) March 2-7. Most helped with Habitat for Humanity projects, but two of the participants helped a nonprofit agency with a public relations project.
At the same time, six undergrads from NC State – two from the College of Management – went to Rome, Italy, for their Alternative Spring Break.
[Photo: The Rome ASB team with group leaders Mary Alice Tetro (pre-law advisor) and Bob Patterson, crop science professor, in the heart of Vatican City, with Saint Peter’s church in the rear and the Pope’s study and bedroom in the upper right-hand corner.]
Like their counterparts in the States, the students participated in service projects helping those in need in Rome. They also learned about the work of international philanthropic agencies in combating world hunger and other issues. Their trip was coordinated through NC State’s State’s Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service (CSLEPS).
In addition, two of the college’s staff members - Pam Bostic, director of the MBA program, and Adrienne Jablonski, assistant director of the MBA program - traveled to New Orleans as part of the leadership team for another Alternative Spring Break coordinated by CSLEPS.
"My experience in New Orleans blew me away," Bostic said. "Although rebuilding progress has been made, miles and miles of devastation still exists, and the living conditions of thousands continues to be appalling.
"I was equally humbled and inspired by the residents’ tenacity and spirit in the face of disaster, the volunteers who quit their jobs to move to New Orleans and be part of the rebuilding process, the hundreds of student volunteers who chose to spend their spring breaks in meaningful service to others, and the positive energy that was created by people coming together for others and for the common good."
MBAs in St. Bernard Parish, La.
Kevin Idahor and Eric Davis served as team leaders for their fellow MBA students, and submitted the following reflections from their week of service with the St. Bernard Project. [View their photos.]
Eric Davis
This experience was very rewarding for me personally. Initially, it was astonishing to witness the magnitude of the destruction firsthand, the destruction that I had only previously read about or seen on television.
It was surreal and uplifting to witness the power of the human spirit coming together in the wake of such a tragic event, in the process of overcoming such devastation. It was surreal to participate alongside such selfless individuals in serving their fellow human beings in their time of need following this crisis.
It gave me a sense of optimism that, maybe one day, if I were to ever find myself in a similar situation of need, that there is a support network of countless, selfless individuals out there who are willing to sacrifice a little bit of themselves to help their fellow man get back on his feet.
Kevin Idahor
The experience was surreal. It was a privilege to meet these Katrina survivors and hear their stories. During our trip we worked on a house for one client. We did some spackling and sanding, and on Thursday, she made lunch for the group and worked on the house with us. I was most moved by how appreciative the locals were of our service to their community.
It was very disturbing to walk down the streets and see the houses in ruins, and to think it has been two years and hardly any progress has been made. This trip also brought our group together, since we shared this experience together. We easily forget how fortunate we are until we are stripped of everything, and that is what these locals felt like – empty, angry, and confused.