The true essence of today’s community service experience is difficult to articulate through words, so I will borrow the famous thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson,”Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and build a trail.” These words resonated within my mind while working with Friends of The White River today for a couple reasons. The most tangible explanation is the fact that we were literally clearing a path on the river bank by removing several invasive plant species. The environmental aspects of our work seek to provide a natural habitat that local community members can enjoy and find pride in. An environment capable of fostering habitats needed for the local wildlife to remain undisturbed. A sustainable environment for the future.

The less tangible, but perhaps more important relation to Emerson’s words cannot be seen. This relationship can only be found in the bond that has developed between the members of our group. Yesterday morning, we departed Springfield as a band of mostly strangers. Most of us were diving into an experience with very little knowledge of what we would encounter. This is where we departed from Emerson’s path. Leaving the realm of the familiar behind, we were faced with two choices. Either we could become lost in a dense maze of voluntary service without purpose, or we could build a trail of friendly intentions and meaningful engagement. The beauty of our trip is demonstrated through our ability to act cohesively, and help build on the important path of sustainability for the future that Indianapolis has been moving towards. Our trail has been built through a diverse content of characters, but we each have played a fundamental role in the cohesion of our group. If the first two days of our work in Indianapolis serve as a good indicator, this band of brothers (and sisters) will be returning to Springfield with a new sense of awareness for sustainability projects, a new appreciation for community engagement partnerships, and strong friendships. I was personally afraid to stray from the path at the beginning of our trip. However, I am extremely grateful that I have been able to help build a new trail of friends, and find passion in the service work we have done so far. Thank you Bear Breaks for this amazing opportunity.