It’s crazy to think that spring break is around the corner. This week I had a meeting with my graduate assistant and faculty member that will help me guide this trip. Talking about our plans made me reflect about the trip I attended last spring and all the new outlooks I have gained from that. I cannot wait for my trip participants to see the culture of Asheville and how the community works together to reach a common goal. Looking at how Asheville’s community aids with their social issues, can hopefully inspire new ideas for other communities to build a better place in their own community.

Obviously we will look at the differences among Asheville and Springfield, but in reality, it is so much larger than that. How can we learn if we only stay in one place? We can only truly learn and gain more out of life if we expand our horizons and put our self in that environment. We shouldn’t just hear about things, but experience them as well. Sometimes we do not truly know what it’s like unless we have been in a situation similar to that. But even if you have never been in the same scenario as someone else, all we can do is try to put ourselves in their shoes and be an understanding person.

Attending Asheville last year made me realize even more that every individual truly has a different path in life. All of our paths have positive and negatives to them, however, sometimes the negatives can bring an individual down another long road that will be hard to come back from. As individual’s in society, it is important we fulfill are role to try to be an understanding individual and do our best to maybe make someone’s long road a more positive one.