By Sarah Harp
I’m so excited to work with this team!
It is only the third week of classes at Missouri State, and Bear Breaks is already working to make this a great year for immersion trips. Our executive board has met a few times to plan Trip Leader Retreat on September 22. It seems far away now, but I know the day will be here before we know it. We are all eager to meet and reconnect with our Bear Breaks team. It’s exciting that we get to journey through this year together as we improve our understanding of service, social issues, and community engagement.
Last Year of College, Last Year of Bear Breaks
I am already feeling a bit sentimental going into the fall semester. It’s made me reflective of all the ways the organization has pushed me to better myself. Bear Breaks has made me think about community in a new way, and it’s made me more conscience of my role in that community. I am appreciative of the relationships I’ve built with the people around me. Throughout three years of Bear Breaks, I have found so much joy in meeting new people, who are so good at teaching about empathy, social awareness, and friendship. These people have made me a better person, whether by exuding authentic passion for others, offering insight and sharing their worldview, or letting me lead when I’m not sure if I am the right person for the job. I am so thankful for Bear Breaks because, through it, I have met amazing people who have challenged me to be a better citizen.
I am hoping this year will be my favorite Bear Breaks year of all; we have a lot of exciting things planned out. We are starting the year with our new logo, vision statement, and branding guide. We also have new Trip Leader and Trip Advisor manuals to utilize throughout training. I think this is going to be the best year yet.