Choices
Every single day on this Earth, billions of people make a choice—many of them, actually. Some choices require more effort to make and some can certainly be the spur-of-the-moment type. Some of these choices can be life-altering, too. I’m here to talk about a series of choices I began to make around a year and a half ago that began with my decision to apply to go on a Fall break Bear Breaks trip to Milwaukee, WI.
I learned about the trip through reading Missouri State’s common reader novel of the year which talked about Will Allen and his company, Growing Power. Growing Power was a small business with a big, big heart. Each and every day, they worked hard to bring quality produce to the food deserts of Milwaukee and surrounding areas. I was inspired by Will Allen’s work and was ecstatic to learn that there was a trip that was being led during Fall break to go and volunteer with Growing Power.
Taking the Leap of Faith
I must admit that my decision to apply did not come lightly. It was tough, actually. I had never been to Wisconsin and I certainly had never traveled 8+ hours with a group of individuals who I barely knew to a location I had never been to.
Reminiscing back, how stupid I would have been to not apply. The trip as a whole changed me—certainly for the better. I realized that getting out of your comfort zone and having experiences you never thought you would willingly put yourself through are essential for our own growth.
Throughout this trip, I learned that hard work definitely does pay off. To see the fruit of your labor after a long, hard day’s work is truly a sight to behold–something that has never lost its splendor with me. I also learned that this tough, physical labor was not something that I could see myself doing day in and day out. Nevertheless, change- especially the good kind- doesn’t just appear overnight in our dreams. You have to seek it. You have to want it. You have to put yourself out of your comfort zone. Not just a couple of steps, too; you need to run as far, far away from your home as possible. Only then can you see what this world truly has to offer for you.
What the Future held (and holds).
After the extraordinary journey I had in Milwaukee, I found myself yearning for more. I wanted to reach out to another community and help invoke change like I had done with Growing Power. So, naturally, I applied for a Spring Break trip through Bear Breaks. This time I would be heading for Aurora, CO. There, I would help conduct therapeutic play with kids undergoing treatment at the Children’s Hospital. What a week that was.
Again, I found myself in an unknown environment with a group of students like myself who wanted to make a difference. We all had our own reasons for applying, but there was a strong commonality found between each of us: we all loved seeing smiles on the faces of others. We loved seeing that our actions helped these kids and that just taking a few hours out of our day would give a significant boost to their serotonin. We volunteered with the hospital for 3 or 4 hours Monday through Thursday in the mornings. In the afternoons, we explored the city and discovered its beauty. On Friday, we drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park and hiked through waist-deep snow for 5 hours, taking in the breathtaking beauty. I guess John Denver was right. It truly was a wonderful week. However, yet again, my desire to help was not yet satiated.
Now, here I am in the second week of my Sophomore year here at Missouri State University. I again decided to take a risk. Though, now I am leading a trip rather than being a participant in one. This Spring Break, I will be leading a trip to Atlanta, GA, with the goal of helping those in less than ideal living conditions and working to help them get their feet on the ground and running.
This is my message to each and every single one of you. Challenge yourself. Do not merely sit by and hope the change will occur- it won’t. Be the change. Take the leap of faith and put in the effort. Bear Breaks can help you achieve this. We can be your start. Step up to the plate and help yourself and so many others make a difference.