By: Brooke Burton
I decided to apply for a Bear Breaks trip on the very last day possible. No joke, I had hours left before the deadline when I finally pressed “submit.” I was afraid of putting myself out there – meeting so many new faces, traveling hundreds of miles away from my home state, and having unreal amounts of FOMO (fear of missing out, for those who aren’t hip and don’t know). At first, I let these concerns hold me back.
My major is Cell & Molecular Biology, and my ultimate plan is to enter the medical field as a general pediatrician. When I saw an opportunity to combine community engagement with health and science, I was definitely intrigued. On top of that, it wasn’t going to break the bank, plus I was told a pretty cool T-Shirt was going to come out of it. I decided to go for it. Anything is survivable for a week, right?
My Bear Breaks assignment was to Asheville, North Carolina. (East Coast, baby!)
Here’s what I learned:
1. You will discover your passion.
College is such a critical time to learn what you like, and maybe even more importantly, what you don’t like. Some things will just come more naturally to you than others, and that’s okay! What excites you? What motivates you? What do you genuinely like to do?
For me, it wasn’t until day 3 that I was reminded of what (who) truly fuels my fire: KIDS. My group was a part of a nutrition outreach program through the local Asheville YMCA. We attended various elementary schools and taught the students about healthy food choices and fed them a nutritious snack. This experience really helped me realize 1) how incredibly smart this younger generation is and 2) how influential college students and older are on children.
2. You will either leave WAY more attracted to your future career goal, or you will be scheduling an appointment with your advisor on the ride home.
Some people think they want to know what they want to do with the rest of their life as an 18-year-old freshman, and that is fantastic! However, that’s not exactly the case for most of us. Experiences like Bear Breaks can help you solidify your decision in your future career path and give you the confidence you’re lacking. However, it’s one of the best ways to find out if something isn’t going to work for you. But beware. It can also pull your heart towards an entirely different major or career than what you originally had in mind. You never know until you experience it!
Regardless of whatever field you end up in, you can continue to impact your community through engagement and service.
3. You will leave with worthwhile stories.
Good, wholesome stories. Stories you will remember forever. Stories that will impact your worldview. Stories that will make you want to continue to make a difference.
Not only have a witnessed a change in Asheville, but I’ve witnessed a change within me. My eyes have been opened to deep topics such as drug abuse and homelessness and malnutrition. I want to be a voice for the people who need it the most.
4. You will be humbled.
This one is sort of a given. Service typically does this to a person. But an entire week of daily commitment to serving is an experience like no other. With no distractions, you will be able to focus your energy and emotions on your experiences, and you might even be surprised by how small your “problems” seem afterwards.
5. You will meet some really awesome people.
From your trip leaders to community leaders to the people you serve to your peers, you will meet some pretty amazing human beings. You will feel more a part of Missouri State and more connected to our Public Affairs mission (yes, that thing you learned at SOAR).
Positivity is contagious. The energy surrounding me on my Bear Breaks trip has motivated me to dream bigger and love harder. The people I have met on this trip have been so, undeniably genuine and caring. I hope that one day I can influence others in the same way they have impacted me.
If you ever have the opportunity to go on a Bear Breaks trip, DO IT.
You won’t regret it.