By: Kelsey Smith
The city of Asheville has left me completely speechless. Coming into this week I expected to grow in ways of serving the community and making a few new friends… but this trip has meant so much more to me than just that. Asheville has a way of making a larger, new city feel so close knit and at home. The minute we stepped in to any building whether it was the office where we were serving at, a local restaurant, the Walmart down the street, or even in the middle of a hike, everyone has been so inviting and genuinely wanted to get to know more about us and what we were doing in their hometown.
Today was sadly our last day of serving this inspiring community, but it was by far one of my favorite days because I finally had a glimpse into what my future could look like. We began our day in a rural town at a mobile market through the YMCA where anyone and everyone was welcome to come and select any free produce they needed for their family. It warmed my heart to see how thankful and eager the people there were to have the free fresh produce and will never forget the interactions I had with them.
For the last part of the day is what truly opened my eyes into a new pathway I will potentially take when I am older. My group had the privilege of serving 9 teenagers at the Boys and Girls Club who were a part of an after school program designed to teach them healthy eating habits and provide cooking experience. Ricki, the YMCA nutrition leader, taught a lesson on the far content in a typical McDonald’s meal and how it can affect your health later on in life. To my surprise, they were very interactive and willing to listen and learn from Ricki about what she had to teach them. It was at that moment when I knew I had a passion for this age group. They then took what they learned from her lesson and apply it in the kitchen by turning an unhealthy fried chicken and Mac n cheese recipe into a healthier option. The kids blew me away today and it goes to show no matter what your background is, everyone has a passion, and everyone deserves to follow their passion. The YMCA has done a great job by partnering with the Boys and Girls Club to allow kids to do that no matter their background or age. Every teenager in there had eyes lit up from start to finish and that has truly inspired me to follow my heart and continue my education in the Dietetics field.
Because of all of the amazing things the YMCA has put together for their community, I hope to spread what they are doing as I head back to Springfield and my hometown to get the word out in hopes of starting up a mobile market and more opportunities for the kids at Boys and Girls Clubs around the United Stares.
Aside from the community service work we have done in Asheville, I have also taken away leadership skills I did not expect to grow in along with growing with others on a deeper level. I have never grown so close to a group of complete strangers in such a short amount of time in my whole life. This random group of 18 kids from Missouri State has turned into a close family who have made memories that will last a lifetime and will always be there for each other. This group of college students is the most selfless, motivated, dedicated, and energetic group I have ever seen and couldn’t have asked for a more perfect group.