Hello friends,
I spent this last week in Dallas, Texas for an immersion trip with Bear Breaks. Before the trip, I was extremely nervous. I had no idea what to expect and I felt even more on edge and ill-prepared because I was unable to attend the pre-trip meetings. Thankfully, all that worry was for nothing because I had the best time. My group was filled with some of the most down to earth, fun, loving, and welcoming people.
The organizations that we provided services to were absolutely incredible. We partnered with Wesley-Rankin Community Center and Vogel Alcove (VA). Wesley-Rankin provides services and educational classes to children, adults, and older adults. VA was really the one that blew me away. I was amazed at the variety of services they provided to homeless children and their families, along with the curriculum they followed. We were lucky enough to be able to spend an afternoon in their classrooms and I could not get over how mature the children were. When I arrived to the preschool classroom they were just waking up for a nap. The kids knew exactly what to do. As soon as they woke up they put their blanket, pillow, and cot away, washed their hands, and sat at their table patiently waiting for their snack. It was like I was with little adults. They were so well-mannered too. I was just blown away. I could talk for days about VA. It’s an organization that deserves more attention.
The trip was so much fun. I’m so glad I was chosen to go on this trip. Outside of the volunteering, we went to some pretty cool places. Some of those places included the 6th Floor Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, Klyde Warren Park, Deep Ellum, and so many other cool places. I would recommend an immersion trip to any and all students. I want to give a huge thank you to our awesome group leaders (Yiken, Moe, you guys rock). This trip challenged me, changed my perspective, and lit a fire in me to begin taking the necessary steps to make a difference in my community.
Haley Chastain