Holy Cross’s Spring Break Immersion Program (SBIP) is an opportunity for Holy Cross students to live amongst communities they may not ever experience otherwise, providing students with an eye-opening experience characterized by service, community, and love. For those of you who know you will be doing SBIP (the deadline to sign up for this year’s participation has passed), keep this statement in mind as the countdown is now officially on until your trip: You will have an amazing time!
You will not find out where you’re headed until Christmas break, but with last year’s sites spanning from Massachusetts to Washington State, the mystery is definitely exciting! In addition to this, the various groups are certainly randomized; I had never met anyone I traveled with prior to my trip. Even though these circumstances may seem daunting, don’t let any of them scare you! Last spring, I ventured to Whitley City, a small town in Southern Kentucky, to aid in building a house for a local family. I can’t say I signed up for SBIP expecting that I would be spending my week in this extremely rural location and completing such a laborious task, especially with people I didn’t know. However, it’s important to remember that having the chance to build upon your adaptability skills, which is a very valuable facet, is exciting in itself!
While I’m not a SBIP leader, so many of my favorite familiar faces on campus are. This may sound biased, but trust me when I say that if you are led by any of these people, you will have an incredible experience! This year’s leaders are some of the most passionate, kind, and determined people that I know, which will make for an unforgettable trip, no matter the group you are placed in.Â
March may sound far away, but Spring Break will be here before we all know it. I’m not partaking in SBIP this year, but I’m so grateful that I can look back on my time in Whitley City with fondness; it was truly one of the most meaningful aspects of my time at Holy Cross thus far. Good luck to everyone embarking on a SBIP trip this year!