Spring break. A time for thousands of college students from around the country to forget about school and flock to the beaches of Florida, Mexico, Bahamas, and other tropical destinations. A week of sun, ocean breeze, friends, and endless Snapchats of the vacation (if you didn’t add it to your Story, did it really happen…?) seems like a pretty great week to me. However, next spring break before booking that flight and packing your bathing suits consider an alternative spring break trip offered by Holy Cross.
The Spring Break Immersion Program is approaching it’s 40th year, and while on the surface it may not seem as fun as tanning in Panama Beach City or snorkeling in Cabo, it is one of the best opportunities Holy Cross offers it’s student body. This past spring break close to 300 students travelled to 25 different sites in 13 different states as a part of this program. The sites ranged from the Appalachian Mountain Range (hence the name most people know this program by, Appa) to various L’Arche sites to New Orleans and many more in between.
These trips focus on building relationships within the greater community at the different sites and forming strong and lasting friendships with the other students in the group. It truly is all about putting those Jesuit ideals of being men and women for and with others into action. Maeve Sweeney ‘18 travelled to New Orleans with the program and said, “Going on an immersion trip was so rewarding, because I got to see the change I was making in the community, and I became extremely close with an amazing group of students that I ordinarily would not have gotten to know. After this trip, I better understood what it means to be men and women for and with others.”
While Maeve worked with the St. Bernard Project to help rebuild the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, I was in Burkesville, Kentucky folding clothes in the local thrift shop and playing board games with the children of the town elementary school. Ten students, including myself, travelled by bus then van to the tiny town of Burkesville. Their population is roughly 1500 people, and the estimated median household income is $19, 454, which is $20,000 less than the estimated median household income for the rest of the state.
Coming into this trip I thought it would be hard to actually make a difference in these people’s lives- What could I possibly do in a week that would have a lasting effect on the community? Yes, I was helpful in the thrift shop by folding bag after bag of donations, but the most rewarding aspect of this seemingly menial job was making small talk with the shoppers and learning a little more about them individually, which then allowed me to gain a more clear picture of the community. By the end of the week, all of the townspeople knew who we were and thanked us for coming to help them. Once this happened, we truly knew we had positively impacted them. Based on the experiences I had in Kentucky, I think the community’s impact on me was far greater than any impact I could have left them with.
If I haven’t convinced you yet that the Spring Break Program is worth your time, there are hundreds of more reasons why this is definitely the best decision you make during your time at Holy Cross. Here are the top 6…
1. The Money Mix:A group of three CDs made by the leaders to make the long car rides more fun. By the third day, you’ll have memorized the playlists and shamelessly sing along to every one of the songs.
2. Spring Break Immersion T- shirt:So everyone knows you are now part of the cult. It’s also much more practical than a Cabo San Lucas headband…
3. Appa Love:Self-explanatory. Rare, but people tell me once you find it, it is a good thing. You never know who will be in your group next Spring Break!
4. Flannels on flannels on flannels:On Spring Break Immersion it is highly recommended to whip out all the flannels you, your roommate, best friends, dad, and anyone else you know owns. You can never go wrong with a flannel. NEVER.
5. Games with your group:Warning: the games played within the immersion group will get intense and very competitive. Play at your own risk.
6. The Edge:After a long week of service and travelling, everyone dresses up to throw down at an Immersion only Edge. Money Mix songs will be played and (mostly) everyone from the spring break trips is in attendance.