NC State University

A brutal pre-dawn start to spring break traveling probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a good morning. Nonetheless, more than 45 NC State students convened at Tally Student Center this morning (early morning…like 4 a.m. morning) a little frantic, a lot excited and seemingly full of energy.

At least at first.

Then there was the security check, the boarding, the two-hour flight to Miami and then the layover. As the students de-planed the first leg of their Alternative Service Break, most conversations involved the phrase “power-nap” or lamentations about a total lack of sleep. It wasn’t long before adrenaline energy waned and students realized just how tiring no sleep or a few hours of sleep feels a few hours later. In Miami, most students settled in to a comfortable wait at their next gate of departure. Some slept, some read, and some studied (ok, one person studied). Others ate breakfast. Early reports indicate that the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich “might not have been a good idea.” Continue Reading »

by Jackie Jazwa

As we are approaching departure day, I can sense the overwhelming anxiety of everyone. The week before is always the most hectic—cramming for midterms and figuring out what to pack, while trying to avoid catching the ever present flu. It seems like we just came back from winter break and now we leave in less than a week. I continuously hear from other students, “I can’t believe spring break is almost hear, I’ve hardly had time to think about.”
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by Selby Lo

T-minus three days and counting before my Alternative Service Break (ASB) team gets on a plane and travels down to the Dominican Republic for our work with Habitat for Humanity on Friday at 6:30 AM. The suspense has been building all school year long since mid-September when I found out that I made the team at the ASB Reveal Night. Since then, it’s been getting everything ready such as getting all the proper immunizations and buying all the supplies that I need. It’s been long coming and the wait is almost over. It just can’t seem to get here any faster though.

by Jessica Gil

I am very passionate about serving, and I want to be able to share my passion with other individuals. Becoming an Alternative Service Break team leader has given me the opportunity to do just that. Although there has been an immense amount of paper work and planning, it only makes the anticipation for the trip that much greater.

I would have to say my passion for service comes from my family. My grandparents grew up in Havana, Cuba and did not have much at all. They had no money, and seven other brothers and sisters, yet somehow they made everything work. Most of us in this country have enough to survive, yet we still complain. I must admit I can be one of those people at times. Continue Reading »