It’s bizarre being home and not having anyone who shared the same experience to talk to. It’s bizarre walking around my town and neighborhood. All I do is compare it to what I witnessed. Every time I complain about something insignificant, I scold myself. And every time someone asks me about the trip, I try my hardest to define it in a simple, brief, and honest way. But it’s not really definable. Every person I’ve told, I get praise for what an amazing thing I did, and I try to explain how the experience was amazing, but how little of a difference we can actually make, unless we devote our lives to making a difference. I don’t think of this as a community service miniterm anymore. For me, and I think I can speak for my peers, this was more of a community awareness miniterm, which was very significant in my growth as a person and as a college student. Returning to the holidays was very strange. The transition was fast. It was as if time sped up and I was thrown in to the joyful and boisterous holiday spirit. Although it is called the season of giving, I also think of it as the season of forgetting and ignoring, as some people seem to neglect the hardships of others and maybe even their own, and immerse themselves in the moment. But that’s what people do to survive. They live in the moment, like Jimmy and Adelle in Dulac. For the few hours we spent with them, they were so happy to have company and to socialize with us. We were their holiday season and joy. So in that way, we made a difference for a moment. But moments don’t last forever. And that’s what I learned about service. It must last for more than just a moment. It must be eternal.

When 9/11 happened I was in 6th grade. The first day back at school my Social Studies teacher said to our class, “You may not realize it, but your innocence has been taken from you.” And it had. And I felt it. That is kind of how I’m feeling on this trip. We have learned so much about various things such as the government, the wetlands, the corruption of the New Orleans police department, the human destruction to our wetlands, the oil spill, and the fact that Hurricane Katrina was not a “natural” disaster. The poverty we have witnessed, and the situations we have learned about, are opening my eyes to the world around me. I am a Junior in college, and I have looked at the world generally positively, and without adequate regard to the major issues that are present. Mainly, I have looked at the world without questioning it. Now I am learning to question the world around me and not to simply accept it for what it is. 9/11 darkened my view, however I was still a bit young. Although I am young now, I am at a point in my life where I am developing my ideas, beliefs, and opinions about the world, and the life I want to live. Opening myself to the truth behind certain issues has certainly darkened my innocence. With this loss of innocence and naivety, comes the importance of morality and question. It has shown me that morality is extremely important to me, and the people I have met on this trip, and that provides a bit of light and excitement.

Community service is an interesting thing. One of the things I have primarily learned is that education about what you are doing is extremely important, not necessarily about the physical thing that you are doing, but the overall concept of why you are doing it, and why it needs to be done. Also, the main thing is that it is often temporary service. There is so much more to it than simply the act. It is hard to put yourself in the position of the people who you are trying to help. In fact, it is impossible. But you must forget about yourself, and try your hardest to understand the world from other perspectives. Union College is such a bubble of paradise and we are often so wrapped up in our studies and social lives. We may not be able to completely immerse ourselves in other ways of life and situations, however, we can go outside our bubble and think beyond. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. The things I am learning are extremely significant.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to go down to Louisiana and help out. This trip means a lot to me. Initially, my feelings towards this trip regarded my family roots in Louisiana, however, these past few days have broadened my feelings in a sense that I am an individual of this Earth, and the people affected by various acts of both nature and mankind, are human. The films we have viewed in class have really touched me, especially “Trouble in Water.” Visuals have such a deep impact on me, and although your own imagination can speculate, the closest thing to the truth behind what has happened down there, are the individuals who went and are going through it. I am excited to interact with these people, however with this excitement comes some anxiety and nerves. I have had a fortunate life and can never imagine the difficulties these people have faced. Connection is extremely important when it comes to human interaction, and this is what will be challenging, especially when the human interaction is based on the content of suffrage and loss, however hope and empathy are what can be shared.

I feel so privileged to be a part of this group. Already, I feel a great connection between all of us. It is so nice to be surrounded by caring and willing individuals, and I’m excited to share what we have to offer, as not only individuals, but as a group down south. Never did I think a random group of Union College students would be gathering in my Aunt and Uncle’s place in the French Quarter, and I am beyond excited to share their wonderful southern personalities with everyone. This random group of Union College students doesn’t seem so random anymore.