We served, we partied, we cheered — recap of Spring Break activities
We served. We partied. We cheered: Spring Break 2009 Re-cap
Some students served devastated areas in need of humanitarian aid, while others left freezing Logan for warmer weather on cruises or on beaches. Many students helped cheer the Aggies to a WAC tournament victory in Reno. Wherever students served, partied or cheered, it was a well deserved and enjoyable Spring Break.
Two different groups of USU students provided much needed service and humanitarian aid in Galveston, Texas, and Tijuana, Mexico. Colie Peterson, junior in public relations, was one of 15 students from USU to serve in Galveston, Texas, with the Alternative Breaks service club for the entire week. Peterson said the group worked with Good News Galveston, a disaster relief organization, doing various forms of service in the devastated community. The students stayed at an old elementary school that is being used as a volunteer shelter.
“We did everything from painting houses to demolition, helping with kids at the Head Start program, drywall and reconstruction and picking up garbage and doing some general cleanup,” she said.
Peterson said although the hurricane hit Galveston more than six months ago, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
“There is still a huge need in Galveston – many people still aren’t back into their homes. We were happy that we could make a difference,” she said.
Peterson said the hardest part of the trip was the physical labor required.
“Some of the work was physically exhausting,” she said. “We worked 8 hours a day and there were days that we wanted to just go to the beach or hang out, but we were committed and we did it and it was really satisfying.”
Peterson said the best part of the trip was the relationships made within the group of students, with other volunteers and with the people they were serving.
“The best part of the trip was getting to know the people we did service for, ” she said. “Despite losing their homes and being displaced from their community, they were so optimistic and grateful for the work we were doing.”
Besides working during the day, she said students went to the beach and got to experience some tourist sites in Galveston and Houston. Peterson said the entire trip cost about $500, and is something she definitely recommends to anyone.
Another group of 20 USU students traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, to volunteer in a dental clinic and do some construction and cleanup. Casey Draper, senior in biology, said he enjoyed the trip.
“It was way cool to help people, especially the little kids – to help fix their smiles and get rid of the pain,” he said.
Draper was one of five members of the USU Dental Club on the trip. He said those students worked in a makeshift clinic in a school while the other 15 students painted and fixed up the school. Draper said he felt the students were able to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
“I think we made an impact for sure,” he said. “We actually made the newspaper in Tijuana. You could tell they really appreciated us.”
Clark Brenton, senior in exercise science, was another member of the Dental Club who went on the trip. He said he enjoyed helping the people in need and also gaining experience in the dental field.
“I think we helped a lot of people,” Breton said. “Overall, we pulled about 80 bad teeth.”
Besides serving, Draper said they also got to hang out at the beach.
“Service plus having fun is double the pleasure,” he said.
Draper said the whole trip cost about $360.
Maren DeFries, junior in accounting and human resources, went on a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera, beginning in Los Angeles and stopping in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. DeFries said the cruise had a total of 150-200 students from USU, which was fun because she got to hang out with friends she already knew and meet some new people.
“I really liked it,” she said. “Wherever you went on the boat you could find people you knew. At first I thought I knew everyone, but I was meeting a lot of new people.”
DeFries said the best part of the trip was horse back riding in Puerto Vallarta and the all-you-can-eat food and ice cream on the boat. She also said she enjoyed karaoke in the evenings and hanging out on the beach.
Despite extensive warnings about trips to Mexico over the break, DeFries said overall she felt pretty safe.
“I never felt in danger,” she said. “We just went places that we knew were safe.”
DeFries said she thinks taking a break and having fun experiences with friends is important in college.
“I was getting kind of worn out of school, so it was really nice to work hard the week before and then just have a whole week to relax and have fun,” she said.
DeFries said the entire trip, including travel to Los Angeles, cost about $430.
Another trip many Utah State students took over the break was to Reno, Nev., to see the Aggies in the WAC tournament. Andy Bright, junior in accounting, said the trip was definitely worth it, especially since the Aggies took the crown.
“It was really cool,” he said. “I would definitely go again.”
Bright missed the first game, but traveled the seven hours to Reno to see USU play New Mexico on Friday and Nevada for the finals on Saturday. He said it was fun to be part of the wild die-hard Aggie fans to witness the win.
“There was definitely a lot of Aggie fans there,” he said. “I think it helped out the team to have the students there. We were almost as loud as Nevada.”
Bright said he stayed with friends in Lake Tahoe, Calif., and said the entire trip cost about $260.
–karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu