Currently, it is about one month until my spring break. On March 22, I will leave for Louisiana, where I will spend a week building houses with the United Way. I could spend the week in Boston with my family or in Florida or Mexico with my friends, but I wanted to do something positive.
It is called the Alternative Spring Break program and this will be my first year. It will also be the first time I have flown by myself, the first time I have paid for a vacation by myself, and the first time I have been 1000 miles away from my home by myself.
I would be lying if I said I was not totally, totally psyched.
What's even cooler is that hundreds of other students are trading in their rum and cokes for hammers and nails. Instead of getting drunk on the beach and hooking up with randoms (although that sounds fully fabulous) they will be busting their asses and lending a hand to the hurricane relief effort.
Now do not get me wrong, I am not pretending to be some sort of saint. This trip is as much for me as it is for those affected by Katrina and Rita. I can get that warm and fuzzy feeling, a letter of recommendation, and something spiffy to put on my resume.
I'm excited.
28 days.
--Al.
