GSU Swimmers Participate in Alternative Spring Break Trips
3/26/2014 10:42:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
STATESBORO, Ga.- Georgia Southern swimmers Hannah Rogers and Amber Juncker participated in alternative spring break trips through the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement this year. Hannah travelled to Argyle, Texas, and Amber to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Georgia Southern sponsors Alternative Break trips to provide students with the opportunity to make a difference in the community on a local, national, or global effort.
Hannah and Amber gave us some great insight on their experiences.
What was the purpose of your trip?
H: The purpose of this Alternative Break trip was to aid to people with disabilities. We were counselors for Camp Summit which is a non-profit camp for people of all ages with disabilities. The group of campers that I worked with ranged anywhere from 22-60 and they all had different disabilities i.e. cerebral palsy, deaf, autistic, down syndrome, severe epilepsy, and an intellectual disability.
A: We primarily worked with an organization called CUMI, which stands for the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill. We went to serve and help with the injustice facing the community, in this case mental illness. Since it was an international trip we were witness to several other issues facing the Montego Bay community. While on the trip we got the opportunity to visit an orphanage and a teen mother's center.
What types of tasks/activities did you participate in?
H: Camp Summit was just like a normal camp except it was adapted for the disabled. We helped them with their daily activities like eating, getting dressed, transferring, but the best part was seeing them interact with one another and participating in activities that they could not do in the world outside of Camp Summit. The campers did horseback riding, played kickball, basketball, flag football, tee ball, arts and crafts, metal detecting, and we even gave them dance lessons. Because a lot of the campers were in wheel chairs, we had to get creative when playing games and at arts and crafts we did "hand over hand" coloring or had to help them make the activities.
A: At CUMI we helped facilitate activities with the clients. We played dominos with them, made bracelets, created some arts and crafts. We also played soccer with the clients, learned some salsa dancing, and did some stretching with them.
What was your favorite part of the trip?
H: The best part and most heartwarming thing was realizing they are exactly like we are, they just have to face more obstacles then we do in our daily lives. The campers were all so confident in themselves and happy with the lives they were living that at times you would forget they had a disability. They were so loving and it was such a rewarding feeling whenever they would thank you for what you were doing, when really we should have been the ones thanking them. Everyone that went on the trip strongly bonded with their campers so it was really hard to leave knowing that we made such a big impact in their lives, and the campers impacting ours as well.
A: My favorite part was making connections with all the people we met, including the group of students that were on the trip with me. Everyone we met and worked with in Jamaica were extremely kind and generous and welcomed us with open arms. Seeing the smile on the faces of the clients when we came each day was an incredible feeling. I also loved getting to know my fellow students that I may have never connected with if it were not for the alternative breaks.
How do you think this impacted your life?
H: This trip definitely impacted my life in ways I did not expect. I went on this trip to meet new people, help the community of the disabled, and to improve my resume for OT school. I came out of the trip with a changed heart and now I want to work with disabled patients through occupational therapy. The campers at Camp Summit made me feel so thankful and blessed to live the life that I do, and the least I can do is give back to the people who made me so happy.
A: The trip was an amazing experience. It taught me so much about the kindness and generosity of others. It opened my eyes to the culture of other people. I hope to one day work for a Nonprofit organization and this trip just reinforced that passion and reminded me of the need for organizations like CUMI.
Would you do it again? If so, where?
H: I would do this entire experience over again and more. Three of my group members from alternative break are going back for the 12 week program this summer so I've considered going back this summer for a few weeks depending on my school schedule. Camp Twin Lakes is also another camp for people with disabilities, so that's another option and it's a lot closer to home! Even if I don't get the opportunity to go back this summer, I want to work with these blessed people for the rest of my life.
A: If I had the opportunity to have this experience all over again I would absolutely do it! I would love to go back to Montego Bay after having made such special connections with the people, but I think taking another alternative break trip anywhere would be amazing as well.
Keep up the good work, Hannah and Amber! Thank you for sharing your incredible stories.
Hannah and Amber gave us some great insight on their experiences.
What was the purpose of your trip?
H: The purpose of this Alternative Break trip was to aid to people with disabilities. We were counselors for Camp Summit which is a non-profit camp for people of all ages with disabilities. The group of campers that I worked with ranged anywhere from 22-60 and they all had different disabilities i.e. cerebral palsy, deaf, autistic, down syndrome, severe epilepsy, and an intellectual disability.
A: We primarily worked with an organization called CUMI, which stands for the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill. We went to serve and help with the injustice facing the community, in this case mental illness. Since it was an international trip we were witness to several other issues facing the Montego Bay community. While on the trip we got the opportunity to visit an orphanage and a teen mother's center.
What types of tasks/activities did you participate in?
H: Camp Summit was just like a normal camp except it was adapted for the disabled. We helped them with their daily activities like eating, getting dressed, transferring, but the best part was seeing them interact with one another and participating in activities that they could not do in the world outside of Camp Summit. The campers did horseback riding, played kickball, basketball, flag football, tee ball, arts and crafts, metal detecting, and we even gave them dance lessons. Because a lot of the campers were in wheel chairs, we had to get creative when playing games and at arts and crafts we did "hand over hand" coloring or had to help them make the activities.
A: At CUMI we helped facilitate activities with the clients. We played dominos with them, made bracelets, created some arts and crafts. We also played soccer with the clients, learned some salsa dancing, and did some stretching with them.
What was your favorite part of the trip?
H: The best part and most heartwarming thing was realizing they are exactly like we are, they just have to face more obstacles then we do in our daily lives. The campers were all so confident in themselves and happy with the lives they were living that at times you would forget they had a disability. They were so loving and it was such a rewarding feeling whenever they would thank you for what you were doing, when really we should have been the ones thanking them. Everyone that went on the trip strongly bonded with their campers so it was really hard to leave knowing that we made such a big impact in their lives, and the campers impacting ours as well.
A: My favorite part was making connections with all the people we met, including the group of students that were on the trip with me. Everyone we met and worked with in Jamaica were extremely kind and generous and welcomed us with open arms. Seeing the smile on the faces of the clients when we came each day was an incredible feeling. I also loved getting to know my fellow students that I may have never connected with if it were not for the alternative breaks.
How do you think this impacted your life?
H: This trip definitely impacted my life in ways I did not expect. I went on this trip to meet new people, help the community of the disabled, and to improve my resume for OT school. I came out of the trip with a changed heart and now I want to work with disabled patients through occupational therapy. The campers at Camp Summit made me feel so thankful and blessed to live the life that I do, and the least I can do is give back to the people who made me so happy.
A: The trip was an amazing experience. It taught me so much about the kindness and generosity of others. It opened my eyes to the culture of other people. I hope to one day work for a Nonprofit organization and this trip just reinforced that passion and reminded me of the need for organizations like CUMI.
Would you do it again? If so, where?
H: I would do this entire experience over again and more. Three of my group members from alternative break are going back for the 12 week program this summer so I've considered going back this summer for a few weeks depending on my school schedule. Camp Twin Lakes is also another camp for people with disabilities, so that's another option and it's a lot closer to home! Even if I don't get the opportunity to go back this summer, I want to work with these blessed people for the rest of my life.
A: If I had the opportunity to have this experience all over again I would absolutely do it! I would love to go back to Montego Bay after having made such special connections with the people, but I think taking another alternative break trip anywhere would be amazing as well.
Keep up the good work, Hannah and Amber! Thank you for sharing your incredible stories.
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