This past March six Reynolds students embarked on a different kind
of spring break. Although they had never met each other and weren’t quite sure
what they would be doing for the week or where they would be sleeping they
still jumped into a 12-passenger van on a gloomy Sunday and started their
journey to Roanoke, Virginia to participate in Habitat for Humanity’s
Collegiate Challenge.
The students and I would assist with the demolition and
construction of three houses over the course of the week. Our days were full of
ripping the roof off of a house that had caught fire, building decks,
installing a shower, painting foundations, pouring concrete and more! We spent our
evenings at the First Baptist Church where we slept on the floor, made meals,
worked out, reflected on the day’s experiences and got to know each more as
individuals. We even had one sunny afternoon to explore Roanoke’s beautiful
downtown market and visit the star at the top of Mill Mountain. 
In the evaluations, one student wrote, “It has humbled me, making
me devote an entire week to the benefit of someone that I will probably never
meet. That to me is valuable and has impacted me deeply.”
Another student reflected, "I made some good friends. It
motivated me to become a better person. And it made me realize that we all need
each other to make this community a better place to live.”
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| From left to right, Julius Sykes, Siedah Harris, Haera Seo, Catherine Diep, Cara Luyster (Counselor for Student Life), Devaun Jackson and Samah Nour. |
To see pictures of the trip, search for Reynolds Community College-Student Life on Facebook and maybe you’ll be motivated to join us next time.
