After working with the Frazee Dream Center, Diligent Hands Gracious Hearts, Project Host soup kitchen and Harvest Hope food bank, we asked the students about their experiences and how the trip affected them. Here's what they had to say.
Angela Wasko – Public Relations major / Adversiting and IDM minor /
Senior
“This was my fourth year participating in ASB. Each year has been different and taught
me more about myself and others.”
Jessica Kunkel – Organizational Communication major /
General Business minor / sophomore
“I loved knowing that I could make a difference in the
lives of others. I learned a lot
about communicating with a diverse group of people.”
Danielle Crawford – Elementary Education major /Psychology minor /
Senior
“This trip has opened my eyes to things I could never
have even imagined. I feel more
blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of ASB and to make a
difference in the lives of underprivileged children.”
Natalie Bannister – Elementary Education & Special Education major
/ Senior
“These experiences will help me to be a better role model
as a future teacher for my students, whether that be a parent, shoulder to cry
on or someone to look up to.”
Kasha Tafoya – Elementary Education / Spanish minor / Senior
“When Mr. Matt said that there was a child in Maryville,
MO that needs me, it just made me realize that I need to open up my eyes, arms
and heart to the communities I’m a part of and start making a difference
there.”
Lindsay Stapley – Psychology and Comprehensive Crisis Response
major / Senior
“I’ve done service work before this trip, but I realized
that I need to take the initiative and inform others about poverty in America
and get them involved in making a difference.”
Jena Sosnowchik – Elementary Education major / Early Childhood
Development and Spanish minors / Sophomore
“The trip really opened my eyes to all of the things that
I’ve seen on the news, such a kids who live in poverty and such. The trip was a
really great way to make a difference in their lives and show the children that
there is a different kind of life out there.”
Kathryn Burnett – Industrial Psychology major / Sophomore
“ It really put things into perspective, such as how we
think marriage is something that just happens or college, but for these
children, that’s not their first priority. Things like getting food and surviving are their main
priorities.”
Madilynn Kettle – Elementary & Special Education / Senior
“What I took away from this trip the most was how good
that we have it and how bad some people have it. They don’t even realize how bad they have it, because they
don’t see how good we have it.”
“The thing that affected me the most was when my child
for the week, Xavier, said ‘When I’m big, I’m gonna go to college just like
you, Ms. Madi.’ That made me want
to stay in contact with the Frazee Dream Center, and I am already planning a
trip back for this summer.”
Jessica Pedraza – Child and Family Studies major / Family
Education minor / Freshman
“The Frazee Dream Center gave me hope for the children’s
future.”
Diana Reyes – Spanish major / Business minor / Sophomore
“All three organizations were really eye-opening for me,
especially Harvest Hope food bank and the Frazee Dream Center. I have always known that children have
gone without food or are living in poverty, but I never realized the severity
of it, especially in South Carolina.
They gave me inspiration to do something in my own community.”
Andrea Potter – Pre-Pharmacy (Chemistry) major / Senior
“One thing I learned is that people who have needs, like
food or shelter, are closer to my world than I originally perceived. I really enjoyed interacting with
everyone that we got to help. It’s
cool to see how people, even though they are busy, still want to help others
and recognize that they make a difference.”
Shelby Oatman – Middle School Education major / Math, Social
Science and Spanish minors / Sophomore
“This trip made me appreciate what I have and it made me
realize that everything can be gone in a moment.”
Lindsay Brison – Elementary Education major / Early Childhood
Development minor / Sophomore
“I learned that it only takes one person to make a change
in the lives of others. I didn’t
realize how privileged I was growing up and this trip made me appreciate
everything that my parents have done for me.”
Hannah Jelden – Pre-Dental Hygiene major / Freshman
“It made me realize how ungrateful I was for the things I
have. I don’t have to worry about
not eating lunch or that I won’t have a place to live. It made me feel so fortunate for the
life I have and made me realize that I shouldn’t complain about how good I have
it.”
Silver Love – Pre-professional Zoology major /
Biochemistry minor / Junior
“Working with the children and seeing how underprivileged
they are, made me see how good we have it here, but we just go on living our
lives never thinking about it.
Getting the chance to see it firsthand, makes you think about how we
take the little things in life for granted, but those things to them are
unknown.”
Sarah Zajic – Biology/Psychology major / Freshman
“Things such as listening to the children’s stories about
all the struggles that they went through, and yet children would walk up and
grab my hand, made me realize how happy they were for us to be there.”
Samantha Sciara – Speech and Theater Education / Senior
“It’s different to know that there are people out there
who are struggling with food and shelter, than to actually see their faces and
see the whole Frazee Dream Center full of kids who are struggling.”
Ashley Herring – Public Relations major / Senior
“The most impacting part of this year’s trip is seeing
people of all ages who are in unfortunate situations but still approach life
with the most positive attitude and are always smiling. It puts whatever is
troubling in your life into perspective and makes you realize that what may
seem bad is not as bad as it seems. I learned that waking up everyday
determined to make each day a
positive one for you or someone else, is the best way to approach life.
Jamie Harrison
- Psychology major / Administration of Childcare Programs minor / Senior
“Being the president of ASB and having people come up to
me with their ideas and feelings, seeing them connect with others on the trip
and the people we worked with, showed me how much love human beings are capable
of and inspired me to continue serving others after I graduate.”
Amanda Parr – Psychology and Sociology major / Senior
“This trip has helped me realize that even if you have a
little, you can still help people a lot.
For instance, the family of the two girls I worked with, even though
they were in a tough situation themselves, took in another child from the
Frazee Dream Center. Even if you
don’t have a lot to offer, little things can go a long way.”
Tamika Beasley – International Business major / Senior
“’Change the world one person at a time’” has always been
one of my quotes to live by. Prior
to this trip, my interpretation of the “one person” was the one who was being
helped. However, after this trip it occurred to me that that “one person” could
actually be yourself.”
Shawnta Addison – Business Management major / Senior
“I was pleased to be able to come on this trip to try and
make a difference in others’ lives. It was not so much a learning experience
for me, but a chance to go and help others and let them know that the world is bigger than where
they live and they are able to go beyond Greenville. I was once one of those
children and I have grown and have overcome my hard times as a child. One day I
hope to go back and work with the kids at Frazee!”
Tara Eckrich – Psychology and Sociology major / Freshman
“It was a big eye-opener that there are actually kind
people out there like Matt and Jenny that would drop everything for kids in
need. It was also a big eye-opener to see and hear some of what the kids’ lives
are actually like. Life-changing experience is the only way I can describe it.”
Elizabeth Bettes – Child and Family Studies major / Psychology
Minor / Sophomore
“On this trip, I learned to view people differently, not
take things for granted and to respect people for who they are.”
Anna Sutton – Missouri Academy
“ I went on the trip because I had someone in my life who
made a difference and I wanted to be that for someone else. I was surprised by how attached I got
to the children at the Frazee Dream Center and how hard it was to leave.”
Allie LaRocca
- Physical Education major / Senior
“It reinforced the fact that any little bit you do can
help and that the amount of people you’re reaching is greater than you
think. You have to start out with
the means you have and then greater things will come.”
Liz Pleskac - Spanish major / Journalism minor / Sophomore
"I loved working with all the organizations we partnered with and all the members of ASB. I became friends with people who I might never have even met if I didn't go on this trip. It was an amazing overall experience and I wouldn't have traded it for any other spring break experience."
