Oh spring break, I didn't know if you would ever get here.
Today I was sitting in my apartment at about quarter to 5, and almost everyone had left. The hall was empty with a few stragglers, and for the most part the hallway was uncharacteristically quiet, just as it had been all day. Outside of my living room window there is a big parking lot, and through my open window, I could see and hear excited students piling into 15 passenger vans headed on Alternative Break Challenges. Some are going on Habitat for Humanity trips; others are planning on volunteering at homeless shelters or day care programs. Another group are on their way to LA for a week of cleaning up beaches and helping at non-profit organizations.
I bet it comes as no surprise that many of these trips have at least one Alexander student on them. I hope you all meet some new friends along the way, laugh A LOT, and see the impact you are going to have on the lives you touch this next week. I'll be thinking of you all, and two that will be in my thoughts the most are my friends Julia and Leah. Julia is the hall director next door, and one of her students Leah is a former Alex Alum. As I write this, they are packing up their bags and headed to Logan tonight to fly to Haiti. I hope you both remember all of us at home in Durham thinking of you and wishing you well this entire week. I know you will make such an impact on the young children you'll meet. Those two big, beautiful smiles will melt everyone's heart and bring them such joy.
As the amazing Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Between Michelle, Michaela, Julia, Leah, Joy, Jules, Leanne, Sloane, Sarah, Julia P., and probably way more than I can remember, you are definitely changing your world.
