Rockford College Blogs

I would give up my spring break every year to head down to Starkville to better one family’s lives.  Then again, I cannot really say that I would be giving anything thing up, rather I would be gaining many things.  An amazing experience, getting to know new people and making life long friends is so much more than what I would gain by heading down to the beach for a week.

This was my first trip down to Starkville, and words cannot describe what a great time I had there.  On Sunday afternoon, when we went to the ground-breaking ceremony, I had no idea what to expect.  I guess I did not expect the ceremony to be as emotional as it was for me.  Just being able to see the families begin to cry as they began thanking everyone who has made this possible for them, made me realize that I am so blessed to have been able to grow up like I did and to not take the things I do have for granted.  It really made me want to put every ounce of energy I had in me into making these houses perfect for these two families. 

I was also amazed with those who volunteered at the camp, along with Young.  Everyone was so friendly and helped make our experience at the camp one to remember.  I could not believe that all of those people would just stand outside in the cold holding ropes for us, while we repelled or zip-lined.  I guess I am just not used to southern hospitality.  Young, Highway, Puddin’ and everyone else made me see who I hope to become one day, and I hope that day comes soon.

I was also touched by many of the advisors.  Monday night I had received some bad news about a member of my family.  As hard as I tried to hold it together Robin could see that I was not doing well, so Robin and Angie took me to the side and said a prayer for my family member.  They were amazing and I want them to know how much I appreciated how supportive they were.  Thanks you two!!

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know everyone on the trip, and I made friends that I know will be there for ever, even though two of them may be in other countries.  Get excited for next year!!!!!!  Can’t wait!! 

 ♥Lindsay Latino♥

So 8 years ago, if you would have told me that the 2008 trip would consist of 47 people, I would have laughed in your face and told you that you were crazy! Each year that I go on this trip, I am blown away at what can happen in just 7 days! In the pictures you can visually see what happens, but what you cannot see is the truly amazing part! Early Saturday morning 47 people cram into a bus for a 14 hour trek south. Some of these people are friends, others complete strangers but 14 hours later, new friendships are already beginning to form. After 14 hours in a bus, we unload our bags and file into a lodge meant for 24 people to sleep in. You drop your stuff and claim anything that looks like it could be used for a bed, pool table… anyone? Sound fun yet? Didn’t think so. This is the amazing part, the people of this trip look past this. They look past the bugs in the showers, the lack of warm water, the early mornings and most of all they look past the fact that they are doing this on the one week they don’t have classes and homework. Being part of the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday afternoon was more than enough to make me forget about the freezing cold shower I took the night before. Seeing 2 single moms overwhelmed with emotion because they were looking at the foundations of their houses is all you need to find the motivation for the week. Seeing a 4 year old and a 6 year old learn how to pound nails in THEIR own house adds a little pick-me-up in the middle of the long tiring week. Seeing Rockford College students being forced to stop working and go to lunch or being forced to stop for the day helps you see where the hearts of each person on this trip are. The community knows who Rockford College is, not because we are a group of 47 but because Rockford College brings down a group of people who are willing to sacrifice that entire week for one purpose, building a home for a family. Lives are changed on this trip, not just the family who we built a house for, but each individual on this trip walks away a different person. They walk away with new friends, new experiences and a sense of accomplishment. You just gave sweat, hopefully not too much blood, and even some tears to change the life of an entire family. Who would have thought?

-Patrick Young

I just survived the first week back from Spring Break, bearly. I was too busy having the time of my life back in Mississippi and saved all my work for when I got back. However, I don’t regret my decission, because I had one of the best weeks of my life over Spring Break building houses for Habitat down in Mississippi. This whole week back at school I was missing Mississippi, building, and the whole AHASB group! I made some awesome new friendships and strenghtened ones I already had. I have never been surrounded by such a great group of people. Everyone was there because their hearts are set on helping others and that inner beauty was definatly reflected in their actions. I believe our group had a sense of genuine caring for one another and helped eachother when in need. I thank everyone on the trip for being so awesome, because I don’t think I have felt so comfortable being myself, as I did for that week over Spring Break. It was beautiful to see so much love and determination to make a difference in a group of people. I am still raving to everyone about how much fun AHASB was. The OC/Laguna Beach style spring breaks seem totally over rated compared to our Excellent Adventure down South!!!

From Germany to Starksville- what a contrast! I am in the US to strengthen my English skills and to explore a different culture. My initial idea was to join the trip for fun, but it turned out much more than that. It all started with Micki, who asked me if I would be interested in the Spring Break trip to Mississippi. I said yes, so we went to the first meeting.

At first, I was scared but also exited to get to know all these people. After a few meetings I realized that this group came together for a single purpose and to do something good. Volunteer work isn’t such a big thing In Germany as it is here in the US. During the week down in Mississippi, I began to understand that Volunteer work puts you in a different environment and expose you to people and situations that you wouldn’t have come across in your usual life.

This week strengthen mine and for sure other personalities. Finally at the house or camp I developed a sense of friendship, before they all were only faces and I didn’t know them. During the week these faces became people that I could understand and appreciate. This trip was amazing.  For example, I felt honored to be able to do something for other people instead of doing something only for myself. I never expected it to be a real life changing experience. 

We all broke down our boundaries, while we were repelling, eating crawfish, it took us hours to hit the nail right, or working in cold and rainy weather. Blisters, sunburn, wounds or bruises, we accepted everything to meet our goal. I had never helped someone in this way. To see these woman’s tears and to feel the thankfulness was an indescribable feeling. Even though I didn’t really know the families who would move into the houses, I felt a connection with them.  

Every time when we finished another part of the house I imagined how the family would live there. To see our work and accomplishment in each part of the house was great. This house will make a big change in somebody’s life. Also another great experience were the awesome people, who encouraged us or provided food for us, while we were working at the house.

This trip especially helped me to appreciate everything that I achieved and doing something out of the normal was a great chance to cope with my homesickness and worries. The volunteering work down in Mississippi also let me see my own life in new ways as I focused on other people’s lives. Now I hope to find the opportunity to volunteer when I return to Germany.

Tschuesssss!!!!! Inkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (repelling wall )

When classes resumed after last year’s AHASB trip many of my friends told me of the awesome experiences they had while in Starkville, Mississippi and right then I knew that I wanted to be a part of all the fun. This year’s trip was amazing! It was filled with so many “first times” for me such as repelling, zip-lining, building a house, attending a New Orleans Jazz concert, attending a Southern Baptist church service, and sleeping on a pool table for a week. The most memorable times, however, came from meeting and getting to know my new friends. I didn’t know very many of the people when we started the long bus ride there, but the bus ride home was completely different. I have been in classes with some of the great people that I befriended on the trip all semester but never knew them. Its funny to return to classes and notice a bunch more people–people I never realized were in my classes–ones I never thought I would talk to but now we suddenly have tons of stuff to talk about. I know that the friends I made on my spring break will be friends for life. We made so many memories on the trip and will continue making them for years to come. I can’t wait until next year for another amazing spring break. ~Alyssa Doering

I traveled to Starkville, Mississippi for the first time last year and I can say with full honesty that the trip changed my life. I returned again this Spring Break and had even more fun.
Before traveling to Mississippi last year, I thought the trip sounded like fun, but I never imagined just how amazing the trip would be. I met amazing people whom I had never before had the chance to know, learned new skills (how to hammer a nail), tried new activities (rappelling!) and foods (crawfish, anyone?), and, best of all, I was able to be a part of something that changed someone’s life for the better. I cannot explain the feeling I felt when I met the family that would live in the house we were building. With each wall that went up, I became more and more excited, thinking about the great times that family would have in that house. I imagined them turning their house into their home.
I returned this year because of my great experience in 2007. It was fantastic to see our friends in Starkville show up to greet us when we arrived on Saturday and it was even better to see them when we would return from work at night. The people of Starkville are so great to us - I think they are just as excited about our visit as we are!
This year we worked on two houses and it is amazing how much we got done. We all worked very hard, but we had so much fun doing it that we were surprised when the end of the day would come. The two families who will receive the houses that we worked on are fantastic and they were so appreciative. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the crowd when the mothers made speeches thanking everyone. The families even showed up to the worksite a few times to chat and see their future homes.
I highly recommend this trip to anyone and everyone. I had the time of my life and I’m sure you will too.

 Lisa Hiskey

As I am back in classes I still can’t stop thinking about the great experiences I shared with my fellow classmates and alum. I went to Mississippi for the first time this year and could not have asked for a better time. I went on this trip to help others and ended up learning about myself in the end. It was emotional, exciting, and eye-opening all in one. I still can’t believe what 47 people can get done in a week. I am one of those people that one would call uncoordinated, yet I was able to use a circular saw and hammer. It is amazing what you can do to help others out. I hope all us remember that if we work together we can accomplish great things and help those who truly deserve to be helped. I hope to go on this trip again as it was one of the best times of my life. Also, on a side note, if you decide to go you should really bring a head light, as they are totally cool.

Micki Whitacre

 This year was my first AHASB trip to Starkville, Mississippi and hopefully there will be many more to come!  I could not have asked for a better time while helping build two homes for families to live in. As we all gathered around the two families for the groundbreaking ceremony, I looked around and noticed how many people had come together for such a wonderful opportunity. The ceremony became extremely emotional when the two women had their chance to speak about how thankful they were to receive such gifts from others who did not yet know them on a personal level. Throughout the week, I met and bonded with new people during teambuilding activities, camp projects, warehouse jobs, and at the houses. I did not expect to accomplish some of the tasks that were given to me such as helping build a complex sandbox, moving mulch to various places on the boyscout camp, operating a drill, circular saw, and a nail gun, and using a hammer for just about everything else! I now know more about a house than I ever thought I would and realize how much hard work goes into building one. As I am back at Rockford College attending classes, I see others who shared some of the same experiences in Starkville and hope we continue to keep in touch and share future experiences with each other. I went to Mississippi knowing a few people and hoping to make a difference in others’ lives, but came back with much more.-Amanda Clarke

When I got unrolled in this trip I thought that I was making a good choice in spending my break playing the construction builder for a good cause. I was far from imagining how rich this experience was going to be though. This week has taught me more than how to hammer a nail in less time than during my poor workshop experience the week before departure. I learned how to appreciate people whom I have known the names for two years but never really tried to talk to. I have more affection for the ones I already loved, and I also met new people that I won’t forget. The goal was not to be everybody’s best friends on that trip, but to my mind, there was no need to try really hard anyway; ties have been built naturally. All the work we have done, both at the camp and the house, made me really proud of all of us, and really optimistic about what people can achieve when they come together. Those families made me cried, they made me laugh too. These houses will soon be theirs and their lives will take a new turn thanks to Habitat for Hummanity. I consider it such a chance to have witnessed the beginning of this new life; this is priceless. This trip was challenging and I would like to thank everybody for being so patient with me.

Now that classes are started again, I just wish I could still be in Mississippi. The weather might have teased us quite a bit over this weak, it did not alter my opinion about this Starkville experience. This break was great; my goal for next year is to make it even better

Thanks to all of you, you have made my spring break.

Emilie /Frenchie

Here’s the first house and our group wearing our shirts Thursday.

- Sean