My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Exploring History

Saturday was our last day in the Outer Banks, and we spent the day exploring the cultural history of the area. We started the day by climbing Currituck Beach Lighthouse, one of the five main lighthouses in the state. It took us 220 stairs to get to the top, and the view from above was breathtaking. Although we felt as though we could be blown away by the wind, the view of the area was unforgettable.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse

We made it to the top of the lighthouse after climbing 220 stairs.

Our second half of the day began by our visit to the Wright Brothers National Museum in Kitty Hawk. Here, we learned about Orville and Wilbur Wright and the birthplace of aviation in the early 1900s. We listened to a speaker explain the history of the Wright Brothers' invention of aviation and explored the meaning behind an iconic moment in history.

It was interesting to hear about the geographic symbolism of Kitty Hawk in relation to the birth of aviation. The first successful power-driven flight in world history took place on a sand dune in Kitty Hawk, NC by the Wright Brothers.

Wilbur and Orville Wright contributed greatly to the birth of aviation.

The iconic photograph to depict this moment in history is one of the most reproduced photos in history. It describes December 17, 1903 as the birth of aviation and the death of impossibility.

This iconic photograph is one of the most reproduced in history. The birthplace of aviation
was the death of impossibility.

Although the Wright Brothers significantly advanced the world of aviation, they also inspired others to believe in the impossible. They brought to light the idea that impossibility is not about failure, but rather, about something that hasn't been done yet. This idea stuck with me throughout the rest of the weekend and even back here at Ithaca College.

I think the idea that the Wright Brothers killed impossibility is one that is important to remember because it motivates us to better ourselves and our daily lives. The legacy of the Wright Brothers highlights the quote that 'nothing is impossible.' Hearing about how the Wright Brothers failed numerous times before they successfully tested a flight reinforced the everyday motto that everyone fails in life. Failure is not an option, but a key to success.

All photos are my own.

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Wildflower Preserves and Marshes

On our final day of service, Friday, we visited the North Carolina aquarium to help with outside renovations of a wildflower preserve.

We not only laid down gravel on the pathway, but also pulled out vines that were growing everywhere. Some of the vines, at least the ones growing on the ground, were Japanese Honeysuckle. Other vines included various types of ivies.

We cleaned out vines and weeds from the wildflower preserve

Our site supervisor was a botanist experienced in horticulture, so it was exciting to hear about her work with plants. I enjoyed listening to her speak because you could hear the passion she has for her work and her thirty years of experience working in horticulture.

I learned it is crucial to weed and pull out vines from gardens and wildflower preserves because it helps clear the path for budding flowers. In addition, without vines or weeds, insects have an easier time engaging with the plants. For instance, bees and butterflies have easier times pollinating flowers and helping them blossom. Without weeds and vines, the soil that is necessary for these plants is healthier and cleaner. We can protect the ecosystem by removing harmful weeds and vines from gardens and wildflower preserves on a regular basis.

In the afternoon, we explored a marsh on Jockey's Ridge State Park. Here, it was cool to see the wildlife and seawater animals that live in the lake. Our week's worth of work has resulted in our learning and understanding of how to protect the environment and its wildlife, and I think it was a unique experience to wade into the water and find wildlife we have been learning about every day.

The marsh we explored at Jockey's Ridge State Park

In the marsh, we discovered baby flounder, shrimp, blue crabs, mud crabs, and anchovies. Not only that, but we also saw the impact of our oyster shell bags. As we opened up a bag of oyster shells from last year, we saw how the oyster larvae attached to the shell, and thus, has been growing for the past year. Also, we learned that mud crabs and small shrimp like to live inside the shells as well.

Shells are an important part of wildlife, too

Visiting the marsh reinforced the impact of our work over the past week. For instance, bagged oyster shells are not only important for helping oyster larvae attach and grow, but it is also important for other organisms to thrive. Bagged oyster shells and the marsh are crucial for our food chain. They are environments for various wildlife, and without them, wildlife would be put on harm's way.

In addition, our planet ought to be well-maintained and protected because it is the environment that we live in. People not only benefit from a clean Earth, but animals do as well. Wildlife, mammals, insects, and sea life are all impacted by our actions. The next time we think about throwing garbage out a car window or letting pollutants enter bodies of water, we should think about how these actions will effect the life of an animal.







All photos are my own.

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Highway Clean-up

Thursday provided me with the opportunity to clean up a highway, yet another new experience I have not done before.

Prior to cleaning up the highway, we learned about the length of time it takes for different items to decompose. 

For example, I learned that it takes a glass bottle, if littered, takes one million years to decompose. That is such a high number that I can't even imagine, and it is unbelieveable to think that a glass bottle can harm wildlife for one million years. 

This activity reinforced the importance of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

As we set out on the highway to pick up litter, I was shocked at the amount of trash that existed on the highway. For instance, there were items I would not have expected, like hypodermic needles and a car tire. Not only that, but for such a small strip of highway, there were a lot of items that served as a possibility to harm wildlife. I was surprised at the amount of trash that we collected within three hours. 

The amount of trash and recyclables we
found littering the highway after a half
day's work

Picking up litter from the highway made me realize how much trash people improperly throw away. As I saw the amount of trash we collected, I became disappointed in the fact that there was still so much trash left to be picked up. I became more aware of the fact that recycling and desposing items properly could change the life of one wildlife animal. It frustrated me to think that people toss trash out their windows without thinking about the impact it has on the environment. Prior to working on this highway clean-up, it has never occurred to me how much of an impact throwing away trash in proper disposal cans has on the environment. Not only am I working to protect wildlife, but I am helping to maintain a clean planet Earth. 

After the highway clean-up, we had the opportunity to speak with a commercial fisherman. He brought us out onto his boat and shared with us his life as a commercial fisherman. 

We learned about the fishing industry from a commercial fisherman.

It was interesting to hear about the work of a commercial fisherman because fishing is such a large employment sector for the Outer Banks. I was amazed at how he told us the migration pattern of fish has changed within the past few years. It made me realize the impact of global warming and how crucial it is for us, as citizens, to protect the Earth to help fish and other animals remain in their natural habitats. Furthermore, I was surprised at the fact that there are only 80 boats along the Eastern coast that go out and fish for one type of fish. For a large coastal line, it is hard to believe that there is little appreciation and understanding for fishermen and what they do. I have much appreciation for fishermen because they provide is with the fresh seafood we eat and make sure we are eating safe seafood. Talking with the fishermen has also made me realize the greater need for protecting wildlife because without a thriving wildlife, there would be a lack of reason for fishermen. If all the fish migrate elsewhere, then what will happen to the fishermen along the East Coast working to make a living? 

Both the litter clean-up and the opportunity to speak with the fisherman brought my attention to many issues, as I now have a greater experience with protecting the environment. 

All photos are my own.

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Oyster Restoration

Wednesday began with a new experience as we worked with the NC Coastal Federation to bag oyster shells.

Oyster larvae, which attach to hard surfaces in order to mate and grow, enjoy attaching to the empty oyster shell.

Before we bagged oyster shells

In order to help facilitate the development of oyster larvae, the NC Coastal Federation bags empty oyster shells to put back into the ocean.

It is important to contribute to oyster restoration because it helps protect the baby larvae during its development stage. Bagging oysters shells was a unique experience for me, one that I have never done.

Our finished bagged shells

We worked with the Eastern Kentucky University students

The day's work highlighted the importance of teamwork and showed me the effects of utilizing everyone's strengths to the fullest. While working with students from the Eastern Kentucky University, I learned that teamwork is a valuable asset when it comes to bagging 500 oyster shells. The team got together and helped us achieve the task within a matter of three hours. 

All photos are my own.

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Rain Gardens

On Tuesday, the group headed out to two local elementary schools and helped clean up their rain gardens that are a part of the Schoolyard Rain Garden Project. 

Tuesday consisted of working at two local elementary schools

These rain gardens intercept stormwater runoff from entering nearby bodies of water by trapping litter and other various pollutants. 

First, we traveled to Kitty Hawk Elementary School. Here, there was a small rain garden filled with trash and weeds. 

We picked up all the litter, raked dead leaves, weeded the entire area, and put down a fresh bed of mulch. 

We worked on the rain garden
at Kitty Hawk Elementary School

Our work at Kitty Hawk Elementary School prepared us for our next stop, the First Flight Elementary School. Here, we tackled a larger rain garden by raking away dead leaves, picking up trash, picking out weeds, and using about 15 bags of mulch to make the rain garden look fresh. 

The end result of our work at First Flight Elementary School

Although we were tied down by monotonous work, I realized how beautiful nature can be. For me, the past year has been one filled with experiences of exploring nature and getting to know the environment around me. The best part of Tuesday was seeing the end product and realizing the impact of our hard work. So far, through Altetnative Spring Break, I have been able to appreciate the beauty if nature and become more aware of how to preserve and protect our environment. As we continue to explore different aspects of nature, I hope I can create new goals to maintain my role is protecting nature. 

All photos are my own.

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Protecting Water Quality

Monday was the first day of volunteering with the North Carolina Coastal Federation. The organization works to protect wildlife and provide clean water quality.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation

We started the day refreshing our minds with the water cycle and learning about the causes of water pollution. A fact that stood out to me was when we discussed how stormwater runoff is the number one source of pollution in the United States and in North Carolina. Not only that, but other factors, such as oil, fertilizer, pet waste, and litter, al contribute to water pollution.

A new lesson for me included our discussion of ways to prevent these runoffs and pollution for entering bodies of water. 

One item that helps prevent stormwater runoff and water pollution is a rain garden. 

Rain gardens intercept stormwater runoff from the roof and other nearby surfaces. Rain gutters are connected to a drain buried underground that lead to these gardens, where plants capture the stormwater runoff deep in the ground. Rain gardens prevent the spread of pollution into nearby bodies of water. 

One of the rain gardens at the North Carolina Coastal Federation 

Another interesting item to help intercept runoff are pervious, or permeable, surfaces. While impervious pavements, like common druveways and roads, push runoff and debris into nearby bodies of water, perviois pavement allows for the layer of compacted soil to trap pollutants and reducd stormwater runoff. This type of pavement includes a base and a sub-base with compacted gravel or soil in between so runoff gets soaked and intercepted. 

Pervious pavement

After learning about these items to protect water quality in the area, we got to work weeding the rain gardens, picking up litter, and raking leaves.

I felt satisfied after seeing the difference we made at the NC Coastal Federation through weeding and cleaning the rain gardens and area. The day provided me with a new insight into how a simple rain garden or a certain type of pavement could contribute to providing clean water quality. 

River behind the NCCF where runoff and pollutants end up

After hearing that stormwater runoff, pet waste, fetilizer, oil, and other everyday items contribute to pollution and poor water quality, I realized that everyone can play a role in reducing the amont of stormwater runoff to maintain a clean water quality and to protect wildlife. We can pick up pet waste, compost food, build rain gardens, implement green roofs or pervious payments, and reduce the amount of fertilizer and oil spills. If we can be mindful of how our everyday actions effect clean water and wildlife, then we can help protect bodies of water from being polluted. 

All photos are my own

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Getting Around

Sunday provided us with the free time to explore the area around house. And of course, we couldn't help but take advantage of that fact, especially with the sunny and warm weather.

On our free day, we traveled to Kill Devil Hills, NC, where we visited sand dunes and Jennette's Pier. Both locations served as prime locations for scenic tours and picture taking.

The view from the top of the sand dunes.

Walking barefoot up toward the mountainous sand dune and hiking up the dune allowed me to entangle my feet in the sand and explore nature's wonder.

I made it to the top!

Of course, climbing up the sand dune was difficult, but the view from the top was breathtaking. The crisp, Spring air and soft, warm sand brought me a bit closer to the feeling of Summer.

Exploring the land of sand dunes

Afterwards, our journey led us to Jennette's Pier, where we saw the ocean traveling beneath our feet at the end of the pier. Jennette's Pier is a hot spot for fishers who are seeking to catch a variety of fish. The pier is lined with bench chairs facing toward the sea and with engraved stone pathways leading to the center.

Jennette's Pier

Today's journey gave me just what I needed to clear my mind and get motivated for tomorrow's busy work day. My encounter with the ocean provided me with a calm peace of mind and allowed me to begin my journey to seek new knowledge about nature's wonders. I much appreciated the ocean and the sunlight on the pier.

The view from Jennette's Pier

Of course, tomorrow will be the beginning of a busy week that will push me to step outside my comfort zone.

All photos are my own. 

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: A Birthday Gift to Myself

After pushing through midterms and completing papers, exams, and projects, it's finally time for every college students' vacation: Spring Break. 

Usually, with the craziness of the semester, I relax at home and enjoy the beginnings of Spring; however, this is the year, I have decided to do something for myself and for the community. 

With that, I am kicking off my 21st year of life by traveling to Kitty Hawk and Outer Banks, North Carolina to volunteer with an awesome group of people. 

In North Carolina, we will be working with a local organization to help with coastal clean-up and to learn about wildlife preservation. 

Our journey began with a 10-hour road trip down to the coast of NC. Though it was a long car ride, it was nice to enjoy the bonding experience with my new peers whom I will be volunteering with. 

To me, service means more than just giving back to the community. It allows me to learn not only about a particular community, but also about myself. Through this experience, I hope I can reflect on my goals for my 21st year and explore the community that thrives in the oceans around us. I hope that I can continue to learn about my own dreams, passions, and goals for who I want to become. I see Alternative Spring Break as an opportunity that will provide me with the outlet to grow as an individual and as a member of the community. 

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The Top 10 Lessons Learned from Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird"

It has been a few weeks now since the death of Harper Lee, a literary icon who passed away Feb. 19 at the age of 89. I have finally finished processing the legacy she has left behind in the world of classic American literature.

Sure, at first, I only thought about how her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, was just one of "those" books we were assigned to read in the ninth grade. I never fully realized the impact Lee had on classic literature until now.

Her novel raises awareness to racial inequality, gender roles, innocence and rape. The protagonist and main character of the novel is Atticus Finch, a character many readers would consider to be the symbol of society's moral values and a hero. I am now more appreciative of To Kill A Mockingbird and see how the novel leaves readers with inspiration, integrity, and moral values.

Here are my top 10 quotes - and lessons - I learned in Lee's literary work of art.

1) "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."

2) "But before I can live with other folks, I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

3) "Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

4) "It's not time to worry yet."

5) "Try fighting with your head for a change...it's a good one, even if it does resist learning."

6) "Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in."

7) "I do my best to love everybody...It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is; it doesn't hurt you."

8) "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none."

9) "But you see, they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live."

10) "Atticus says you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family, and they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge them or not."

For more quotes, check out Goodreads! 

It's the Little Things

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A Letter To Your Loving Self

Dear Self,

Someone once told me life does not truly begin until you enter college. As an adult, you feel more independence over your academic courses and the balance between social life and school is all on you. Who would have ever known you'd grow up so fast? Certainly not me.

With the expectation to excel at life, you set the bar too high and expect to much from yourself. You study too much. You ponder too much. You criticize myself too much. 

Valentine's Day is celebrating love. And friendship. And relationships. So why not celebrate...you? And I don't mean celebrate you on just one day out of the year, but why not every day?

It's hard to make time for yourself in the sea of scheduled meetings, classes, and homework, but taking the time for self-care is one of the best ways to de-stress. Here are some techniques for self-love and for celebrating you:

• Yoga: Treat yourself to a yoga class or a morning filled with meditation, which can be a relaxing way to begin your busy day and ease your mind, body, and spirit. 
• Sleep: You deserve a mid-day nap to take your mind off of the craziness left in your day. Spend some time during the afternoon to refuel.
• Me Time: Pick a day to date yourself. Whether you treat yourself to lunch or a movie, take the time to get to know yourself. You'll be amazed at all the new things you learn about yourself!
• Let Go: Sure setting goals and expectations are the way to excel in academics and careers, but don't make these goals too unrealistic...that will only create more stress. Learn to let go of the past and focus on the present (this is one techniques that I have recently adopted); it takes the pressure off of you when you stop trying to control your future.
• Volunteer: When you need that time to reconnect with yourself, try volunteering in the local community. Volunteering is one way to reflect on your life and give back to others. Who knows? You might even make a new friend. 

Of course, there are always more self-kindness and self-love techniques. Someone also told me to go with the flow of life and learn to trust your gut feelings. Well? What are you waiting for? 

You owe it to yourself to go out and discover your passions, to explore everything and anything, and most importantly, to love yourself. The latter being the most difficult if you're one who tries to make everyone else happy. Always remember to never stop being the most unique individual you can be. 

Sincerely,

Me

Photo credit: http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/56853-Live-Love-Laugh.jpg