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: 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. 

It's the Little Things

Photo credit: https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/t31.0-8/12496343_1146552588749779_221163000334674300_o.jpg

How do you show how YOU care?

Photo credit: https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/10662153_914810398590667_7361399180433284593_o.jpg

Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015

Wishing everyone a healthy, safe, and charitable New Year! What are your plans and resolutions for 2015?

Photo credit: http://123greetingsquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Happy-new-year-greetings-2015-wishes-images-wallpapers-pics-pictures-messages.png

The Importance of Literacy and Education

Happy November! After a long break away from writing (it's been crazy busy with school work and co-curricular activities), I just have to tell you about my incredible experience at this month's Service Saturday event. 

Over the weekend, I volunteered at the Family Reading Partnership's Kids Book Festival, which works to promote early literacy for young children.

My job for the day was to help out at an activity station in which children could enter into a fake grocery store in order to shop and learn about the importance of fresh vegetables and fruits. Sponsored by the Cornell plantations, the fruits and vegetables that were set-up allowed children to easily scan the aisles for items that matched the colored sticker on each of the five dollar bills they received. Once they finished picking out their five items, they took the fruits and vegetables and checked out at the cash register. 

Although this task seems menial compared to past volunteer activities, it was a rather complicated task that involved good organization of the products, as well as efficient communication with my partner. 

With about six volunteers at the station, it was difficult to hear and communicate with each other, especially with young children running around the market. One of the ways we became organized and performed our roles effectively was through a routine procedure in which two people worked with the children, four people helped out at the cash register, and two people who organized the aisles and filled them with fruits and vegetables. 

As I worked with the children and explained to them and their families the directions to the activity, I learned that I truly have a passion for working with children. I found myself to be engaging and enthusiastic when it comes to taking care of children. 

Through this activity, I have also learned that there are many different ways of classifying fruits. For instance, a member from the Cornell plantations explained that fruits come from seeds; thus, vegetables such as the corn kernels, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash could also be known as fruits. 

My experience at the book fair allowed me to realize the illiteracy issues that Tompkins County faces. I learned that there Tompkins County has several resources for low-come families, one of them being the Family Reading Partnership. Although people see the city of Ithaca as a small college town, many fail to recognize the social issues that plague the area. Volunteering with organizations that work to address specific issues help me develop an open-mind and become a person who is more aware of her surroundings. 

This Service Saturday was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever participated in. Not only did I discover that I have a true passion in working with kids, but I also learned about an issue that will certainly cross my mind the next time I volunteer in Ithaca --- literacy. I think that tying in reading with other important components to a healthy mind, body, and spirit is a great way to teach young children to become academically, emotionally, and physically healthy from a young age. It is important to promote healthy lifestyles and have children develop a love for reading at an early age because healthy lifestyles allow them to develop critical and analytical skills to become successful students and citizens.

JUMPSTARTing My Way to College

One of my most memorable moments of freshman year at Ithaca College was being a participant of the Jumpstart program that is offered through the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs.

The program, offered for incoming freshmen, allows for students to arrive a week early to campus, settle into their housing assignments, and participate in one of four activity tracks over the course of three days. These tracks, which are designed to help freshmen transition to life at college, provide participants with various activities and exercises revolving around their selected theme. The tracks are Lead-In, ECHO, The GREEN Tour, and Community Plunge.

I decided to join the Community Plunge program because it combines my love for helping others, meeting new people, and exploring a new community.

The girls of my Community Plunge group

One of the many activities through Community Plunge included helping with the local State Theater renovations. Here, my group and I organized the box office, re-painted the stage area, and cleaned up the basement. We then proceeded outside and weeded the alleyways and even managed to work together to paint a large fire escape. That was hard work! 

Here I am sweeping the basement of the State Theater

While standing outside under the blazing hot sun and then bending over to pull out the weeds, I learned that even the smallest and most mundane tasks are a big help to the community. Not only that, but I came to realize that uneventful tasks, such as cleaning and sweeping, can be a whole lot of fun with a group of friends. Tasks undertaken at the State Theater allowed me to appreciate the need to clean, reorganize, and paint because those actions become the stepping stone to a productive and hard-working day.

Another location my group served is the Finger Lakes ReUse Center. The ReUse Center takes used, donated items and refurbishes them to resell to the community. It acts as a thrift store for many pieces of unwanted furniture, hardware, and appliances for many residents of the community. Here, our duty as a team was to sort the store's heaping pile of donated items and then organize them by category so we can help the employees price the items for sale. 

My group working hard at painting the fire escape

Although the tasks of the ReUse Center required us to be tedious, organized, and patient, I learned the true meaning of team work. Since we had to work together to sort items and price them, we got to learn about each others' preferences, interests, and background. Needless to say, it was here that I truly felt we connected and started to adapt to the Ithaca community. We discussed our previous experiences, high school memories, and the excitement of starting our journey as class of 2017 at IC. 

During our time in-between activities and group lunches with the other Community Plunge teams, we got to meet other people and connect with them as well. I would often talk to those around me when many of the teams waited together for the bus that would transport us back to campus. As a result, I was surprised to learn that the Community Plunge program sent so many students to a plethora of locations around town, including local elementary schools and public sites like the library. 

I am happy to have participated in the Jumpstart program because it has allowed me to connect with a diverse group of people and has given me the ability to explore the Ithaca community. Today, I still keep in close contact with those whom I have met through Jumpstart, whether they were a part of my team or not. Community Plunge has helped me meet the people I call my best friends, all of them who were on a different team than I. 

My Community Plunge group after a day's work at the State Theater 

Photo credits: All of the photos are my own and the quote is through http://messages.365greetings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/teamwork-quotes-image.jpg

Making Connections

Being a journalism and communications student, I have a love for movies and entertainment. The best movies, in my opinion, are like books. They depict a certain message or moral to the viewers, providing lessons and inspiration to others. Whether it's a lesson about the true meaning of love, acceptance, or happiness, movies share with us the ups and downs of life. Some of the best quotes, and some of my particular favorites, include:

• "Life's a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get" ~ Forrest Gump, 1994
• "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or...learn from it" ~ The Lion King, 1994
• "Don't ever let somebody tell you...You can't do something. You got a dream...You gotta protect it...If you want something, go get it. Period" ~ The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006
• "The world is not a wish-granting factory" ~ The Fault in Our Stars, 2014

My love for movies have led me to become a volunteer at the first-annual All-American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF). The festival, held in Times Square, New York City, allowed me to showcase my passion for film and entertainment while exploring NYC. 

Volunteering at the festival has provided me to network and build connections with industry-executives and other professionals. For instance, my work with assisting at the local college fair has allowed me to network with different universities and schools, a potential for the future if I decide to pursue higher education post-undergraduate. In addition, I have met professionals of the film industry, or potential future employers. Also, I have built relationships with students and volunteers of other similar interests, all while exploring the city of New York and Theater District of Times Square. 

Although the film festival was only held for one weekend from Friday to Sunday, my experience with the festival allowed me to create relationships and make connections with students, professionals, and the city. My connections and networking paid off. 

In February, I landed an internship with the AAHSFF team. As an intern, I am learning many skills that will help me in my future career. For example, I have learned valuable time management skills as a result of the tedious tasks completed. Moreover, I am learning how to further connect and keep in contact with my networks. As an intern, I have utilized my journalism and public relations skills to spread the word about the event, hoping to gather more volunteers and attendees for the festival. The internship has allowed me to learn and grow into both an individual and an employee. 

**To learn more about the All-American Film Festival, future volunteer opportunities, and event/ticketing information, check out the website!

**Click here for the link to the AAHSFF facebook page

**And be sure to follow AAHSFF on twitter

Photo credit: http://geniusquotes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/David-Brinkley-quote.jpg

Pay It Forward

It's Spring Break time! Even if you have plans this week, making a difference is easy. Take some time to put a smile on someone's face, especially to those who serve our country. This 8-year-old boy from Ohio shows us the true meaning of honor --- he decided to pay it forward and thank a U.S. soldier.

We support our troops and thank them for all that they do. They deserve our love, respect, and gratitude, so pay it forward! 

Kindness is always bound to make someone's day. It's the smallest acts that make a huge difference! Have a happy Spring Break! 

**Check out Ellen DeGeneres' decision to pay it forward here at http://www.ellentv.com/videos/0_sulp48eg 

"If you have much, give your wealth; if you have little, give your heart" ~ Anonymous

Video credit: http://youtu.be/9FCxuVSkT7k