Appalachia

Hello again!

Although I've only been back on campus for a couple of weeks, it feels like Spring Break was forever ago. The weather is finally starting to warm up here in Boston and the whole campus has been very energetic lately!

A few weeks ago, I spent spring break in Sewee, SC with thirteen other BC students through the Appalachia Volunteers program. Even though very few of us knew each other beforehand, we bonded quickly and had an amazing week! Initially, I was dreading the eighteen hour bus ride that brought us to our destination, but it passed by much faster than I expected and we all chatted/slept/watched movies the whole way there.

From the first moments we arrived at our site, I was struck by the kindness with which all of the community members treated our group. During our first afternoon, they introduced us to the unique problems that face their area and informed us of the tasks that we would do over the course of the week. Our projects included painting several houses, clearing out a cemetery, and reorganizing an elementary school classroom.

It was clear that the leaders of the organization hoped that our experience would help us understand the realities of life in the poverty-stricken region while also allowing us to see the benefits of living in their culture. All of the BC students on the trip were inspired by the people's motivation to improve the quality of life for all people in their community and the kindness with which they treated each other.

After working each day, the trip leaders prepared a reflection for the group, urging us to consider our past life experiences, the difficult things we witnessed on the trip, and the ways in which we hope to carry this experience with us in the future. Returning back to BC, all of us were refreshed and changed by our week in SC. Although I am no longer in the Appalachian region, I have carried the lessons I learned over the week back to campus and will definitely go on an Appalachia trip again next year!

If you have any questions about Appalachia or other programs offered here at BC, email me at eatonaa@bc.edu!

~Annelise

Freshman Year & 4Boston!

Hello! My name is Annelise and I am a freshman in the Lynch School from Manchester, MA. I'm a Human Development major and I am planning to add a second major, but I'm not sure if it will be English or Communications! I'm living on Upper Campus in Fitzpatrick, which is a lot of fun!

Some of the first things I noticed during my first semester were how active the campus is, how involved all of the students are, and how much school spirit there is at BC! My favorite memories of my first weekends here on campus were definitely the football games, which really made the students feel connected to the school and were a great way of meeting new people! The picture above is of my friends and I at one of the first football games!

During the first few weeks of school, Student Activities Day was held on the Dustbowl so that students could learn about different groups to get involved with on campus and in the city. I was amazed by all of the options and found myself signing up for way more things than I could actually commit to, but it was fun just learning about all of the activities!

My favorite group that I am a part of at BC is called 4Boston. Within 4Boston there are numerous different placements where students volunteer for 4 hours each week, ranging from hospitals to after-school programs. On top of the volunteering, all of the students at a specific placement meet weekly for reflections on their placement, social justice, and life at BC in general. On top of exposing college students to various social issues, it is a great way to meet people and the weekly volunteering is a lot of fun.

My placement is called SKD and it is an after-school program located in Roxbury. When the weather is nice out, we start off the afternoon by playing outside with the kids, who range in age from about 5 to 13. They love it when the tutors join in on their tag games and by the time we head inside to work on their homework, I am always very sweaty from all that running around! I have been working with two fifth grade girls this year, and although it can be difficult to help them gain confidence in their academic ability, I have truly had a blast working with both of them. Through our many conversations about their school, their siblings, and their weekends, they have given me a window into their lives and I am excited to see them progress over the next few years. In speaking with friends of mine who volunteer at different placements, it seems as though everybody has a very rewarding time with 4Boston, regardless of where they are working.

Everybody is excited around campus this week because Spring Break starts in just a few days! I am off to South Carolina with the Appalachia Volunteers and I will be sure to update about it once I get back!

If you have any questions about freshman year at BC, email me at eatonaa@bc.edu!

~Annelise