Winter can be harsh, especially here in Michigan, which is why spring break is a week many students look forward to. Some even plan elaborate vacations to places like Panama City, Las Vegas or Mexico.
However some students wish to use their spring break as an opportunity to learn about social issues and give back to the community.
Programs like Alternative Spartan Breaks help provide a more constructive way for Spartans to spend spring break.
“I chose an alternative break over a ‘classic’ spring break because I was passionate about community service and wanted to make a difference over spring break. The entire experience blew me away,” education senior Melissa Vader said.
Human medicine graduate student Rohit Abraham has volunteered for four ASB projects throughout his time at MSU.
“ASB is an amazing opportunity for any college student who’s interested in serving a cause that’s greater than themselves,” Abraham said. “Most people go into the ASB program hoping to make a difference, but I’ve found that I benefit infinitely more as an individual from knowledge gained, rather than the service I perform,”
The ASB program tackles complex topics such as HIV and AIDS, LGBTQ advocacy, mental health, animal rights and environmental issues.
Abraham said spent his spring break in Birmingham, Alabama, with other volunteers.
They worked with two service sites, AIDS Alabama and Birmingham AIDS Outreach, where they were taught about different HIV/AIDS issues and focused on public health education and political advocacy.
“Our volunteer work ranged from simple to complex. We did landscaping and clothing closet organization, but we also utilized our computer skills for data merging between Microsoft Excel and Adobe InDesign — creating mass infographics for effective education and advocacy,” Abraham explained.
Abraham said he also got to take on the role of activist on his trip.
“On our final day, we helped set up an HIV/AIDS rally event, led a march to the Alabama State House and advocated for bills designed to fight AIDS — not people with AIDS,” he said.
Vader traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, to volunteer at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Her ASB group worked as “unit buddies” for children in the hospital, she said.
“Volunteers read, did crafts, played games and participated in other activities with patients,” Vader said.
Abraham said he found his experience with ASB to be rewarding; his most recent spring break experience being the most rewarding out of all four trips.
Vader had similar feelings toward the program.
“ASB has been a defining part of my college experience and I am so thankful to have been a part of it for the past four years,” she said.
