volunteer work

For 4 years in a row, I volunteered in the South with the Appalachia Service Project. Every summer in mid-July, my Aunt would drive us to Richmond, Virginia, and I would join my cousins' church - River Road Presbyterian - and shuttle off to different parts of Appalachia to do service work. One week out of every summer with people I'd never met before turned into something I looked forward to each year. This by far is the most rewarding thing I've ever done. For those who don't know what ASP is about - for an entire summer, different churches come in to help destitute community members in states like Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. My group each year focused on a different homeowner or family - we got to know them as friends and helpers. We got to restore light to their eyes and roofs (literally) over their heads. During my time on ASP, I learned how to overcome difficult situations, build and install a multitude of things with no background in construction, and create bonds with both my teams and homeowners. For those who would like to learn more about ASP, click here.