Hello all! I hope you are looking forward to the upcoming spring break. I know that I am looking forward to getting some R&R. I thought this is a great opportunity to share some suggestions on how you can take advantage of your spring break.

For those who are looking for ideas on what to do during your spring break, below are some suggestions that will help you feel productive.

• Get ahead of your classes by finishing your school work
• Organize your schedule
• Plan exciting activities (have a goal of what you what to accomplish)
• Catch up with families and friends
• Participate in your institution’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB)
  • For those who are not familiar with ASB, this is usually when students participate in week-long activities dedicated to community service.

I love giving back to the community so whenever spring break comes around, I cannot help but think about the wonderful opportunity that I had during my last year at UMBC Shady Grove. I was very fortunate to participate in UMBC’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB). I was super excited because I was going to be able to live on-campus (even if it was only for a week), get to know other students from UMBC main campus, feel like a main campus student, and volunteer at Baltimore City. UMBC’s ASB divided students into groups depending on their volunteer interest. We had a group helping the homeless, while my group was interested in learning about the refugees, asylees, and immigrant population. Our group was called “Through the Eyes of a Refugee” or TEAR. During the week, we volunteered at different community agencies in Baltimore City, who were dedicated to providing assistance to the refugees, asylees, and immigrants communities. We volunteered at IFC (International Rescue Committee) – Baltimore Resettlement Center, Esperanza Center, and RYP (Refugee Youth Project). It was an eye opening experience for me because I was not aware of the different procedures that they (the population that we were working with) had to go through, such as the immigration procedure of obtaining permanent residence, how to obtain daily necessities, preparing for job interviews, and learning the basics of how to use a computer. Because of this experience, I learned the value of community service and how it is a great way to not only give back to the community but also learn about the different issues in our community.

I highly encourage you to participate in ASB especially as students at USG. This opportunity does not only enables you to give back to the community, but also experience being part of main campus. Even though you attend a satellite campus, you are still part of your institution and free to participate in any activities and programs that they have at main campus. I highly believe that I made the right decision to participate in UMBC’s ASB. I hope to participate in something similar in the future, but for now, I will be working and volunteering during my spring break 🙂

How about you? What do you have planned for your Spring Break?