Hi everyone!

Now that it has been about two months since I have joined ASB, I have had a lot to reflect on. I am glad we have the opportunity to blog, because I think sometimes we have so much to say, but it is hard to say in front of other people. I have been beyond excited for this trip from the beginning, and I still am! However, I am also a little nervous because I feel so inexperienced when it comes to this. This is my first real service trip, and I think sometimes that is a big limitation for me. I also think I feel out of my element because this is my first new thing I have done on campus in quite some time! I have been a part of most of my leadership positions for 2-3 years now, so my adjustment to ASB is just a little more difficult than I thought it would be. I am still getting to know everyone, and I have found myself being a little more reserved than I usually am around people. I think I am starting to warm up though, and become more comfortable around the group.

You are all such fantastic people, and your hearts are so big. I had so much fun yesterday at our Holiday Party, and I enjoyed watching everyone opening their Secret Santa gifts! I wish everyone the best of luck during finals, and I have confidence that you will all do great! Also, have a great holiday break, and enjoy your time with friends and family. I know I will, and I am very appreciative for each and every one of you!

-Sam Ghika
Class of 2014

At our Holiday party and secret Santa extravaganza, I couldn't help but think about all the amazing people in the room! We all bring something different to the table and because of this, this makes us stronger as a group. I am so happy to have met all of you and can't wait to work with you all and Habitat for Humanity in the Spring.

Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming and friendly and a great big thank you to our lovely trip leaders, who work tirelessly in hopes of making this the best program it can be.

Happy Holidays to all who celebrate!

Casey Tidwell
Class of 2014

Hi Everyone!

After having a few ASB meetings I am getting excited for our trip to Oklahoma.  I can remember the anticipation and nervousness I had felt this time last year. I am very excited that we will be working closely with Habitat for Humanity this year along with a great group of FSU students. The devastation that has hit the families in the area seems unimaginable and it feels awesome that we get to contribute and become a part in the rebuilding of hope. Serving those who have been affected by devastation can be hard emotionally but learning their stories is powerful and can be very rewarding!  

Shannon Howe

As all my Thanksgiving activities are coming to an end and I am traveling back from my house in Attleboro back to Framingham to work, all I could think about was not having a place to go for Thanksgiving. I could not even think about not having a place to celebrate or not getting my whole family together. I don't know how these people who lost their houses are doing it, but I am so impressed that they can. I can't wait to go down to Oklahoma and help a family so that they can be together whenever they please under a roof with heat and electricity. Weeks like this make this trip worth everything it takes to get down there, the endless fundraising and bugging people to buy raffle tickets, its worth it to make someone happy.

Caitlin Murray
2016

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday and are enjoying the small break before the end of the semester. I am excited for the coming month ahead to attend more meetings and spend more time with the ASB group. The more I talk about ASB to my family and friends the more excited I get for the trip. It makes me realize how awesome of a group we have and what a great experience this trip will bring

Christopher Bunce
Class of 2016

This Morning

I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning to the worst rain & wind storm I have heard in a long time. At first, I was angry to have been woken up so early on my first night home for the Thanksgiving holiday, but soon after, that feeling vanished. 

I soon thought of the people of Oklahoma, Illinois, and all affected by the recent tornadoes. I thought of how terrified and heartbroken they must have felt when the tornado was destroying their homes, impacting their lives, and putting their loved ones at risk. I thought of how they must have felt during the times of uncontrollable wind and damage, and I suddenly felt incredibly grateful.

Although I was awake early, I knew my house would be there in the morning. I knew my brothers would still be asleep (probably until 3 p.m.). I knew that my friends and family in the area are all safe. I knew that my (lazy) cat would still be sleeping on the couch. These are all things that these people did not have the privilege of feeling. 

To me, this experience exhibits how much I have personally developed through my ASB experience so far. These people are already giving me so much in life, including the ability to think outside of myself. This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for all of these people for that they have given me a fresh outlook on life. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! 

-Casey Tidwell 

Class of 2014 

I’m not much of a blogger so I’m not sure where this will go...

For about two weeks now I haven’t really been myself, it’s getting closer to the end of the semester and things are getting a bit difficult, which I’m sure is true for us all.  Being a part of ASB has already shown me few of the upsides.  ABS has truly provided a bunch of genuine people. Without really knowing it few of the members has cheered me up in small silly ways, it’s kind of hard to be glum around you guys. Everyone is always cheery, and I can’t help but forget my issues. I love sitting at the tables and getting to know everyone, it’s one of the few times I get to create small bonds with everyone.   So thank you ASB team members you’re all awesome and I can’t wait for OKLAHOMA. 

Rushell Jones 

"It's part of the Trip Leader Experience"

This year as a Trip Leader has been a totally different experience than last year as an ASB participant. There are many more challenges and stresses but they have all been ones that I have enjoyed tackling. From planning fundraisers and group meetings to fighting about our mascot's name, the whole process has been very rewarding, or as Claire would say, "It's part of the Trip Leader experience."

The most satisfying aspects of being a TL so far has been seeing the group mesh together to become one. I remember the night we picked our group we were so excited to make the calls and eventually see them at our meetings so they could each bring their uniqueness to the group dynamic. As the year has gone on, I am extremely proud of the work that this group has put in. They have put aside their own time and made a huge commitment to this program by group fundraising at the MC Lobby tables, attending meetings, and even selling raffle tickets to their friends and family to help pay for this trip. I know they will continue to push through the rest of the semester and into the next one so we can meet our fundraising goal. 

Having a group like the one we have this year has been a TL's dream. They're flexibility and willingness to do whatever it takes, makes me motivated to be the best TL I can be. I also have two other amazing Trip Leaders, Amy and Tori, who push me to do the best I can. This has been a total team effort and I think we've gotten off to an amazing start!

TL Brandon Martinez

Class of 2016

It's Just Unreal

One hundred sixteen days, twenty two hours, forty two minutes, and some odd seconds and it will be the day I take flight with twenty eight amazing people who were once strangers merely two months ago. The idea of this still blows my mind.

The night I received the phone call telling me that I had been chosen to go on this trip, I danced around work for the rest of the night and wasn't even mad we had to stay an extra hour to clean the store that so many customers had destroyed. I literally couldn't wait to tell everyone... so obviously I posted it on facebook.

From that moment, I had been ecstatic about being able to experience this once in a lifetime trip that so many others would never even think twice about.

But now, sitting here in my dark apartment watching my boyfriend play video games, the idea of actually going to Oklahoma and helping so many people just seems like something that little me would never get the chance to do. It's just unreal. Its a feeling combined with excitement and awe, thankfulness and hope, fear and curiosity... and humility.

Honestly, I think the whole experience thus far, especially reading articles about the tornadoes that destroyed so many homes, schools, lives... they've just made me so incredibly thankful to be in my own shoes. It's made getting up in the morning and grabbing a bowl of cereal for breakfast something I can't go without thinking twice about. Because there are too many people in the world and in our own country that don't have that fortune. ASB has made me realize all the things I take for granted each day and I can't shrug them off anymore. But it's also made me not want to anymore. 

Instead I just want to change things.

I want to help at least one person be able to get up in the morning in their new house and just grab a bowl of cereal.

And even if I do only end up helping one person throughout this whole experience then that will be enough for me because thats still one less person that has to wake up each morning worrying about where they're even getting any food at all.

But what I'm most thankful for is that I'm surrounded by twenty eight other people that want to make a difference, too.

Now that's pretty cool.

Kimmi Awiszio
Class of 2015

ASB!!!

Hey Guys!!!!

       Its been so amazing getting to know everyone! First I want to say I am so excited to have Homer/Russell this week, he his such a snuggler!!!! Also the trip on Saturday was so amazing, everyone at the habitat re-store was so nice and it made me even more excited for Oklahoma. I think everyone who was there didn't want to leave, I know I could have stayed the entire day to help out!!  I hope everyone has a greet week!!

Jaime Bailey
Class of 2013