Alternative Service Break Shows Value of Giving Back
Alzebeth Roman, a sophomore in business administration with minors in International Studies and German at North Carolina State University, participated in Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in New Mexico during Spring 2012. Her week-long experience was coordinated through NC State’s Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service.
In New Mexico, Roman learned more about the Native American population and how she could help the Navajo Nation community. “Relations between Native Americans the U.S. government have been strained since the colonization of the country,” Roman said, “and it’s going to take a lot of time to rebuild that trust.”
During her ASB trip, Roman and her team participated in a Habitat for Humanity building project. Roman put together window frames, which was a new learning experience.
“Needless to say,” Roman said, “I bent a lot of nails that day.”
In the Navajo Nation, Roman also worked at a storehouse, where services and goods were provided through an options program. A family of five, for example, could opt for two items from the storehouse, which were then provided. Roman’s role was similar to that of working as a cashier. She checked people into the system and assured that they received the appropriate tickets for goods and services.
Roman also worked at a food pantry, packing boxes for pick-up the next day. Working in the pantry was similar to stocking shelves, including checking the products for usable quality. “We wanted to make sure the individuals who were getting the boxes were as well served as possible,” said Roman.
Roman’s passion for learning about different cultures and societies led her to take a minor in international studies. Her ASB experience helped her to refine the scope of her future endeavors. Through her service in the Navajo Nation community, Roman said she learned about the merits of active participation in her own community back in Raleigh, N.C.
“I ultimately learned that it’s not just about going to other places to serve,” said Roman, “but that I need to be more involved in my own community and serve my own community as well.”
For the future, Roman hopes to continue her service learning experience in Raleigh by finding an organization she’s passionate about.
“I also would love to do habitat again just so I can practice my frame making skills,” she said. “But in all seriousness, I learned a lot about giving back, and that’s really all I want to continue to do.”
Roman is already doing that. Soon after returning from Spring Break, she and fellow student Jessica Sadeckas launched the American Sign Language Club at NC State. [See related story in the Technician.}
Roman grew up in Tampa, Florida with her mother, Julia Michalka.
Photo:
The group photo includes other ASB team members, frequent Habitat for Humanity volunteers in the community, and the two families that are benefiting from the homes being built. Working on the window frames with Roman is a fellow ASB team member, Rivers Baker, a senior majoring in animal science at NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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