Stockdale Fellows take spring break on the “beach”
Waking up at 5 in the morning was the last thing I wanted to do on March 3rd. This was the start of spring break, but I knew, going into this trip, it would be unlike any spring break I have ever done. With snow coming down, my roommate Opal Perez and I drag our luggage full of warm layers, rain jackets, and work boots all the way over to Stockdale, where a charter bus, driven by Chad, was waiting. Instead of going to a sunny beach or back home, the Stockdale Fellows made their way down to Memphis, Tennessee, to clean up the Mississippi River.
Sounds crazy, right? Who wouldn’t want to go home or somewhere warm? However, this experience ended up being one of the best weeks of my freshman year. I had the opportunity to help clean the Earth while making new and stronger friendships with my Fellows.
The first day was brisk and cold, but that did not stop us at all. My group climbed onto a little boat that drove us to a huge barge anchored on the river. Here, we met the crew of the Living Lands and Waters. This crew was dedicated to keeping rivers and the surrounding lands clean, while also educating groups that came to volunteer. One of the biggest mentors we had on board was a man named Coach. He came out every morning with a motivational speech that woke us up and prepared us for a day of work. He was a leader on my boat and became my favorite person in the crew. Coach drove us to parts of the river that were littered with trash that was thrown off the road or stuck in the water. We found water bottles, plastic bags, and toys. Some of the stranger things we found were tires, light bulbs, dolls, and even a full door, handle and all.
The amount of trash we found and picked up was devastating, but, at the same time, was a wake-up call. This trip opened up our eyes to the impact of our carbon footprint we leave behind. By the end of the week, we collected 28,444 lbs. of trash. Light work. All in all, this was no ordinary spring break trip. It was strange staying with my friends who I see every day, but because of it, I am closer to my fellows, helped for my community, and know what it means to be a leader.
Olivia Matlock
Contributing Writer