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Your spring break cannot come soon enough. You now have a love hate relationship with your books. Enough is enough and you want to make a break from the rigors of college life. Even your roommate and friends are beginning to feel overwhelming at times.

You may be a leader. That may be the best reason to reach out for something different for your spring break. If you like living a unique life experience. In addition, to get a real high on life.

Consider using this time to experience the act of volunteerism. A break from the world as you know it, and the real life experience in a world that may be new to you.

Consider checking out:

earthcorps.org

This program is designed to restore "Healthy Habitats" with environmental restoration projects.
If you like working outdoors this may appeal to you. Under the supervision, and with the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation and the Green Seattle Partnership.

In the N.Y. area.

Onebrick.org/index.asp? Region ID=2&url=htlp

Offers opportunities to work in food pantries, St. Xavier or the Village Church. Volunteering made easy at "Martha's Kitchen" working for needy neighbors in the Greenwich Village preparing meals and or delivering meals and even delivering the much loved brownies and other baked goods. Maybe, work collecting or bagging food supplies.
You can help sort donations for baby needs called "Baby Buggy"

One Brick is also returning to New Orleans. To help rebuild St. Bernard Parish it is their fourth trip there.
Under assigned supervision, volunteers will stay at one home until it is completed

Habitat-nola.org/volu nteer/camp-hope.php

Volunteers stay at Camp Hope, have bed, and team assignments.
While eating sack lunches during the day, and sharing in this project, it provides many opportunities. It may appeal to the student who would like to meet new people, make new friends. It is also a chance to share in the great feelings of such a meaningful accomplishment.
Habitat for Humanity
A one-week stay costs $150.00

Vanderbilt University provides the opportunity to be involved in any one of 35 sites across the U.S. Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala

Vanderbuilt.edu/news/ releases/2007/3/2/vanderbuilt- university-stude

This organization provides the opportunity to shadow the " Urban Plunge" and the experience to live homeless for 48 hours. You will shadow physicians and nurses who work in rural Appalachian. This experience will be a new and a very different adventure, a real look at the world, as you have never seen it before. It would not be for the weak of heart.

"Thousands of College students are involved with the volunteer movement." According to Alternative Breaks.

http://www.alternativeb reaks.org

On this site, you can download an application to go on a week long community service trip. Addressing social issues in areas of the US and Internationally.

Fema.gov/news/ newsrelease.fema? id=2398

"Students can volunteer in ongoing efforts in the hurricane affected areas. Some of these areas are still considered dangerous. Organizations match needs with the volunteer skill sets. "

You may find that a volunteer experience may be one that will forever influence your life,and how you see yourself. You can make a positive impact in the world around you.

When you return to your campus life, you will be a different person.
When you see your sun burned classmates, still suffering post party blues. You will find that you feel refreshed, in a different way. You will have made a positive impact on the lives of many. It does not get any better than that!

Learn more about this author, Olivia Bredbenner.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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