Alternative Spring Break in Upstate NY

Everyone else's destination for

spring break

One of my friends laughed when I told her I was spending my spring break in upstate NY. It seemed like everyone else was leaving to go home, abroad, to visit friends….far away from frigid Ithaca. Some went to the Bahamas, Florida, Mexico, and even Germany!

 

Last week was rough, especially after the Organic Chemistry exam. I haven’t yet thought about it or developed a plan of action to make myself feel better, which is what I always do after any exam for a pre-medical class. I’m happy for this well-deserved break, even if I am "too close" to campus. Right now I'm in Lyons, NY (about an hour north of Ithaca and close to Lake Ontario). I'm here doing an Alternative Spring break with Rural and Migrant Ministry to learn more about farmworker issues and the challenges that this population faces. Yes, I’m that passionate about the farmworker community that I’m willing to spend my spring break in the freezing cold up here to deepen my understanding of these valuable individuals, their contributions to our society, and the need to fight for social justice. [see my other post on Farmworkers]

It has been incredibly inspiring to, through RMM’s (Rural and Migrant Ministry) Alternative Spring Break, join with other students (from Vassar College, Cornell, and Hobart and Williams Smith College) who are also passionate about social justice and making a change in the legislation for farmworkers. Simply getting to know the others and taking part in the nightly reflection meetings have had the most impact on my experience this week. I've learned quite a bit about the politics involved in this issue and most importantly, revitalized my energy for the cause of promoting farmworker rights.

It would take more than a couple of paragraphs to describe the effect that this week’s events have had on me; I’ll zero in on one, and this includes the interactions I was able to have with the other students. These are young, brilliant undergraduates who speak up so vehemently against the injustices in our system and propose efforts for change. From working as a team to plan a visit to Senator Ted O’Brien’s office to watching "La Cosecha” [The Harvest] together to learn more about child labor issues within the migrant community, we've been immersed in matters that every individual should be aware of and have shared collective responsibility to fulfill our roles as proponents of change in this society. I am fortunate to have engaged in this experience with the others; I wouldn’t exchange what I’ve learned this week for anything.