On the first day of spring break, we were pushed straight into work. It was cold, windy, cloudy, muddy. The day was every imaginable form of miserable. Some of us tied bandana's around our ears, because our helmets couldn't fit over our hats properly. But we were all fairly cheerful, in that bitingly teenage way, trading jibes and bantering back and forth with one another. I spent half of that first day working on sub flooring, and the next half up on the roof. By the end of the day, we were all sore, tired, and hungry. But then, we met Rebecca Willis for the first time.

Rebecca Willis is the homeowner of the habitat home we were building. She is a single mother of two children, and a generous and loving neighbor to all. Rebecca, to all of us, is an example of being the change you wish to see in the world. I didn't get an opportunity to speak with her in depth, but her cheerfulness and steady presence always lifted my spirits.

Throughout the week, I got to spend most of my time on the roof, and I was surprised at how rewarding the work was. When talking to one of my roommates, we agreed that this was the most fun we'd had on spring break. I'd been so scared I would regret my choice to go on alternative spring break, but I didn't. In fact, it awakened in me, and most of the girls who went, a sense of purpose and empowerment. We were able to touch someones life in a positive way, and cause direct change in the world around us. It is something none of us will forget.
 

Check out the video diary made by Clarisa Russenberger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omDR0vQdut0&feature=youtu.be.