Some Closing Thoughts
As I sit in my dorm room reflecting on my final WAB experience, I am humbled by the opportunity we had as a group to be ambassadors for the spirit of Pro Humanitate. I am challenged to think of a more constructive and fulfilling way to have spent my break.
As I mentioned in a previous post, it is so encouraging to meet other students who are just as passionate about service and engagement. It was both an honor and a major responsibility to approach our service initiatives in a manner that reflects well upon Wake Forest. In doing so, we were able to contribute to the creation of an environment defined by compassion, enthusiasm and love. Attitudes are infectious, and an experience like WAB reminds us that ours should be ones worth catching.
I was also glad to have had the opportunity to return to Snowbird and the Great Smokey Mountains once again. Having originally gone as a first year student, it was important for me to re-experience this journey with a more mature perspective. I believe that, the second time around, I was able to appreciate the culture of the Cherokee in a more nuanced manner that could not be expected of someone at the level of emotional and intellectual maturity that I was during my first WAB trip. I have come to understand the importance of harmony, both with ourselves and with our environment, and the importance of cultural sensitivity in facilitating connections with people from whom we can learn so much.
We are all empowered to affect change in our worlds, and this ability is magnified when we combine it with those who are equally passionate. I am wholeheartedly grateful to Wake Forest and everyone who works to make WAB a reality for providing us with a platform to make this happen.
Warmly,
Ryan