Alternative Break Video Transcript
Benjamin Holland: "We're here in Wallan, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and as you can see we've had a busy past couple of days."
An alternative break provides UNG students with the opportunity to engage with a new community through education, service, and reflection. By forgoing traditional breaks, students have the opportunity to participate in quality, community-based transformational service and dedicate their time to learning and interacting with different communities.
Students spent a week immersing themselves in Appalachian and Native American Culture, working with local entities such as, the National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, and the Sequoyah Museum on various projects.
Jennifer Wiggins: "In an Alternative Break, it is a multi day experience. So it is more immersive than a lot of your morning or afternoon experiences. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone, so even if you have a desire to serve and you normally only serve those near you and since you are out of your comfort zone, it's a whole other group you can serve."
David Olsen: "The low cost for this trip was very beneficial to me because as a college student that pays their way through college, I have a lot of bills I need to worry about and because of that I don't always have the opportunities to go on these really um... life changing experiences... um...and being out in the environment. So UNG offer me this opportunity at such a low cost has opened me up to different experiences, meeting great people, making new friends, and promoting the college."
Trevor Lanier: "Uh we're really excited to have the students of University of North Georgia for the Alternative Breaks program. When you work in a small museum like this there is often a very limited staff, and very limited time. We are always so busy. And it's just to have these students here this week has meant a lot to us...to get to some of those tasks that are really important to out mission, that are really important to our region, and really important to our guests. Helping to control the non-native invasive species here. Helping the Smoky Mountain eco system is a huge part of our mission here at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, so having these students here not only helping our museum and doing some of the work that we often can't find the time to do. They also get to learn about this region and experience Smoky Mountain Culture, learning about the Native Americans, pioneer settlers, and all the history that we have here. So we've just been really grateful to have them here and grateful for all the work that they have done."
Samantha Ponce: "We're pulling invasive species."
McKayla McMullen: "I decided to participate in Alternative Breaks this year because I wanted to learn about sustainability and just broaden my horizon when it comes to my knowledge that I can learn from other people and really being able to learn about the Native American history that we've learned here at the Sequoyah Museum, which is really eye opening and really thought provoking on the things that they experience everyday in their lives and just being able to bring that with me and just help people around me."
Brenda Almanza: "Spring 2023 has been really life changing for me because we learned about the Natives...and the Cherokee community has really been through a lot. We had a speaker, her name was Kim and she talked about all the issues that they face because they are a small community. Um, I learned that sometimes you just have to work in small amounts tin order for you to change the whole picture and make a change."
Samantha Ponce: "My favorite part of this trip has been engaging with a lot of people and helping around wherever I can. I really enjoyed being a part of this because I am a part of something bigger. We are a whole family who is making change."
Wanda DeWaard: "In a beautiful place and serving non profits that are really important to our region like the Nation Park and the Cherokee Museum and just sharing the cultural natural history.. and that's about...that keeps me going. It's a lot of work, but I love having people here and sharing this beautiful place. We call it our own slice of heaven. So we always welcome new groups."