My Alternative Spring Break: Lexington, Kentucky
Earlier in my collegiate career, I shared a common fantasy regarding spring break as an upperclassman. Flying out to Panama City Beach or some place similar featuring warm weather and cool water is practically ritual for many 20-year-old students, but this year nine strangers and I journeyed on a different path. Mizzou Alternative Breaks, a celebrated service program offered at the University of Missouri, was the ideal opportunity for us to learn, grow and make an impact outside of school.
Overall, our weeklong journey in Lexington, Kentucky was truly transformative — thoughts I held prior regarding intimate partner abuse definitely became less stigmatized and more empathetic to say the least. Did you know 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime? Although alarming, that fact is reality for the women who call GreenHouse17 home. They, plus their children, come from all walks of life and look to the advocacy agency to provide them with emergency relief as well as trauma-informed care.
What also makes GreenHouse17 so amazing is that it’s situated on a 40-acre farm, which directly connects clients to fresh air, nutritious food and the earth’s healing properties! Almost every day when outside conditions were clear, I spent hours sowing plant seeds, cleaning bee boxes, helping put up high tunnel hoop houses and my favorite task — weeding flower beds. I don’t know exactly why, but lying in the dirt pulling weeds was empowering…peaceful. I even made friends with worms and other magical creatures found in soil, something I never thought I’d admit.
The second-to-last day at GreenHouse17 was spent indoors since the rain wouldn’t let up, but it was nice to finally interact with the Mothers a bit more. We asked staff what they needed from us as a group and did our best to meet their standards minus being too invasive. I enjoyed small talking with residents while re-painting the facility’s computer lab, though, and being taught valuable lessons in a sewing room donated by Enchanted Makeovers.
Up until those chats, entering into womanhood was a foreign concept. I still tremble at the thought, honestly. But, one thing I was told will stick with me forever: “Once you turn 21, you got it honey. You’ll be an adult then — no one can tell you what you can’t do.”
Surprisingly, it’s not the freedom aspect of growing up that’s exciting anymore; hearing from a survivor that I have choices and the right to decide what’s best spoke to me. Just like her, I am choosing to step up to the plate from now on and swing at every curveball life may throw my way.
