Alternative Spring Break - Freshmen Year

Last year I had the privilege to join the highly selective Tulane Alternative Spring Break program. The program required not only an excellent academic performance, , but also an experience in community service and social communications. There were three different destinations that the program aimed to serve. Each destination had its unique need of support. Having a former experience with painting schools in New Orleans and with Habitat for Humanity, I looked for a new social concern to explore, which was homelessness. The Atlanta group was the one who is supposed to deal with homelessness. The trip was not only an illustrative guide to the issue of homelessness but also a remarkable odyssey to the true meaning and value of diversity.

Before the trip, I had to go through classes that aim at raising one’s awareness of homelessness in America and particularly in New Orleans, and Atlanta. During the Atlanta trip, which was about a week long, I was exposed to an array of social services that play an important role in improving the life of the homeless. Activities ranged from serving and sleeping in homeless shelters, working in a food supplier organization, to cleaning public parks which homeless people consider home.

While I was walking down the business district of downtown Atlanta, I noticed the paradox that life could bring about because of socioeconomic differences. Just as hundreds of business people rush, wearing their sunglasses, at noon to get a lunch break from their apparently hectic schedule, a few feet away, dozens of homeless people lie in the shadow of trees laying their cheeks opposite to the businessmen. Both attempt to escape reality by maneuvering their eyesight. Among the homeless were a group of five people gathered around a chess board. Deliberately, I took advantage of the game and I approached them. The group welcomed me and offered me an invitation to take part in the competition. 

The group consisted of a Mexican, two Black males, a White man, and a Black lady. Carrying out conversations with them was easy relative to the circumstances. As a result of their spontaneity, I was able to learn some Spanish, find out about the Christian evangelical approach, hear a political dispute, and listen to some Jazz music with an emotional meaningful solo. Despite their great differences and difficult situation, the group managed to successfully live in harmony. The personal affect of what I saw in that cold afternoon will remain a depiction of the warmth of diversity. This allowed me to look at the homeless in admiration rather than pity.

On the other hand, the selection of group members embedded in me a deep appreciation of cultural nuances.  Each member contributed an exceptional and distinct impression which inspired the group to work harder. We were a group of 15 people who came from all over the United States. Daily, we hold a nightly discussion that begins with a personal reflection and develops to a warm dialogue. I clearly remember that each member of the group had a reasonable argument on approaching the homeless. Although it was an intensive debate, the various perspectives resulted in a vibrant productive discussion.

I realized that creating a diverse society isn’t impossible. However, with diversity comes the massive task of acceptance and appreciation of difference. My Atlanta trip influenced me to broaden my perspective and elucidated the notion of the acceptance of the other. Both of those qualities are needed to structure a society that is formed of small distinct units, just like a mosaic. Hence, solidarity emerges to ensure the harmony of the blend.

Managing a country is similar to managing our Atlanta group. Individuals, who form the group or the country, should be aware of the final objective. The manager of the group plays a vital role in enforcing the objective and, in turn, exploiting differences of opinions. The Atlanta trip encouraged me to look at my life from different angles; it made me be more flexible. After the trip, I have a better conception of diversity and its implications on society. Now, I plan to implant such an idea in the mind of every Saudi Arabian individual.