Workfest 2013
For the Spring Break of 2013, I went to Corbin, Kentucky. I traveled with a group of UC students and advisor, Ryan Harder. We participated in Christian Appalachia Project’s (CAP) Workfest, which is a six week event where people from around the country come to perform construction on homes of those in need. Corbin is located in what is known as Rural Appalachia. This area runs through several states, and follows the Appalachian Mountains. It is notorious for housing people who are poor, under-privileged, and misunderstood. There are a lot of stereotypes about the people in this area being “hillbillies” or what have you, but this is a sweeping and unfair misjudgment. We found through our experience a very different circumstance of which most are unaware; the need of the people of Rural Appalachia is great, and they are, at least in the cases we encountered, more than willing to work to improve their lives and the lives of others. This experience brought me into contact with other people and other stories I would otherwise never see. In this way I not only helped the Corbin community through my service, but I got to know her, and from her people I learned things that will help me throughout my life.
Upon arrival at Corbin Sunday night, I was unsure of what my immediate future held. As a group, we had discussed the area and the kind of projects in which we would participate, but talking about something and actually doing it are very different things. On the first day, though, we found ourselves comfortably located on a campground near our worksites. We were provided dinner and cabins in which to sleep. The employees of CAP were in charge of coordinating UC and three other universities: Minnesota Duluth, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Connecticut. Altogether there were about forty volunteers from around the country. From there, six or seven teams were created, and they were composed of people from all of the different schools. In this way, CAP allowed us to meet new people on the trip. Each team had a leader who was heading a specific construction project. Our leader was Ken, and he was an excellent leader as he was always calm, cool-headed, and motivating. We also had Peter, a CAP employee, and Erika, who was also volunteering, on our team. I was eager to work with him and my group the next morning.
Come Monday morning, we saw our worksite for the first time. Our mission was to put walls and a roof on an addition to Tammy’s house. Tammy is a single mother, whose son Shaun is currently on the waiting list for a new heart. That fact alone made the experience real. You hear stories of people in need of help, but it seems rarely today do you actually see their story before you. It gave our work serious purpose, as the addition is to give Shaun a place to recover. Monday went by pretty quickly until lunch, when a nonstop rain began. It rained cold until we left around 3:00 or 4:00 pm. This rain provided us adversity to overcome as a group. We worked through the rain, even though we were all freezing. Admittedly, I tried to stay undercover as much as I could, but we all pulled through together.
For the rest of the week, the weather seemed absolutely gorgeous. Without cold rain, even freezing temperatures felt heavenly, and made the work pleasant. The difficulty of Monday also gave my team and me something over which to bond, which made us a stronger more efficient working force. I believe it was Tuesday that we actually got to meet Tammy, which was unexpected. Tammy was, and I will admit it, so different from the person I was expecting. I suppose my stereotypes led me to believe that she would have a thick accent, be overweight and missing teeth, and that she might be a bit hard to relate to, but she proved me wrong. She did have an accent, but I realized the triviality of this fact once we all began talking with her. Almost instantly it was apparent that she has been through a lot, but the hope she has was beautiful, and truly the best motivation a person could have. I did not say too much to her, as I was not sure what to say really, but I most definitely enjoyed hearing what she had to say.
By the end of the week, we had finished constructing walls, putting them in place, mounting trusses, and we had started putting on the roofing. It was a mountain of work, and it is incredible what we got done. My job included cutting boards to Ken’s orders, a skill Erika taught me. I also wielded a hammer often, driving nails into walls we were making, and hammering up the trusses. I honestly improved so much with my handy skills, and I am so grateful for that. I can now drive a nail with confidence, and operate a circular saw. I tried to do a bunch of different jobs to stay interested, and I certainly am glad I did. I became (so I like to think) one of Ken’s right hand men, and that was really cool. I am so glad I was able to contribute to this project.
For me, the experience became real, not right away, and not during the actual work. It became something real at the group dinner on the last night. We were all tired and hungry, and everyone was close at this point. We performed our skits which talked about our experiences, and listened to CAP employees speak. What got me though, was when Tammy went up to talk. She expressed her gratefulness to us in a way that was so apparent I couldn’t help but feel appreciated and loved. At that moment I realized the enormity of the project at hand, and the important role we were filling in Tammy’s life. Then, at dinner, I most desperately wanted Shaun and Tammy to live happily in the life we were helping create for them. It was an epiphany, really, that the work we had been doing all week was not just so that we could say we did some service. Our purpose was not to just learn how to use tools, build, and admire our work. Like one of the CAP volunteers said one evening, we were not just doing something for someone; we were being something for someone. Through our work, our conversations with Tammy, and just our presence, I believe, we made a strong impression on Tammy, and made her, too, feel loved and appreciated.
This experience is one that requires reflection, to ensure that as much was gained as possible. I chose to do this experience initially for a handful of reasons. I had worked on similar projects on a smaller scale before, and had really enjoyed that. I was also in need of service hours and an honors experience. Additionally, I knew that if I wasn’t at Workfest during Spring Break, I would be at home doing next to nothing. These circumstances made applying to participate in Workfest a very easy decision that I would recommend to anyone looking for a meaningful experience. I would recommend researching the Christian Appalachian Project and Workfest before applying, as the program is run by CAP, and Workfest is run closely according to CAP’s values. Research, along with pre-departure meetings before the trip with Ryan Harder, will make the transition into Workfest and Rural Appalachia a little easier, though no less profound. From my research I knew what we would be doing on the trip, and the socio-economic condition of the area to which we were traveling. Actually being there inspired a completely different view, though. My expectations before arrival were that we would be traveling to a very poor region of the world, where I would work on someone’s house, maybe talk to them but be unable to relate very well, and that after the week I would feel happy with the work I had done. Instead, I found that the region was beautiful, though undoubtedly not wealthy. The people of CAP and the other volunteers were incredible and friendly and helped to form a fast Workfest community. I had completely ignored the community aspect amongst volunteers, and I was pleasantly surprised by everyone there. Additionally, as I have already discussed, I and the other volunteers could relate to Tammy. She was so clearly, how can I say this, like us, but unlike us at the same time. Her culture is slightly different, but largely we carried on in a way altogether comfortable and pleasant. The bonds I formed with Tammy, our homeowner, and CAP and the other volunteers were incredible. I even hung out with my specific crew one night instead of people from UC, and we all had a great time visiting a waterfall in the area. Altogether, this trip far exceeded my expectations. All of these experiences that I relate were eye-opening. So many things on this trip were new to me. The construction, the community, and the area were all foreign at first. By the end of the week, however, it felt comfortable to be at Workfest. Only when we had to leave did I start to realize how much I had gained in that short span of time.
This experience taught me many things about myself and the world we all inhabit. My UC group bonded quickly, as did my crew, and the Workfest community. We were all united in cause, and I believe that brought us all together. For a change (it was at least a change for me), we were all not worried about making sure we were as happy and comfortable as possible. Our focus was the people of Corbin, as opposed to ourselves. This led to many great things: bonding, cooperation, support, and an enriching experience. This short week showed me that I can be very happy without living my normal self-centered lifestyle. I can meet new people left and right and form meaningful relationships. I can work together in a team. I can learn construction skills. I can be there for someone, and give them hope. I am certain that these experiences were not unique to Workfest, though Workfest did encourage them. I can bring and have brought some of the knowledge I have gained back to my normal life. Team projects come a little easier, with some of the interpersonal skills and patience I learned on the job sight. Ken, our crew leader, was an awesome role model in that way. I am more eager to make new friends now as well. At the beginning of this school year, I tended to shy away from too many new relationships. Now, after a year of school and Workfest, I am only excited to meet new people. From any new relationship, there is something to be gained, whether it be knowledge, advice, or support. While forming all of these new relationships, it became apparent to me how important it is to maintain old ones. I have tried to keep up with my friends from Workfest, but more broadly, I have started to nurture my relationship with my parents and old friends better. Even if I don’t have too much to say, I will still make an effort. I suppose this is because I realize now how valuable relationships are. Tammy’s dedication to her son was inspiring, and I think it hit home with me on some level. The bond between any two people, especially family members, can be one of the few things tethering those people to earth. With everything that was happening with Tammy and Shaun, I believe their love for each other, and the love of their community (Workfest included!) gave them hope. Ultimately, I believe it was the community of Workfest that reminded me of the importance of relationships and community. When I felt the support of the community, I was more willing to leave my comfort zone, because I knew that the Workfesters would have my back. When we talked with Tammy, she too felt the support, and being able to give her this support was extremely gratifying. It is this kind of community that Corbin and other areas need on a long term basis. The lack of community they currently have is what allows poverty, wealth gaps, and the loneliness that many Rural Appalachians feel. Community is an effective way of combatting these issues, because if someone feels included and supported, there exists no limit to what they can achieve. My experience at Workfest has only reinforced my previous notion that I need to involve myself more in the community, and be something for someone.
This summer, I will be working at a YMCA camp this summer, and am very excited to join their community for the good things it brings to all of its members. My experience at Workfest has shown me how gratifying it can be to be a part of and serve a community. I have been taught to value this membership more highly. I hope my work this summer echoes the sentiments of this past Spring Break. Fortunately, I will know going in to the camp that I should value every member of the camp, and make the most of the experience. As a counselor, it will be my job to meet and guide all of the campers, and to work well with other counselors and employees. The community we form will be tightly-knit, and I eagerly anticipate all of the new bonds I will form, the skills I will acquire, and the lessons I will learn. Beyond summer camp, I can carry what I have learned at Workfest to my future experiences. I have learned and will continue to learn the importance of being friendly, working as a team, and being supportive, even if it means self-sacrifice. I am so grateful for my week at Workfest. The people involved in the program really made the experience what it was. I will hold this in the front of my mind in my future endeavors, as forming and maintaining relationships can be one of the most important things a person can do. Thank you, Workfest.
About my artifact
This artifact consists of photos taken at our worksite. The people depicted include the UC group, and my “crew” that worked on Tammy’s house. These are the people that profoundly affected me during this experience. Their friendliness, genuine nature, positive attitudes, patience, and support created the sense of community I have talked about in my reflection. I hope to never forget the lessons they taught me about myself, about relationships, and about what a group of people can accomplish under the proper direction, and with the proper motivation.
Upon arrival at Corbin Sunday night, I was unsure of what my immediate future held. As a group, we had discussed the area and the kind of projects in which we would participate, but talking about something and actually doing it are very different things. On the first day, though, we found ourselves comfortably located on a campground near our worksites. We were provided dinner and cabins in which to sleep. The employees of CAP were in charge of coordinating UC and three other universities: Minnesota Duluth, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Connecticut. Altogether there were about forty volunteers from around the country. From there, six or seven teams were created, and they were composed of people from all of the different schools. In this way, CAP allowed us to meet new people on the trip. Each team had a leader who was heading a specific construction project. Our leader was Ken, and he was an excellent leader as he was always calm, cool-headed, and motivating. We also had Peter, a CAP employee, and Erika, who was also volunteering, on our team. I was eager to work with him and my group the next morning.
Come Monday morning, we saw our worksite for the first time. Our mission was to put walls and a roof on an addition to Tammy’s house. Tammy is a single mother, whose son Shaun is currently on the waiting list for a new heart. That fact alone made the experience real. You hear stories of people in need of help, but it seems rarely today do you actually see their story before you. It gave our work serious purpose, as the addition is to give Shaun a place to recover. Monday went by pretty quickly until lunch, when a nonstop rain began. It rained cold until we left around 3:00 or 4:00 pm. This rain provided us adversity to overcome as a group. We worked through the rain, even though we were all freezing. Admittedly, I tried to stay undercover as much as I could, but we all pulled through together.
For the rest of the week, the weather seemed absolutely gorgeous. Without cold rain, even freezing temperatures felt heavenly, and made the work pleasant. The difficulty of Monday also gave my team and me something over which to bond, which made us a stronger more efficient working force. I believe it was Tuesday that we actually got to meet Tammy, which was unexpected. Tammy was, and I will admit it, so different from the person I was expecting. I suppose my stereotypes led me to believe that she would have a thick accent, be overweight and missing teeth, and that she might be a bit hard to relate to, but she proved me wrong. She did have an accent, but I realized the triviality of this fact once we all began talking with her. Almost instantly it was apparent that she has been through a lot, but the hope she has was beautiful, and truly the best motivation a person could have. I did not say too much to her, as I was not sure what to say really, but I most definitely enjoyed hearing what she had to say.
By the end of the week, we had finished constructing walls, putting them in place, mounting trusses, and we had started putting on the roofing. It was a mountain of work, and it is incredible what we got done. My job included cutting boards to Ken’s orders, a skill Erika taught me. I also wielded a hammer often, driving nails into walls we were making, and hammering up the trusses. I honestly improved so much with my handy skills, and I am so grateful for that. I can now drive a nail with confidence, and operate a circular saw. I tried to do a bunch of different jobs to stay interested, and I certainly am glad I did. I became (so I like to think) one of Ken’s right hand men, and that was really cool. I am so glad I was able to contribute to this project.
For me, the experience became real, not right away, and not during the actual work. It became something real at the group dinner on the last night. We were all tired and hungry, and everyone was close at this point. We performed our skits which talked about our experiences, and listened to CAP employees speak. What got me though, was when Tammy went up to talk. She expressed her gratefulness to us in a way that was so apparent I couldn’t help but feel appreciated and loved. At that moment I realized the enormity of the project at hand, and the important role we were filling in Tammy’s life. Then, at dinner, I most desperately wanted Shaun and Tammy to live happily in the life we were helping create for them. It was an epiphany, really, that the work we had been doing all week was not just so that we could say we did some service. Our purpose was not to just learn how to use tools, build, and admire our work. Like one of the CAP volunteers said one evening, we were not just doing something for someone; we were being something for someone. Through our work, our conversations with Tammy, and just our presence, I believe, we made a strong impression on Tammy, and made her, too, feel loved and appreciated.
This experience is one that requires reflection, to ensure that as much was gained as possible. I chose to do this experience initially for a handful of reasons. I had worked on similar projects on a smaller scale before, and had really enjoyed that. I was also in need of service hours and an honors experience. Additionally, I knew that if I wasn’t at Workfest during Spring Break, I would be at home doing next to nothing. These circumstances made applying to participate in Workfest a very easy decision that I would recommend to anyone looking for a meaningful experience. I would recommend researching the Christian Appalachian Project and Workfest before applying, as the program is run by CAP, and Workfest is run closely according to CAP’s values. Research, along with pre-departure meetings before the trip with Ryan Harder, will make the transition into Workfest and Rural Appalachia a little easier, though no less profound. From my research I knew what we would be doing on the trip, and the socio-economic condition of the area to which we were traveling. Actually being there inspired a completely different view, though. My expectations before arrival were that we would be traveling to a very poor region of the world, where I would work on someone’s house, maybe talk to them but be unable to relate very well, and that after the week I would feel happy with the work I had done. Instead, I found that the region was beautiful, though undoubtedly not wealthy. The people of CAP and the other volunteers were incredible and friendly and helped to form a fast Workfest community. I had completely ignored the community aspect amongst volunteers, and I was pleasantly surprised by everyone there. Additionally, as I have already discussed, I and the other volunteers could relate to Tammy. She was so clearly, how can I say this, like us, but unlike us at the same time. Her culture is slightly different, but largely we carried on in a way altogether comfortable and pleasant. The bonds I formed with Tammy, our homeowner, and CAP and the other volunteers were incredible. I even hung out with my specific crew one night instead of people from UC, and we all had a great time visiting a waterfall in the area. Altogether, this trip far exceeded my expectations. All of these experiences that I relate were eye-opening. So many things on this trip were new to me. The construction, the community, and the area were all foreign at first. By the end of the week, however, it felt comfortable to be at Workfest. Only when we had to leave did I start to realize how much I had gained in that short span of time.
This experience taught me many things about myself and the world we all inhabit. My UC group bonded quickly, as did my crew, and the Workfest community. We were all united in cause, and I believe that brought us all together. For a change (it was at least a change for me), we were all not worried about making sure we were as happy and comfortable as possible. Our focus was the people of Corbin, as opposed to ourselves. This led to many great things: bonding, cooperation, support, and an enriching experience. This short week showed me that I can be very happy without living my normal self-centered lifestyle. I can meet new people left and right and form meaningful relationships. I can work together in a team. I can learn construction skills. I can be there for someone, and give them hope. I am certain that these experiences were not unique to Workfest, though Workfest did encourage them. I can bring and have brought some of the knowledge I have gained back to my normal life. Team projects come a little easier, with some of the interpersonal skills and patience I learned on the job sight. Ken, our crew leader, was an awesome role model in that way. I am more eager to make new friends now as well. At the beginning of this school year, I tended to shy away from too many new relationships. Now, after a year of school and Workfest, I am only excited to meet new people. From any new relationship, there is something to be gained, whether it be knowledge, advice, or support. While forming all of these new relationships, it became apparent to me how important it is to maintain old ones. I have tried to keep up with my friends from Workfest, but more broadly, I have started to nurture my relationship with my parents and old friends better. Even if I don’t have too much to say, I will still make an effort. I suppose this is because I realize now how valuable relationships are. Tammy’s dedication to her son was inspiring, and I think it hit home with me on some level. The bond between any two people, especially family members, can be one of the few things tethering those people to earth. With everything that was happening with Tammy and Shaun, I believe their love for each other, and the love of their community (Workfest included!) gave them hope. Ultimately, I believe it was the community of Workfest that reminded me of the importance of relationships and community. When I felt the support of the community, I was more willing to leave my comfort zone, because I knew that the Workfesters would have my back. When we talked with Tammy, she too felt the support, and being able to give her this support was extremely gratifying. It is this kind of community that Corbin and other areas need on a long term basis. The lack of community they currently have is what allows poverty, wealth gaps, and the loneliness that many Rural Appalachians feel. Community is an effective way of combatting these issues, because if someone feels included and supported, there exists no limit to what they can achieve. My experience at Workfest has only reinforced my previous notion that I need to involve myself more in the community, and be something for someone.
This summer, I will be working at a YMCA camp this summer, and am very excited to join their community for the good things it brings to all of its members. My experience at Workfest has shown me how gratifying it can be to be a part of and serve a community. I have been taught to value this membership more highly. I hope my work this summer echoes the sentiments of this past Spring Break. Fortunately, I will know going in to the camp that I should value every member of the camp, and make the most of the experience. As a counselor, it will be my job to meet and guide all of the campers, and to work well with other counselors and employees. The community we form will be tightly-knit, and I eagerly anticipate all of the new bonds I will form, the skills I will acquire, and the lessons I will learn. Beyond summer camp, I can carry what I have learned at Workfest to my future experiences. I have learned and will continue to learn the importance of being friendly, working as a team, and being supportive, even if it means self-sacrifice. I am so grateful for my week at Workfest. The people involved in the program really made the experience what it was. I will hold this in the front of my mind in my future endeavors, as forming and maintaining relationships can be one of the most important things a person can do. Thank you, Workfest.
About my artifact
This artifact consists of photos taken at our worksite. The people depicted include the UC group, and my “crew” that worked on Tammy’s house. These are the people that profoundly affected me during this experience. Their friendliness, genuine nature, positive attitudes, patience, and support created the sense of community I have talked about in my reflection. I hope to never forget the lessons they taught me about myself, about relationships, and about what a group of people can accomplish under the proper direction, and with the proper motivation.