Recharging, Reflecting, Reorienting

This is always one of the toughest parts - trying to communicate your experience to those who weren't there. It's really hard to articulate the feelings of love, heartbreak, family, shock, and hope that were felt. Everyone experiences these, but in completely different ways.

Here are some lessons that I learned this past week in Philadelphia:
- Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a person before knowing their story.
- In all things, be kind.
- The most difficult thing to teach is self-esteem and belief in yourself.
- Getting good grades isn't a priority if you are forced to be an adult before you're even a teenager. Circumstances matter.
- Memes are always the answer.
- I don't have all the answers. Sometimes I really just need to shut my mouth and listen.
- If you serve with all of your heart, the simple fact that you care can make a difference to someone else.

And some lessons I learned from my teammates: 
- From James: "never underestimate the power of hope."
- From Cyrus: keep asking questions. Let your imagination be limitless.
- From David: vulnerability and stepping outside your comfort zone leads to amazing results.
- From Emily: stand up for your values. Be yourself, unapologetically.
- From Harriet: kindness is understood across all barriers. Harriet is unconditionally kind.
- From John: you don't have to speak a lot in order to say a lot. In other words, John is profound.
- From Joy: the people who love themselves are the people who can best love others.
- From Larisha: you have to listen with an open mind and reject biases to know what the cup is. Is this a metaphor? Maybe.
- From Laura: everyone has fears, and the strongest people are the ones who stand up again and again when their fears face them.
- From Fearless Leader Bri Low: don't take things for granted. If you have an opportunity to do good, put every ounce of your heart into it.
- From Fearless Leader Morgan: humility. Translation - Morgan is one of the most amazing people I've ever met, but you won't hear her talk about her accomplishments. She lives for others and asks for nothing in return.

After an Alternative Breaks experience, reorientation is key. We have to ask ourselves, "What now?" and figure out how to translate what happened then into what we will do now. Knowledge is nothing if it isn't channeled into action. I'm looking forward to continue working and discussing with my team so that we can see our experiences blossom.

Peace, Love, AB!  - Clare