WOMEN’S SOCCER JUNIOR LENDS A HELPING HAND ON ALTERNATVE SPRING BREAK TRIP

March 29, 2010

WOMEN’S SOCCER JUNIOR LENDS A HELPING HAND ON ALTERNATVE SPRING BREAK TRIP

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – While many college students were spending their spring break doing more leisurely activities, Bryant University women’s soccer player Steph Del Mistro (East Williston, N.Y.) traveled to Washington, D.C. with Bryant’s Alternative Spring Break Program and lent a helping hand to the D.C. community.

The experience allowed Bryant students to volunteer at different Washington D.C. community organizations and lend their services wherever they are needed.

According to Rich Hurley, the Assistant Director of the Center for Student Involvement, the Alternative Spring Break Program has been sending 14 hand-picked students to D.C. for eight years now. The students dedicate approximately 25 hours of service to multiple facets of the D.C. community while on the trip.

“I was extremely happy to see a student-athlete apply for the trip. I could really see Steph opening up and becoming a part of an experience she has probably never been exposed to. Not only was the trip educating for herself, but Steph helped educate the students around her on what it takes to be a student-athlete,” said Hurley.  

For Del Mistro, and most individuals who take part in it, the Bryant Alternative Spring Break trip is an eye-opening experience. As Del Mistro states, the trip helped her to learn more about herself, all while helping others. “It also helped me step outside my boundaries and put me in situations where I could practice and display my leadership skills,” said the junior.

To learn more about Del Mistro’s experience in Washington, D.C. read her first-hand account below.

Alternative Spring Break was an incredible experience that I would highly recommend to anyone.  Being an athlete means dedicating 20-plus hours a week to training and competition, so it’s definitely hard to make time to give back to the community.  Having the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and help others in need was truly unbelievable. 

I traveled to D.C. with 13 other students and four advisors, where we helped three organizations.  The first organization was Food & Friends.  Food & Friends prepares and delivers specialized meals and groceries to homes of men, women and children living with a life-threatening illness.  Among the 18 people in the group, we switched off between preparing and packing the meals in the kitchen and delivering the meals to homes.  Delivering the meals was incredible; l had one woman give me a hug and call me an angel.  Preparing and packing the meals consisted of putting the correct groceries in a bag and gathering the necessary foods for a meal. 

Little Sisters of the Poor is a place for older men and women to go when they need assistance with every day activities.  At Little Sisters of the Poor, we had the opportunity to socialize with the residents and hear their life stories while hosting games of Bingo.  We also helped with their spring cleaning. 

The last service we performed was working at an after school program for St. Anthony’s Elementary School.  St. Anthony’s is a private school in inner city D.C. with an astounding graduation rate.  This was our last stop each day.  At St. Anthony’s, we helped the children finish their homework and played with them.  This was definitely the best part of the day.   We also presented them with some new toys that they went absolutely nuts about.

Not only did this trip make it possible for me to give back to the community, but it also allowed me to learn a lot about myself.  This trip was definitely rewarding in many ways.  I had the opportunity of meeting 17 great people that I would not have gotten to know otherwise.  It helped me step outside my boundaries and it put me in situations where I could practice my leadership skills.