Chris Lombardozzi

My experience in Birmingham Alabama working with Habitat for Humanity through URI was truly an eye-opener. The friendships I formed, the fulfillment I got from services I was giving as well as a deeper understanding of a place so different form the place I grew up, I now consider a crucial part of my education. By developing my understanding of service learning both academically and through the hands on work we did, I now can see the importance that service learning plays within a community.

What stood out most for me during this week was our group as a whole. They way we adapted to a surrounding that was new to all of us and we came together and did what we needed to do. Any differences they we had within us or what ever unknowns there were in the group, instantly did not matter as soon as we picked up a hammer. I felt like there was a sense of all of us working toward a common goal that had nothing to do with any of us as an individual. It all had to do with a much bigger goal that was going to contribute a cause of poverty in Birmingham. Any of us could have chosen to spend our spring break elsewhere, relaxing on a beach or on any other conventional vacation but we all choose to do something much larger. That something I believe will be much more beneficial to each of us that participated and for all of families we helped in the long term. Here is one of my favorite picture from trip on the site that we worked on.