Alumni Spotlight: Gabrielle Brooks

Gabrielle Brooks volunteered in Argentina from March 10-19, 2012. She lives in Miami, FL and is from Dix Hills, NY.

I choose to participate in the Alternative Spring Break trip to Argentina with Hillel because recently I've become very involved at the Hillel on my campus and I thought it would be a great way to connect with other students involved. Also I thought it would be a really great opportunity to do something different than the typical spring break vacation and actually do something more valuable with my time.

We would start each day by learning about a specific Jewish value and discuss its importance during breakfast. We would then go to our assigned community service work for the day (Ieladeinu, food bank, medicine bank). As a group we would break for lunch then continue working. After returning to our hotel we would go to the Hillel in Buenos Aires and eat dinner with other students our age that are a part of the Jewish community.

This trip was most certainly different than any other trip I have done before. It was really amazing that we were able to see how much we had helped (at the food bank we taped and packaged over 400 boxes with supplies). It was also very special that we were able to instantly connect with the children when helping at Ieladeinu regardless of the language barrier.

This trip has definitely made me realize that if you have the opportunity to go on a community service trip you must jump at the chance because it is so much more rewarding and valuable than any typical vacation you can go on.