‘Getting lost was how I ended up finding myself’

Brianna

Brianna Cheng (left) and her sister Breagh Cheng take a break from volunteering at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point, Mississippi. The day-long excursion to Moss Point was part of a recent MacServe service learning trip to New Orleans.


Service learning.

I don’t think I truly understood the significance of those words until I was fortunate enough to participate in a MacServe trip to New Orleans.

Not knowing what to expect, I approached the volunteer opportunity with an open mind, ready to learn. I was taking an environmental issues class at McMaster at the time, so I was delighted to be able to apply what I had learned in the classroom to my experiences abroad.

Once we had arrived in Louisiana, seeing the damage to the levees and the Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle provided some valuable context for the theory I was learning in class. For example, I was surprised to learn that Hurricane Katrina is often referred to as a “man-made” storm.

While it wasn’t the strongest storm to ever hit New Orleans, what made this particular storm so devastating was a complex mix of political and environmental factors. The levees failed because maintenance wasn’t kept up. To make matters worse, coastal wetlands — which act as natural buffers against storm surges — were eroded from years of human development.

The trip also taught me the importance of community in the recovery process following a natural disaster. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans were able to come together in the face of tragedy and help each other.

I still remember one of our guides, pastor Randy Millet of St. Bernard’s Parish in New Orleans, describing his efforts to organize food and clothing for anyone needing aid, regardless of their background. According to pastor Millet, “sometimes the best way to heal is to serve others.”

A remark made by a friend of mine who also attended the trip later reinforced Millet’s vision: “you are never too poor to give, nor too rich to receive.”

I embarked on this trip with the goals of self development and stepping outside my comfort zone. And I did experience discomfort. I remember feeling nervous during our first day exploring the city. New Orleans is such a different environment, and I felt unsure of my own ability to create change.

But as paradoxical as it sounds, getting lost was how I ended up finding myself.

By throwing myself into volunteering and getting lost in the service, I found both clarity and community. I felt like I had purpose by contributing to something larger than myself.

The MacServe experience confirmed my belief that extracurricular activities hold just as much intrinsic value as academics. MacServe provides a unique opportunity to be challenged and grow as an individual.

So what does service learning mean to me? It means being able to apply academic concepts to real-life situations through community service. It’s a collaborative process in which personal reflection, civic engagement and community service are all integral components.

Service learning provided insight into my own ability to create positive change within global and local communities. For this, I am grateful. I hope to become a more engaged citizen as a result of this experience.

Brianna Cheng is a second-year student in McMaster’s Life Sciences program.