Trip helps students learn life lessons

Date: 2/9/2009

By Kaitlyn Schroyer

Staff Intern



LONGMEADOW Recently, a group of nine undergraduates learned a lesson on the ups and downs of life.

"One America" is a trip started by Caron Hobin, vice president of Planning and Student Development at Bay Path College. Students traveled all around the east coast from Washington D.C., to West Virginia and Pennsylvania where they experienced all walks of life. The trip was a very memorable experience for all.

"It was great. There were lots of lessons that we learned about how to treat people and be more thankful for things," Cammy Bendinelli, a sophomore at Bay Path and one of the students to go on the trip, said.

Through getting lost and going up a mountain the long way, the students learned the importance of taking things at face value and helping others. Even with getting lost, the students had to learn to stay calm and to deal with a lot of things being thrown at them.

"The trip exceeded my expectations in that it got students to get out of their comfort zone. Work on a farm for one who is afraid of animals, go snow tubing for another (with a) fear of heights. Try a different religious experience," Hobin said.

Students stayed at a five diamond resort, but also at homeless shelters. Some felt comfortable automatically while others had to take time to adjust.

"The amazing transformation was to see how comfortable all became when they were made to feel welcome. People make the difference," Hobin commented.

"One night, I was walking with a friend and a chaperone at 11 p.m. in Philadelphia. We saw this homeless person sleeping with a big pile of blankets as a pillow. I looked at him and said 'Wow.' The hardship that person has been through and that's someone just trying to survive. There are people out there who need a lot of help," Bendinelli commented.

Bay Path College is hoping to continue the legacy of the trip and bring more students on its adventures to learn the life lessons that this trip exposes. The trip will be a three credit course during winter intersession.

"I would sign up again in an absolute heartbeat," Bendinelli said.