Why should I take an alternative college break?

Many students are taking an alternative break this year rather than taking the traditional spring break. First of all what is an alternative college break? An alternative break is a service learning tour for college students where they use their education and skill sets to aid others. The benefits are many to the people they serve from providing water and food to people in need to mentoring underprivileged children. What is the benefit to the student traveler? One student from the University of Alabama who is studying computer engineering said that these travel experiences help him gain a clearer focus on his career goals. He goes on to say that he plans on starting a retirement home in his home country of India. In his country there are few homes for the elderly and many old people end up living on the streets. He hopes that being involved in service learning trips will help him continue to grow desire to help others.

Appleseed Expeditions promotes compassion for people who are less fortunate in our global communities. Some of our groups help developing or poor communities by providing technology, education or filtration systems that help with sanitation. We believe that community service and global travel provides a way not only to gain a deeper understanding of another country, but it also allows the students to understand their place in the world and how they can use their education and passions to change it.

So why should you take an alternative break? The answer can be complicated because each of us has our own reasons for serving others. One thing is for sure, is that when we serve others it changes how we treat others and how we view our global communities.

Here are a few of the benefits that the student may receive from traveling on an Alternative Break.

1 – Enhanced self discovery
2 – Improved mental and physical health
3 – Increases knowledge of what is learned in the classroom to the “real world”
4 – A greater sense of purpose
5 – Greater desire for community involvement
6 – Increased desire to be involved in global issues
- Resources- American’s Changing Lives Study by Peggy Thoits (Vanderbilt, 2003)

For more information contact us directly at jmoore@appleseedexpeditions.com or go to our website at