From uncomfortable to comfortable

Five students from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, spent their fall break at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice giving service and learning more about sustainable living this week.

Alyssa Yuen, Ameer Chughtai, Bianca Mina, Lindsey Mack, and Will Moore arrived last Sunday and will begin the eight hour drive home Saturday morning.

Bianca said she is glad she made the choice to keep learning during her break from classes.

“It’s more fulfilling learning about the justice issues rather than being at home watching Netflix,” she said.

Their week included weeding in the USDA certified organic gardens, harvesting vegetables, washing and bagging produce, tearing out tomato cages, putting mulch on strawberry beds, deep cleaning the alpaca barn, feeding the alpacas, composting the manure at the industrial sized compost area and helped place a new cover on the roof of one of the high tunnels. They also volunteered at Helping Hands in West Terre Haute and played bingo with the Sisters of Providence one evening.

Ameer shared a saying they’ve been using all week.

“You’ve got to get uncomfortable to get comfortable,” he said.

He admitted working with the alpacas was not in his comfort zone when he first arrived, but being around them this week has made him more comfortable in their presence.

“You have to get out of your comfort zone. It really allows you to experience things that help you grow as an individual,” he said.