Ms. Erika Anderson, Senior, Communication and Journalism Major

We all have things to worry about, but for those three days, I forgot about everything. Their energy and happiness made me realize what’s really important in life. …

I felt great about the work I was doing, although I feel like they were teaching me! I learned so much about Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions from them. I think the kids really enjoyed the projects that we did too. They loved making things for us and telling us about the materials we were using. …

We are instant ohana to them. … I think they think this way because it’s been shown to them by their family and through their school. I feel their Hawaiian spirit has always been inside them and it shows through with lots of smiles, hugs, and aloha.

From this service-learning experience, I am taking away so many friends and memories that I will cherish the rest of life. I could never forget such an amazing experience. Never in my life have I experienced such happiness from a group of students who don’t have much. But really, they have so much more. They have more love, kindness, and compassion than any other group of people I know. These students have truly been a blessing.

The rest of the St. Thomas students have been amazing as well. I loved watching everyone interact with the kids in their own unique ways and it really makes me appreciate all of them for different things. I feel so much more connected to my classmates in this class than with any other of my classes. We’ve been able to create such a unique bonding experience together with students from another school and not many people get a chance to do that. I think we learn the most from other people and from experiences created together. We got a chance to do both of those things, which is something really special. …

I’ve been thinking about the students at the Kekaha Learning Center every day. … I wonder if St. Thomas students can come back again in January 2013. … I now feel like every course should have a service-learning component to it. I feel like this was the most important part of the course for me. I have learned so much about myself through this experience that it’s almost indescribable. I just feel so much happier and content with who I am as a person. It feels so good to know that I’ve helped someone and have truly made an impact on someone’s life. …

I have really made connections with the people at this school and the people on this trip. Words cannot describe how much I adore and appreciate everyone who has been involved in this service-learning project. The time that I’ve spent at the school has been absolutely amazing and I will never forget it, how it made me feel and how it has really helped shape the person that I have grown to be.

When I come home, I really just want to live the Hawaiian spirit every day and I can’t wait to share it with others. I’ve always tried to be a kind, compassionate, and happy person, but this experience has given me so much more motivation to be that person I strive to be. Their caring ways have taught me so much. I can do so much more and give more of myself to others knowing that it will make others feel the way I do when I can share the Hawaiian spirit that I’ve come to experience: happy, loving, caring, appreciative, kind, and full of aloha.