Breck School Tour

The Breck (Metro Mix) Pay It Forward Tour will serve on the way to Kansas City!

Thank-U-thon!

STLF's first-ever Thank-U-thon was a great success!

Blog/opportunities

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Mar10

Time 12:49

Another Tour, Another Story

In my seventh year of Tours, I am still learning more than words can describe.

Author: Irene Fernando, STLF

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be part of Tours since 2003. I have served in several roles throughout the last 6+ years, and I am baffled at the transformations that still take place within me.

A couple weeks ago, I was on the Oklahoma Pay it Forward Tour, under the leadership of our College Bus Core: Emily, Nick, and John. I was able to be a participant, while supporting the Core when I could. As a participant, I was able to experience the Pay it Forward Tour for all of of its seemingly unexplainable benefits. Here are a few things that stuck out to be on this Tour:

Seeing a City in the Eyes of a Local

The Tour shows parts of a city that are not as commonly seen. While in Little Rock, AR we went to the "Little Rock 9" high school and was able to walk around downtown for a bit, which was great! What is more meaningful to me is Shorter College, an old college founded in 1886 by the black, Episcopalian community. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity, we learned of their new initiative in addition to building houses-- revitalizing existing buildings in the community. Side by side with local members that were personally tied to Shorter College, we cleaned old stuff, pulled off water damaged tiles, and learned so much.

The Power of the Little Things

As always, I am continually surprised and impressed with the generosity and authentic positivity from people all over. Even running into people at the gas station in North Carolina became an adventure! We ran into a group of men who asked "what you kids on that big bus?" They were thankful that students from "so far away" would come and see their town. They said "on behalf of all us old guys, thank you because you are inspiring us."

There are Good People Everywhere

It is fun to meet people, hear their stories, and learn about their communities. In Williamsburg, PA we cleaned up a beach area and the project contact's gratitude was astounding! They paid for us to see the Jamestown Historical Museum (a live museum), a $30 value, because they wanted to thank us and wanted us to learn more about their history. There truly are amazing people all throughout our country, and it honestly renews a spirit of goodness in my every day and every act.

Long-Standing Friendships are Fun

In 2005, the Pay it Forward worked with an organization called Earth Conservation Corps (ECC) in Washington, DC. With them, we have helped clean up the Anacostia River, which has 20,000 tons of garbage entering it annually. This is our SIXTH year working with ECC, our friends, it is so fun to see where our friendship has gone. To date, 2,100 STLFers have removed around 150 tons of garbage from the Anacostia.

Youth Change the World

The last thing that I am sharing is my sheer pride in youth today. I am awestruck at the leadership ability and the optimism that young people are able to exude. From the youth I met for the first time, to the youth that serve as STLF Core Leaders-- my heart goes out to you. I am forever indebted to you for positively changing my outlook, my energy, my life. Thank you!