Re-blog from #AXOGSI & our Collegiate @AXO_FSU Sister Chelsea Hogan!

Chelsea served Beta Eta as the vice president of ritual and fraternity appreciation in 2013. In 2014 she is serving as the date function chair. Below is the blog entry she wrote for the Alpha Chi Omega Blog about #AXOGSI:

http://axoete.blogspot.com/2012/05/alpha-chi-omega-global-service.html

http://blog.alphachiomega.org/2014/05/a-stronger-foundation/

A Stronger Foundation

by axoGSI

by Chelsea Hogan
(Beta Eta chapter, Florida State University)  

What do you know, yet another amazing day in Jamaica with my Alpha Chi sisters. As night two came to a close all eighteen us of were in the Night Heron’s cabin playing the game signs. I’ve never laughed so hard with girls that I had just met three short days ago. This morning when everyone went to the work site at the Ketto School, the vibe seemed different. Everyone seemed so eager to finish what we had started in hopes of making Ketto an environment where the children would enjoy learning.

Today at our service site, it was our job to repair the foundation of the building which had cracked earlier this year. This was a crucial part in our service trip because if the foundation was not fixed soon the government was going to shut down the school, taking away the great opportunity of education which we in America seem to take for granted. The day felt long as we had a lot to do in a short amount of time. I have never seen anything near as powerful and resourceful as I did today. Unlike in the United States, the great people of Jamaica make their own concrete. Sifting through dirt to separate rocks out of the sand, carrying buckets of concrete and water, and laying bricks in the cement to build the foundation was one of the most physically enduring tasks I have ever been a part of.

The sense of teamwork we all shared was a feeling of accomplishment, and one of love. I never thought that in just three days I would share an inseparable bond with these amazing women from Alpha Chi Omega chapters all over the United States. As the day ended, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we were all sad to leave and that we couldn’t serve the Ketto School anymore. This school, the teachers, and especially the children have made such a life altering impact on us. I couldn’t be more thankful that I have been given this opportunity to give other people joy, learn about myself, while growing in the process. Thank you Alpha Chi Omega for the amazing opportunity, and thank you to all my Alpha Chi sisters that I cannot wait to continue to bond with over the next four days.

Isabelle Wilkins ('10) served in #AXOGSI as well!