Shannon Philpott

Paying it Forward for Spring Break

Published March 2011: eHow Family & Relationships

Paying it Forward for Spring Break
Pitching in for a good cause teaches important lessons

Article Excerpt:
As a clinical counselor, Susan Fee listens daily as parents talk about wanting their children to be more appreciative, selfless, independent and caring. “I often ask, ‘What opportunities are you giving them to achieve these goals?’ ” Fee said.

Also a mother of a 12-year-old, Fee believes kids have to learn through firsthand experiences to appreciate life. This is why Fee has taken her daughter on several alternative spring break trips to Appalachia, Costa Rica and Ecuador to live with host families, work alongside migrant farm workers and experience the culture of those less fortunate.

“It teaches problem solving, empathy and emotional intelligence,” Fee said. “My daughter learned that people in other parts of the country and the world have nothing — these lessons are important.”

Spring break offers the opportunity for teens to travel and give back to struggling communities. As an alternative to crowded beach vacations, many teens are opting for a less-than-glamorous location to spend a week off from school.

– Shannon Philpott

March 3, 2011 - Posted by sphilpott | Feature Stories, Magazine Writing, Sample Work | alternative spring break trips, Break Away, education, Habitat for Humanity, parenting, spring break, teens and traveling, United Way Spring Break Trips