My biggest lesson was that you can't fully understand a situation until you experience it yourself. The experience was a reminder of how much good there is in the world – people have left their homes, families and lives to help the victims of the storms, and they expect nothing in return. Working with the residents of the shelter, we saw they became like families. People who didn't know one another before the storm were helping each other – pushing wheelchairs, watching each other's children. My best memory was the progress I made with the residents – I worked the food line and spoke to every resident at breakfast, lunch and dinner. At first, some were angry (understandably frustrated with their situation) and wouldn't speak to me. By the end, they would smile, chat and tell me about their lives. I remember one very shy man saying, "I just want to walk into my own kitchen, open my own cupboard, and pull out my food of choice that I bought." You quickly realize it's the little things people find themselves missing.
They called me affectionate nicknames like "Cheerleader" and "Hollywood!" and I had affectionate nicknames for them as well. For me, it was progress made simply by being nice to them and treating them with respect – and empathizing with the enormous stress they're under. It was mentally and physically exhausting, but you walk away feeling that you rewarded yourself as much as you helped them. I would tell those thinking about it – don't think about it, do it. It's one of the most valuable experiences of your life. The first day will be scary and long but by the time you leave the hours are flying by and it feels like your second home. You realize your potential, who you are as a person, and you truly put your life into perspective.