Do you remember what you did on your spring break? Alternative spring breaks are now becoming a trend of the future. College students have proven that they can make a difference by choosing an alternative way to make their lives productive by helping others. Recently, 40 college students from the University of Minnesota, who belong to a group called Students Today Leaders Forever, traveled to six different cities doing service projects as a part of its Pay It Forward spring tour. This tour lasted nine days. The cities they visited included Lincoln, Neb., New Orleans, La., Joplin, Mo., Shelby, Miss., Galveston, Texas, and San Antonio, Texas. In each city, they did various things, including mission work, working at a homeless shelter, environmental work, cleaning and yard work, garbage pick up, recarpeting a city hall, shoveling dirt, laying mulch, cleaning out a pond, sweeping and painting. Together, with the help of other local colleges, help accomplish more than 5,000 hours of manual labor. This particular Play It Forward spring tour was based on some of its ideas from the movie Pay It Forward. Four years ago, four college students from the University of Minnesota were discussing how they could make a difference in the world, hence the first Pay It Forward tour began. The first year, there were just four core leaders and 39 other college students on one bus Paying It Forward. This year, it has grown to 15 coach buses and more than 500 college students arriving to different destinations across the United States. Each student is required to pay $425, as well as money for food and snacks. Justine Meierhofer was one of the core people from the University of Minnesota. She also attended a tour last year and found it to be “euphoric.” “Once of the best feelings is knowing you helped make a difference,” Justine said. Justine and the rest of the core group planned the service projects, where they would sleep, and the meals. Most YMCAs and churches opened their doors for a place to sleep. Churches, townspeople and YMCAs showed the group some fine Southern cooking, as well as hospitality. This year’s Pay It Forward was attended by some local students – Matt Stommes, Jyme Butterfast, Jamie Butterfast, Shannon Molitor, Missy Schmidt and Justine Meierhofer. Nia Meierhofer had the opportunity to join this year’s tour. Through these tours, students are able to spread the message of services to thousands of people and communities. The students who experience the tour have realized that it is about much more than a nine-day trip, but instead a beginning of service to others. College students of today are our future; this Pay It Forward is proof that the youth of today can make a difference. From Nia Meierhofer
