RSB, Grand Canyon 2024
What most college students for spring break is one of the four following things in which: you sleep in, go travelling with family/friends, work on schoolwork, or just work in general. I am a senior, and I wanted to do something that would make a memorable impression on my life and the potential people lives down the road. I became a McNair scholar, a TRIO SSS scholar, and even an active participant in some often group organizations around campus. Even through the many jobs and things that I have done in my time at Texas Tech has not had an impact as big as the one I Had this Spring Break.
I have always had a thing for nature: it gives a calm yet important meaning in my life: as equally the same as helping others the best way that I can to help make their lives better. There is satisfaction in knowing you had made someone's day and in turn makes yours as well. This spring break I wanted to out with a bang: to do and experience something that I have never done before and learn something a little more about myself along the way. When I had learned about the TRUE RSB program was kicking back up: I felt that I had to be a part of that. I started to go to the meetings to later find out that we were going to the Grand Canyon, and volunteer there to help the park rangers and local staff. At first, I was nervous. I have never gone to something as big as the Grand Canyon nor be with students have met on rare occasions on such an endeavor. However, my excitedness and my willingness shoved the doubts out the door as I was accepted with open arms. The group and I left for the Grand Canyon on March 9th: dark and early. Everyone was tired but we were excited on the journey that we were about to be on. We made plenty of stops on the way. The scenery was beautiful: seeing the way people live their lives in different states and it just shows how big the continental US is. To pass the time, the group either slept or played games: getting to know each other more and more each time.
When we arrived at the Grand Canyon, we were met with open heartedly. We got the chance
to meet the people who set up our houses to live in: Debbie and Joanne. They told
us about how they came to be there at the Canyon and what it means to them on the
work that they do.
They were incredibly nice and down to earth people and gave us a glimpse of what working
at the Canyon is all about. When Debbie and Joanne left, the group left the main house
to then get settled into their assigned houses for the week. It was starting to get
dark, and I then understood what the RSB leaders meant about having flashlights. You
could not see anything if it did not have a light on it. You could have an Elk stare
at you in the middle of the street and you would not even notice him. However, what
you would notice is the stars. You look up, and you instantly see that you are just
a spec in the universe. The fact that there was a time that you could see that every
night to navigate across the oceans, know what season and time of night it is, and
even served a historical part in people trying to find freedom truly puts you at awe.
Once everyone was settled: we went to sleep and prepared for the next day. 
The following morning, the group met up at the common house and had our breakfast
and we were told of the many things that we were going to do that day: meet the park
ranger (Todd), do a couple of icebreakers with trivia, and know the expectations of
the volunteering as well as seeing the Canyon. We were told about some of the various
locations around the park, as well as the Do's and Don'ts's as well. When the fun
and serious introductory work was done, we went off to see the Grand Canyon. As we
neared the south rim of the Canyon, the Ranger instructed us to go single file with
our eyes closed to be led to the location. At first, I raised the questions: “I wonder
how big is the Canyon?” and “are we being led to the right place?”. When I told you
that when I opened my eyes and looked down, I could not believe that the Canyon was
that big. When you look up and look around it looks like somebody carved the Canyon
in front of you: a vast empty sea if you would call it. The scenery almost looks
just like a CGI photo but you're living in that moment. When all the sightseeing was
said done, we got ready for the afternoon routines: dinner rotation duties, cleaning
rotation duties, and our “roses, thorns, and buds (lol I kept saying bushes)”. In
other words, we go around in a circle, and we say things about our day, the things
we did not like, and the things that we can improve. It all kind of felt like family
time that makes us kind of bond closer. 
That next morning was the start of what we were truly set out to Arizona to do: help guide tourist around the South rim of the Canyon: from the bus routes, to get to their lodges, and to all the major trails that were open and the public. The group was split into three smaller groups that would be separated amongst the most congested parts of the south rim. I had a clicker on me and oversaw keeping count and help tourist know where to go. I was nervous at first because I don't know the people that I am trying to interact with, or if they would even talk to me because I don't work there. Things started to turn for the better though because at the end of the day, my group alone helped over 600 people, and collective we helped over 2000! When I got home and took everything in, I realized I helped make a family's day: taking pictures with people, helping them go to where they needed to be, and to even know that I am helping the park by doing just a small thing. The next day was our day off, and the group and I went to see the fire and wildlife crew stations. From there we met a worker who was part Native American, and he told us about the rich history that the not only the Canyon serves to the public, but to the 7 Native American tribes that call the Grand Canyon home. To learn about everything in such a unique meaning further deepens the importance on education and culture to see the importance something partakes in life: something that the presentation did very well. After the presentation, we went to see the massive firetrucks and see a glimpse of a day in the life of a wildlife fire squad. To later then hear about the smoke divers and the various help that these guys do you really makes you think they are in the military fighting a great evil – and I was down for it! We also got a chance to see the Helicopter that they use for search and rescue as well as support missions.
After we departed the wildlife station, the group split up into who wanted to do what on our day off. I wanted to do some sightseeing and not want to hike, so I went with that group while the others went hiking. The guys did not come back until late that night (they went all the way down to the river and back), and some of us were worried – they were out there for a long time. When the guys finally came back, we got news that they saved a man's life who was extremely hypothermic and helped him and his son out the Canyon. Everything went from being nervous to praising them for doing the right thing and saving a person's life! Our roses, thorns, and bushes (lol) had to be held out that night, because we were in for a wild right the next morning…
So, keep in mind that even though I was in a different state, with a different time zone as Lubbock, Tx, my body was still accustomed to my daily routine. When I got the text that the main house was open for people to come in, I was up bright and early…To only see an Elk in my front yard! He looked up, stared at me, and then continues about his business. I was too shocked to take a picture at that moment, but when I saw another one on my way to the main house (which was up the road), I had to take a pic! The other thing was that it was cold outside, and the snow was coming in every other hour, as if it could not make its mind up. I was layered down, but it was still something else to be apart in ~ 9000 ft in altitude. The groups rotated again, and I was in the fun group, I called ourselves the yappers. One time we could help people with directions, the next we would tell jokes and partake in all kinds of things: even take a picture of a tourist who takes pictures of pointing at things! It really was a hoot, and all the fun that was going on almost makes you forget about the cold…. Almost.
The final day at the canyon to me was the most fun yet the saddest day… I had to say goodbye. From the nice people who prepared our rooms and hung out with us, to the awesome photographer who took amazing pictures, to even the park ranger who is so cool in everything he did for us – we had to say goodbye. We spent half the day on our last spree of volunteering and then the rest of the day we were sworn in as Junior Rangers!! We got some exclusive swag for helping everyone out, and even got to take pictures one last time. The final dinner there was also something to remember. Keep in mind that most of the people in the group don't really know each other, but it all somehow feels special, as if only this group of us could've made the trip the way that it was. After dinner and our final thoughts that we put in our journals, we prepared for the long journey home.
Leaving Arizona made me sad, it felt like the week being there only lasted one day. However, it felt like I lived through one of my happiest moments in college. I saw the Grand Canyon, met a real Park Ranger, saw Elk and deer, went through the petrified forest, went on route 66, and so much more. I never would have thought I would get the opportunity to do something so cool and so impactful. The car ride made me think about a lot of things, and I honestly would do it all again if I had the opportunity to. This trip felt like the Icing on the cake to an adventure in life that I call my Undergraduate years, and I was honored that I shared it with amazing people. This made me appreciate the smaller things in life, and how what I consider small can contain a big impact on others. If you want to experience and help people, the RSB route is the way to go!!! 2024 senior signing out!