To future TALH students:

So you’ve made it into TALH, and you’re now attending college at 16-ish. Prior to your coming here, you probably thought that the “service” portion of the program was taken lightly, or wasn’t important; I know I did.

Boy, was I wrong.

But don’t take that for its negative connotation; I’ve learned much from my time attending Habitat for Humanity. Aside from the actual service portion, there are many aspects of this service project that can definitely be rewarding. Prior to going for the first time, many of us didn’t even know how to use a hammer correctly; it is mildly demeaning when you’re thought to be “pretty smart.” As a result, many of us learned how to properly hold (and use) a large variety of tools.

The project was also a lot more fun than it was initially made out to be; when you think of building a house, you think of sweating on a hot day, of not having any water, or of being stuck somewhere with a hammer and not knowing what to do with it. It seems unappealing. However, when you get out there and meet your coordinator, you’ll know straight away that there’s nothing to be afraid of; you’ll find that he/she will answer any questions that you may have (And you will ask questions) and will do so in a way that doesn’t make you feel dumb. This brings me to a point that definitely needs to be stressed: If you’re unsure of something, ask. It can’t hurt, and your coordinator will always be happy to explain something to you. It also saves a lot of trouble when you ask before you put up a wall where it’s not supposed to be.

And oh, the fun we have there. Again, building a house can seem unappealing, but just about anything can be made better when you’re in the company of friends. Cage kids tend to take boring things and spice them up; for example, when we are assigned the task of taking nails out of wood, we typically smash the long pieces that stick out in order to get them to fall off. We’ve even nicknamed our little game “Thor”.

And the best part?

You’re serving your community while doing it. You’re getting to fulfill your weekly service requirement and provide someone with a place to live for a fraction of the normal cost. It’s the kind of thing that gives you that tingly, I-did-a-good-deed feeling.

I sincerely hope that you, as a TALH student, will consider selecting Habitat for Humanity as your service project.