20 Minutes

A hazy pink sunset slowly disappeared below the horizon as four cars sat quietly in a line outside of Cassel Loop. The sounds of small chatter are soon drowned out by the revving of car engines. Just before six fifteen on a chilly Friday afternoon, eighteen members of Alpha Phi Omega set out for Charlotte, NC for a weekend of service.

It was Saturday morning; yet again the sound of engines flooded the air. We were off on an adventure full of service that would take us across the greater city of Charlotte. This was my first service trip as a Brother of Alpha Phi Omega and I didn’t know what exactly to expect. With each project came different surprises and challenges but none hit my core like the final project at the Salvation Army. We were to be serving dinner to women and children. Half of the brothers were called to working the food line; a sprawling spread of sandwiches, salads, and chips laid out neatly as women and children shuffled along to take their share. I was apart of the brothers serving as were personal runners. We walked through the line with each women and helped deliver her food to the tables of hungry and anxious children.

I wanted to push myself outside of my conversational comfort zone. Those who know me well would say I’m outgoing, however place me in a group of strangers and my loud mouth quickly clams up. After many awkward attempts to socialize with women in line based off of the riveting conversation starters of salads and sandwiches, I felt unfulfilled and unsatisfied with my interactions. I placed the tray down in its respective location. I felt nervous; that dingy piece of plastic was my safety zone. I put on the best smile I could and tried to walk around the room. I hovered around one family, desperately trying to find something to talk about to break me from this awkward social situation I thrown myself into. One minute ticked by and I chickened out.

Disappointed in my failed attempts at mingling, I circulated the crowded dining room. In this determined state to break out of my shell, I found a young girl who unknown to me at the time would leave me in tears by the end of the night. I complimented her braids, and instantly she rattled off into a very serious conversation about her hair care. I knew I had an in, success! She introduced herself but told me that I could call her MK for short. I sat in the chair next to her and we began to talk about everything. She introduced me to her one month old brother and told me all about her love for science. As an aspiring doctor, I was so happy to see the passion in MK that I held myself at her age. In the twenty minutes that I talked with MK, my entire attention was on her. Nothing else mattered but this girl. All of the academic commitments that were running in the back of my mind stopped. I have not been so engaged and focused on a conversation with another person to the degree I was with MK in a very long time. She had a great love for life. Though her socioeconomic position was not the greatest, you would have never known that by the charisma she exhibited.

As the end of dinner approached, MK turned to me and asked if I would be serving dinner next week. I hesitantly explained to her that we were only volunteering for this weekend and would have to go back to school. This answer wasn’t satisfactory for MK. She looked toward the greater dining room and uttered, “When you come back…take me back to school with you.”

MK looked at me, wide eyed and hopeful. My heart sunk. In twenty minutes, I connected with this nine year old on such a deep level I felt like a disappointment to her when I had to regretfully remind her that I wouldn’t be back any time soon. It was heartbreaking for me to know there would be no next time. It was even more miserable to watch her slowly realize the same thing. I tried to change the subject quickly; I felt a knot form in my stomach and tears gathering in my eyes. In an attempt to say good bye on a positive note, I reminded her to keep her desire for science and to be a good big sister. As we left the facility, MK was standing by the exit doors with her mother and little brother. I made sure I gave her a wave goodbye. When doing so, a wide smile overcame my face. She returned the enthusiasm. Although I knew I wouldn’t be able to comply with MK’s wishes of taking her back with me, I was able to keep the memories of our conversation.

MK taught me so much about myself without even having to try. I am forever grateful for putting down that tray and challenging myself to mingle. Without doing so, I would not have had the opportunity to meet an individual who I will forever carry in my memory. I would encourage people to be vulnerable and step out of their comfort zone. You never know how rewarding it may be.

Edited By: Megan Burpo