Why I Am Unforgettable

Why I Am Unforgettable

Most teenagers spend their Spring Break on the beach by day, and dancing on tables by night. They wake up piecing together memories from the party last night; or simply wondering ‘what the hell happened last night?’. Most teenagers dine on overpriced frozen yogurt and wolf-down gigantic burritos at the local Chipotle during their Spring Break. Most teenagers bask in the gloriousness of living the California lifestyle- privilege, pretentiousness, and straight up awesomeness. Most teenagers, that is. My Spring Breaks are spent in a place where children do not go to school, basic sanitation is never a given, and houses are made of cardboard. I would not have it any other way.
Every Spring Break I caravan south across the Mexican/American border to build houses with a youth group. We run solely on donations and determination. I have gone on this trip for the last two years, but this year was especially difficult. Because of violent drug wars between Mexican gangs in the area where we work, many people in our group did not want to risk making the trip. With our numbers going from two hundred down to fifty, we were going to have to work faster, harder, and more efficiently if we were going to get houses built for the families that desperately needed them. As we pulled out of the parking lot and started our mission to Mexico, our group felt nervous, excited, and a little badass. Instead of partying and tanning, we were putting ourselves in danger to help others- we were making a difference. Whenever I cross the border, my heart always skips beats and I get this feeling of certainty. Certainty that this is where I belong. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life. When we enter the small town of La Morita, the love and support from the community is overwhelming. They do not have electricity or running water. Some do not even have enough to eat. These people who have nothing invite us into their homes and offer up everything to us. These...