27 OJCL TORCH: Voices Winter MMXVII https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjB6MPV-L3RAhVMNiYKHUL8A4EQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmagistrabush.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F23%2Fjcl-t-shirt-contest%2F&psig=AFQjCNHBUl5DxFMgey96R-DH1Oh37W6Q0A&ust=1484356401987376
On a beautiful, sunny Saturday in mid-November, Latin scholars of Saint Ursula Academy gathered together at California Woods Nature Preserve with several Latin students of Cincinnati to make a difference! At first I was a little apprehensive as I am not the most outdoorsy girl and wasn't sure what to expect during this service project. I walked up to the shelter where the other OJCL members were and was overjoyed by the large turnout of SUA girls. With pink gloves on my hands and a wheelbarrow between them, I was ready to get down to business. With one Moeller student, some Summit students, and a Purcell Marian student, the Saint Ursula girls set out to a path in the woods where we were all assigned to clear the leaves and lay down new mulch. Doesn't sound too hard right? Wrong! Let me tell you right now, this was one hard and tiring experience. With some students stationed along the path to remove the withered leaves with large rakes, others, including me, were in charge of putting mulch into wheel barrows and pushing them up the hill to lay down. At first, we all really struggled with climbing up this mountain with wheelbarrows full of pounds and pounds of dirt. You could observe students slanted at almost a 45 degree angle trying to make it up. But soon, things got better with the arrival of one word, "teamwork." Once all of us started to help each other, things got a lot easier. One person would hold the wheelbarrow handles to keep the equipment upright while the others, stationed around, would keep the wheelbarrow in balance and lift it up the wide, gigantic stairs. This new idea, this teamwork, made a world of a difference. Before we knew it, we were clearing paths, putting down mulch, and helping the nature preserve with lightning speed. Not only were we pleased that we had this opportunity to help others, we were able to meet so many cool, new people! As the teamwork continued, so did conversation and comradery with people from all over the city. I even met this one guy who had joined the OJCL that week! The SUA girls were thrilled and told him all about convention and what to expect, eager to spread the excitement of the earnestly longed-for event. The hours passed with hard work and smiles and we all left the California Woods Nature Preserve with new friends, a sense of happiness, an enthusiasm for convention, and the readiness for a relaxing nap.
Making A Difference in Ancient Rome or a Woodlands Reserve?
Bebe Hodges, Saint Ursula Academy
We all left the California Woods Nature Preserve with new friends, a sense of happiness, an enthusiasm for convention, and the readiness for a relaxing nap.