Realizing a dream through alternative breaks

Alexandra Zagbayou '10

"What happens to a dream deferred?" asked Langston Hughes. A dream deferred led me, while still in high school, to settle on becoming a corporate lawyer. I was 17 years old when I informed my high school math teacher and close mentor that I was interested in pursuing a career in education. Although I was uncertain of the exact role I wanted to play, I realized from my volunteer experience that I enjoyed tutoring and mentoring students, and loved watching my peers gain confidence in their academic skills. Though my teacher agreed I was good with students, she was not enthusiastic about my decision. In her mind, I was far too bright to become an educator. She instead urged me to pursue a career with more prestige and financial reward. With that in mind, I hid my dream of becoming an educator from everyone and, most importantly, from myself - that is, until I became involved with APPLES.

APPLES Global Course Guanajuato inspires community development

Karen Obando '13

"It all started with a 52-hour bus ride from Carrboro to Guanajuato," said Hannah Gill '99, course instructor of APPLES Global Course Guanajuato (INTS 390). After traveling to Guanajuato, Mexico in the summer of 2006, Sarah Plastino '07 and Gill established relationships with community members that had been affected by immigration in the region and added a global component to the course with the support of APPLES. Through APPLES Global Course Guanajuato, a class that focuses on Latin American immigrant perspectives, a group of students have had the opportunity to take service-learning abroad for the past five years.

Alternative winter break participants engage
with native communities

Karen Obando '13

In the fall of 2010, I had the opportunity, through the APPLES Service-Learning program, to lead a group of students on an alternative fall break to Baltimore, Md. to serve and learn about the homeless population. The experience reminded me of why I do public service and why I find it so important for others to engage in opportunities that challenge the boundaries of their knowledge through volunteer work and social awareness. I returned to campus with new friendships, a better understanding of the political and social implications of homelessness, and most importantly, motivation to continue learning actively through service. Because of my experience in Baltimore, I had no hesitations in co-leading this year’s alternative winter break experience that focused on native communities in Pembroke, N.C.

Social Entrepreneur Fellowship moves Spotlight Café
to next level

Karen Obando '13

As a university filled with many incredibly motivated and intelligent student leaders, UNC-Chapel Hill has an array of student organizations ranging from sports clubs to performance groups. Each forms a unique aspect of Carolina, but often times students that may be involved in one organization do not have the opportunity to discover what others also have to offer. To create a bridge between different campus groups, Brendan Yorke '13, Kelsey Knight '13 and Laura Kirchhofer '12 started Spotlight Café, a project funded by the APPLES Social Entrepreneur Fellowship (SEF) program.