Something Tulane prides itself on is service. Between TIDES, Outreach Tulane, and the plethora of organizations, there are many ways to give back to others here Tulane and in the city of New Orleans. For freshmen, Tulane mandates that all freshman students participate in a service-learning class, Tides. Although at times it can be a pain to get up early on Saturday mornings to go volunteer, the payback is so much more rewarding.

This year, my TIDES class has paired up with the cutest lady Ms. Jeanette Bell, and her project Garden on Mars. In 2003, Jeanette bought a lot of land and began growing flowers. However, after Hurricane Katrina struck, Jeanette noticed the need for vegetables, so she started to grow them and sell to a local restaurant, Mariza. Not only has she contributed to Mariza, Ms. Jeanette has developed her business in a way to help others. Ms. Jeanette is helping lower income families in the Lower 9th Ward learn how to grow their own organic vegetables, in order to save money and eat healthier.

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to do something that I have never done here in New Orleans: visit the Lower 9th Ward and experience first-hand how Jeanette works her magic. She brings communities together, to teach them step-by-step how to create, take care of, and grow their own garden box. With her humor and poise, Ms. Jeanette leads one of the most interesting classes. As a 71 year old, I hope I will be able to have so much passion and joy for something like she has for gardening and helping others.

Ever since I have been a student here, I've heard professors and students drop the name Lower 9th Ward, but it was always given with a bad rep. My experience was eye-opening in the sense that I haven't really seen the effects of Katrina. The difference between Uptown and Downtown New Orleans is like night and day, and in order to fully understand the impacts and detrimental consequences Katrina had on the city and citizens of New Orleans, I truly believe that you will only understand that divide if you see it first-hand.

I know I do sigh at the fact that I could have done a million other things on my Saturday morning, like sleeping in or hanging out with my friends, instead of volunteering. But by the end of the day, there is no better feeling than the feeling you get when you made someone else's day a little bit brighter.