You can accomplish a lot in a week. You could tear down that old flower wallpaper from the 1960s and paint your room a nice olive green. You could start a food blog and become a world-renown critic. How about taking a week to rake leaves, cut wood, paint doors, power wash houses, plant flowers all while avoiding the herds of ticks that live on the 300-acre plot of scenic land in southern Maine? That is what Rachel and I did this past week during our Walsh University Maine Service/Legacy Experience with the Brothers of Christian Instruction.

The Brothers of Christian Instruction founded Walsh University and, once a year, a group of about 20 Walsh students take a 14-hour van ride up to Alfred, Maine, to meet them and lend a helping hand. This campus in Alfred is where Walsh University began so there are many benefits for our students who make the journey, like spiritual replenishment and learning the Brothers’ legacy.

Andrew’s Thoughts

What is the meaning of life? There are multiple answers that can argued, but I propose an answer that everyone might agree upon: helping others. There is an intrinsic satisfaction that comes from encouraging, helping, and serving others that overwhelms the heart. Honestly, I have struggled with this question for the majority of my college career, but I think this service trip finally gave me the answer.

Often times, I have prayed for God to show me the truth, but no consistent answers came about. There were other moments where I decided this world was the end all and that pleasure was the ultimate goal, but that did not provide true joy.

It seems fitting that this service experience and philosophical revelation occurred at the end of my collegiate career. This week of service and prayer has shown me that helping others is the meaning of life; leaving this earth in better shape than we found it. When you have the pure motive of making life better for all, you are rewarded by the pleasant interactions with those you serve but also the feeling that you are truly making a difference in the world.

Servant leadership is a common theme at Walsh University and I am proud to say that characteristic will direct my life trajectory. This week of service facilitated a realization of the service aspirations for my life and I encourage everyone to take a service trip of your own to disconnect, reflect, give, and find the meaning of life for yourself.

Rachel’s Thoughts

My first service trip to help the Brothers of Christian Instruction in Maine could be best summarized as a wonderful learning experience. I learned so many things about the Brothers, the history of Walsh University, my fellow classmates, and what is means to provide service for those who are incapable. Going into this trip I really had no idea what to expect, but the lessons that I learned will certainly stay with me forever.

Firstly, I acquired such a deep appreciation for all that Walsh University stands for and the Christian foundations that it was built upon. I consider my classmates and myself so privileged to attend a university where the Brothers' amazing mission holds such value. Hearing about the Brothers' fulfilling lives was definitely eye-opening and gave me a new perspective about how our lives should truly be devoted to service. They are all so humble, despite the fact that most of them have traveled the world teaching and helping those who needed it. They taught me that complete trust in God is the only way to get through life. Their humility and selflessness is something that we should all try to exemplify and I believe that those are the most important values that I learned throughout my week of service. They have taught me that doing truly genuine good deeds for others is a way of making your life so rewarding and meaningful, and we should all try to follow their examples.

Not only did I learn so much about the amazing people that we served for a week, I also learned so much about the students who accompanied me on this trip. All of the people I spent the week with were so genuine, caring, and selfless. I have made new friendships that I know will last for years on this trip, and I strengthened friendships that are making me a better servant of God.

All things considered, we are so blessed to be able to give back to the men who founded our Catholic University of Distinction and see the Brothers of Christian Instruction's mission being exemplified throughout Walsh. Their mission is to quest for God in all daily endeavors and educate through the love of Christ. Seeing Walsh filled with students, professors and administrators who long to serve and demonstrate these values, it is beautiful to realize the Brothers' influence extending through our campus 728 miles away. The week of service for the Brothers has been one of the most fulfilling opportunities as a Walsh student. Andrew and I are extremely blessed to have been able to give back to those who have helped us grow as servant leaders in Christ.