Audrey Pagel ’24: Ingenuity In Action reflection

Ingenuity in Action experience: Co-coordinator of Alternative Spring Break

Where: Dayton, Tennessee    

What: Assisting Cumberland Trails Conference with its long-term project of finishing the Cumberland Trail from the top of Tennessee to mid-Chattanooga.

Majors: Studio art; psychological sciences

With my co-coordinator, Taylor Busch ’24, I spent the year planning for this trip to volunteer with the Cumberland Trail Organization. We found participants, budgeted for expenses, and figured out all the logistics for traveling with a group of students. Finally, after all the hours of preparation, it was time for our trip. And then the real learning began.

During our construction volunteer hours, we were each working on our own 8- to 10-foot sections of the trails. It was easy to get caught up in the small section, which was realistically about six steps. Each section took about an hour, then we would take a short break and start a new one, finishing about five sections in a day. On the first day after being tired and sore and maybe feeling a bit discouraged from only finishing so much of the trail, I remember looking up. I could see the brand new trails for what felt like the longest distance. I realized how much we actually did get done that day with seven of our Cornell group, the trail crew, and many local volunteers working. In that moment I thought about how important each person was as a part of this trail. 

This showed me a bit more understanding about social responsibility in terms of group and teamwork. If only Dusty, our leader, or only the trail crew showed up for that day, they wouldn’t have completed one-fourth of what we did. Instead, Dusty served a social responsibility role of teaching, and our progress on the trail easily multiplied. As volunteers, just showing up is needed and appreciated so deeply. 

Read six more student reflections on their Ingenuity in Action experience.