I’m back home now, exhausted, but feeling incredibly grateful after four unforgettable days with the Appalachia Service Project. Over spring break, I traded beaches and relaxation for power tools and sawdust. My dad and I, along with Sia, Keira, and Ryan, took a trip to southwest Virginia .. about two hours past Tech, to help build a staircase for an elderly couple. It was challenging, rewarding, and so much more than I expected.
When we first arrived, we met with the Appalachia Service Project team to go over the details of our assignment. They explained the work we’d be doing and made sure we had all the tools and materials we needed before we headed over to the house. Mr. and Mrs. C met us at the door with some hesitation. They were polite but quiet, as if unsure of what to make of us. Honestly, it was probably the first time they had ever seen an Asian person in their community. I tried to break the ice by asking Mrs. C about her garden, which I’d noticed on the way in. Her face lit up as she told me about the collard greens and carrots she had growing. That little moment opened the door to a longer conversation about southern cooking, and soon, we were all laughing and sharing stories. It was amazing how quickly things shifted once we found something in common.
Day one was definitely a test of our patience and problem-solving skills. None of us had much experience with construction, so there were plenty of mistakes. At one point, I hammered a nail in completely sideways, which Sia found so funny that she almost dropped the hammer she was holding. My dad stepped in to help guide us, but there were still moments when we had to start over. Despite the setbacks, the laughter and teamwork kept us going. We were figuring it out together, one crooked nail at a time.
Over the next few days, we made real progress. By day three, the staircase was actually looking like a staircase, and we started feeling proud of what we were building. During breaks, we’d sit on the porch with Mr. and Mrs. C, and those conversations became my favorite part of the trip. Mr. C shared stories about his love for bluegrass music and how he used to play the banjo. Mrs. C talked more about her garden and how she hadn’t been able to care for it in years. Even though their lives seemed so different from ours, we found so much common ground in those moments.
On the last day, we hammered the final plank into place. The staircase wasn’t perfect, but it was sturdy and safe. When we stepped back to show it to Mr. and Mrs. C, they both smiled in a way that I’ll never forget. Mrs. C even got a little emotional as she told us how much it meant to her to finally be able to leave her porch safely. We gave them the first nail we hammered as a keepsake, which they said they’d cherish. That moment made all the hard work worth it.
Now that I’m home, I keep thinking about how much this trip taught me. I didn’t just learn how to build a staircase – I learned how to work as part of a team, how to be patient when things go wrong, and how important it is to connect with others. It’s amazing how something as simple as a few days of service can leave such a big impact, both on the people you’re helping and on yourself.