Over Spring Break, 85 students and 15 staff members went down to Joplin to help clean up after a disastrous tornado that struck there Sunday, May 22, 2011. The students and staff spent time cleaning up trees, building birdhouses and cleaning up neighborhoods in the surrounding area.
Shawn McAteer, IAC teacher, said the trip was extremely rewarding for her because she got to see firsthand the devastation and hardship the citizens of Joplin went through after the tornado. McAteer said she wondered where they started in the process of cleaning up because there was so much destruction that streets and buildings were unrecognizable.
She said that she had heard about the destruction and that she saw some of the pictures and videos but that it was completely different in person.
“You watch it on T.V. and read about it in the newspaper, but you have no idea what its like until you’re down here,” McAteer said.
She said being down there doing work made her wonder how many schools, churches, and other volunteer groups had done that before and how many more would have to after the MHS trip.
McAteer also said going to Joplin was important for the people who stayed in Joplin instead of moving after the tornado. She said going down showed the people of Joplin that people care enough about helping them out to give up their Spring Break to help them out.
She said she learned a lot on the trip about what they went through and what they are still struggling with. She said she was impressed with the city’s ability to make things come together quickly.
“Getting the school open on time was great because they understand how important school is for kids at risk,” McAteer said. “Having school keeps their lives normal and consistent after the disaster shook them up.”
McAteer also said she was impressed with the students’ ability to adjust to the obstacles they were faced with. She said weather was a big problem and they were forced to adjust plans based on that and the jobs Americorps, the organization with which MHS was working through, provided.
McAteer said that while they were down there to help the people of Joplin, they also got a lot out of the trip.
“This trip was as much about learning about what they went through as it was helping them recover from the tornado,” McAteer said.
Cal Rankin, junior, was one of the many students who went on the Joplin trip, and he said it was a great experience.
Rankin said it felt incredible to go and help a town where so much had been lost and help rebuild.
“It really helps you appreciate what you have, because those people lost everything because of a natural disaster they had no control over,” Rankin said.
The best part, Rankin said, was visiting the new Joplin campus that currently is stationed within North Park Mall.
“It is just crazy how technologically advanced the school is; I’m glad that the kids are able to have such a cool experience come out of tragedy,” Rankin said.
Although he was not able to have a “traditional” spring break, Rankin is glad he went to Joplin.
“The trip was definitely awesome, and it was so cool because a lot of my friends went,” Rankin said. “I would for sure do a trip like this again, regardless of whether it’s over a break or not.”
Nick Nast, junior, said that despite the rain having a negative impact on how much work could be done, he feels like the trip was successful. He said he feels the students did a lot for the city and he learned a lot from the experience.
“I learned that a huge natural disaster can bring a community together to recover and bounce back,” Nast said.