BOSTON — While most college students travel to a tropical location like the Bahamas or Mexico for their Spring Break to party, a select 40 applicants chose to make a positive difference for others during their Spring Break.

At a reunion type event, The S.O.U.L.S. group hosted an information session on the trips they took. Traveling on what they call ‘Alternative Spring Break,’ the students went to two destinations, one in Waveland, Mississippi and the other to El Paso, Texas, where these 40 students split up to help communities in need.

When I walked into the small room of the Donahue building, I was greeted by Allison Brito, who took the journey to El Paso,Texas. “This is basically an A.S.B. reunion,” she said. “There are only like three people who didn’t go but there are tons of cookies, so take some!” When I sat down, I realized that everyone must have been friends as they were laughing and joking around together while waiting for the screen projector to be set up.

After a little fidgeting with the projector, Brito began the presentation, starting with the El Paso trip where they worked with Habitat for Humanity. The group built a one-story home for a family in poverty in a residential area that contains homes built by Habitat for Humanity.

Four students spoke of their experiences, each becoming emotional about what they accomplished and learned.

Claire Price, a Suffolk University sophomore, said she learned more than she thought she would. “The houses we built were for families who had an income of less than $20,000 per year. The family had to pay for the house over time but would save so much money because there would be no interest on the loans given from Habitat for Humanity,” said Price. “It was just amazing to know that I was helping out these families.”

The main speaker during the El Paso session was senior Juan Jimenez, who had an extreme passion for their journey to Texas. Slides going through the presentation showed Jimenez with workers there, the children of the families, and of him building, always with a smile on his face.

He spoke with fondness of everyone who was there to help or offer support. From the lady who let them stay in the church to Henry, the carpenter, who helped guide the building of the house, to the children who offered praise and gave company to the Alternative Spring Break students.

During the presentation it was inspiring to see the way the students reacted when they spoke about their trips. When a certain topic was brought up or a new picture was on the screen,  students gave out “Ohs and Ahs,” laughs and the occasional scream. Being in a room with so many accomplished students and watching them captivate the viewers was the most inspiring part of the event.