Beyond the respite from studies, I have never gotten the point of doing a destination Spring Break in order to get drunk and participate in questionable or dangerous behavior for that behavior's sake. Sadly, Sudiksha Konanki may have lost her life during a trip to the Domican Republic earlier in March. And the young man who was last seen with her — Joshua Riibe — has had his life forever altered. 

Some consider the debauched Spring Break an essential rite of passage. But this week's Feel-Good Friday is about those young people who made a different choice. Using the weeklong break from studies and daily routines not to focus on themselves, but to shift their focus to serve others.

Educator and author Stephen Covey wrote, "There are three constants in life... change, choice and principles." A group of college students from local colleges and from across the nation wanted to be the change they wished to see in their world; they honored and lived out their principles, and made the choice to travel away from home to make a huge difference helping those devastated by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina:

Winston Salem State students are among the wave of volunteers helping communities in western North Carolina, spending their spring break hard at work to help people rebuild.

"I can't imagine what these people went through with having everything they had just lost in the blink of an eye without any control of theirs," said Cayla Parrott, a sophomore.

🚨#BREAKING: Hundreds of college students from across the country are using their Spring Break to rebuild homes in Western North Carolina.

Teenage students are traveling from as far away as New Mexico to put on Tyvek suits, clean up, and rebuild dozens of homes.

AMAZING!!! pic.twitter.com/NDALmEYeNA

— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) March 21, 2025

As The Who sang, "The kids are alright." Chi Alpha is a nationwide network of campus ministries, and many of its members took advantage of the projects spearheaded by local non-profits Project Skyline, Building Compassion, and Operation Anchor:

They’re part of a ministry called Chi Alpha that can be found on multiple college campuses. They’re working alongside nonprofits like Building Compassion, which has been organizing those efforts.

"We've got other teams that are down closer to the river bottoms, and they're literally doing all kinds of different work," said Frank Frankovsky of Building Compassion. "From standing up retaining walls that got undermined to rebuilding trailer homes and stuff, just whatever the community needs.

WATCH:

It has been six months since the natural disaster devastated the regions of Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and some parts of Georgia. Because of the rush of life and the news cycle, some of us have forgotten, although many are still suffering and without homes or resources. So, it is reassuring that young people continue to lead the charge in giving back to the community. They are providing some with a place they can once again call home, and working to distribute aid and rebuild infrastructure for those who have lost everything.

Part of a reflection of one's principles is where one spends his or her time, talent, and treasure. Big ups to Gen Z and Gen Alpha for displaying those principles and pouring themselves out for the people of Western North Carolina.