Final thoughts on the Bike and Build experience

How can I begin to describe what this summer has meant to me? Perhaps I should start by telling you what I've told everyone else since arriving home:

Bike and Build was the best thing I have ever done.

And perhaps that is a bit preposterous to say. How could I rank my experience this summer above my high school, college, and running careers? It's a tough sell, giving Bike and Build so much credit. But I'll give it a try.

When I think on all the things I've done the past 20 years, Bike and Build stands at the forefront of my mind due to the intensity of the experience. In 10 weeks, we adjusted to a totally different lifestyle. We built 29 new friendships. We stayed at 60 overnight locations. We rode 4000 miles. That's quite a bit of stimuli.

In Ashtabulah we were met by and had dinner with one of last year's riders. Early as it was in the trip, we were all eager to hear about what was in store. Someone from the group asked what the most memorable part of his trip was, and the answer seemed rather absurd. "I could talk to you for 15 minutes on every single day of the trip; that's how much I remember," he claimed. Now that I am in his position, I see he's right. There are years to my life I cannot speak for 15 minutes about; yet I can recount in detail 70 consecutive days this summer. Every single day stands out, for every single day was an adventure.

The other mission of the trip was service. Now I'll grant that addressing the issue of affordable housing was not high on my list of Reasons to do Bike and Build. But during the course of the trip I did gain an appreciation and loyalty for this cause. And perhaps not in a way any of us expected. What stirred me was my own lack of a home. Every night this summer I did have a place to stay. But shelter doesn't equal security. Or peace of mind. The disquiet I experienced not having a place to call my own was immense. Owning a home goes far beyond having a roof over your head, it is provides an emotional wellbeing that no person should be denied, especially children. I plan to continue my involvement with affordable housing organizations in the years to come.

Another thing which struck me about our service was the way in which we accomplished our mission. It was fun! It was damn fun. Throughout my life I've considered the notion that perhaps my life was meant to be spent in the service of others. The thing which has always held me back is the notion that living for others and living for oneself are mutually exclusive. This trip demonstrated that is not the case. I can accomplish the things I want (ride across the country) yet simultaneously do things for others (raising funds, participating on builds). This is the model I will continue to use in my future.

So why does this trip, the perfect fusion of adventure and service, hold so much meaning for me? Why do all these seemingly unrelated aspects come together to form what I consider to be my best experience to date?

Every experience up to the day I started Bike and Build has done well to shape my character. I've learned who I am and what I love doing. Along the way I have met with challenges and made amazing friends, which has further helped turn me into this person you see before you now. Bike and Build, while it has continued this trend of forming who I am, has done something more. It has shown me how I want to live my life.

That's not to say I want to spend my time as a hobo bike rider who periodically yells at people for not doing their chores. More broadly, I'd like to live every day as an adventure. I want to wake up every morning excited for what the day has in store. I want to be surrounded with those who share this enthusiasm. And I want my work to be in the service of others.

Perhaps you have scrolled the length of my page to see a small Carolina blue ribbon. The ribbon is for Eve Carson, former student body president of UNC who was killed this spring, her final semester at UNC. Eve resonated with me. People said she was excited by everything (in fact, many noted that you always knew an email or note was from Eve because there were a lot of exclamation points!!!) and she was always busy with projects of all kinds. Eve had made trips all over the world and was a pre-med student and she just happened to be the student head of the best public school in the nation. When Eve passed away, it hit me hard. I saw in her the person I wanted to be. (And as a note, she would have LOVED Bike and Build.)

Eve's death was a reminder of how precious our time in the world is. Bike and Build spoke to me because I was LIVING every day. It was a window into the life I plan to lead.

I can't really think of anything else to say, other than to thank everyone for reading the blog and thank parents for sending their kids on this trip. It was the best thing I have ever done (thus far ;-P)!!!!!!!!!!