A Closer Look - Season 1 (Aly Johnson)
From Apple Valley, Minn., to Belize.
Junior Aly Johnson traveled over 1,200 miles from her home to Aiken, S.C., to attend USC Aiken in 2011, which would allow her to play volleyball while also majoring in nursing. However, she never thought her decision of college would allow her to not only become a well-rounded student, but also to open her eyes as much as it did over the summer of 2014.
Aly, who attends Cedar Creek Church, was approached about a mission trip by Chip Herring, who was the youth pastor. Herring has also been a volunteer assistant with the USC Aiken volleyball team.
“Prior to the summer, Chip mentioned it would be a good opportunity for me to serve and do something special,” Johnson said. “It would also be the first time I would take a mission trip outside the country. I wanted to give back and it was also a fun opportunity.”
Immediately following exams, the group left for Belize and was away for a week. While there, Johnson’s group gave back to the community by helping build walls on a detached classroom.
“We lifted a lot of bricks, mixed cement with shovels on the ground,” Johnson said. “I went down there with the intention of helping build the classroom, but we were given the opportunity to see so much more.”
Johnson’s group was not alone, despite spending several hours a day helping with the classroom. During school breaks, on lunches and after school, the children that attended the school would come out and spend time with the team.
“When they came outside, we would put down everything and hang out with them,” Johnson stated. “Hands down, it was the best part of the week – getting to know them and spend time with them.
“We saw how little they had but how happy they were – and their happiness touched me.”
Throughout the week, Johnson was able to continue her education by seeing first hand what many only see through pictures.
One of the days while there, the group was able to make the trek to the Mayan Ruins, which in Johnson’s words was “totally amazing.”
Another day, the group traveled to an orphanage that had over 100 kids, including roughly 40 that attended the school Johnson’s team was working on.
“There was no evidence that the student’s weren’t going home to families at night – and the orphanage was new. It had good living quarters and we were able to spend time with the kids there, which was special.”
It was not all work and education though as Johnson was able to swim in a breathtaking blue lagoon and waterfall area.
Although it was a mission trip that Johnson went on in order to help those less fortunate, the trip had a huge impact on her.
“The experience changed me – and even more than I thought it would,” Johnson said. “I went down thinking it would be a cool experience and see a different way of living, but it opened my eyes to a different culture. Everyone was happy and grateful although they did not have much. It made me realize that we can be guilty of having more and not appreciating it and not understanding what’s important in life.”
On the last day, the school put on a ceremony for the group to say thank you. They sang songs and spent more time with Johnson and the rest of the team.
After seeing the way that other cultures live, seeing another country, visiting with the people and gaining the experience, Johnson can understand how hard work will pay off.
In similar fashion to helping put together the school, each day during volleyball season is another brick. Should Johnson continue putting forth hard work on the court, she can help guide the Pacers to an outstanding season the next two years.
From helping build a school in the summer of 2014 to helping her school build a solid foundation for years to come, Johnson could lead the Pacers to one of their most memorable seasons in the school’s history this fall.
