Valuing Humanity--a short story--

We trudge down the rocky hillside for some post-service reflection time with the group. Some 50 of us looking uniform in gray shirts and khaki pants. We arrived at this park just hours ago, we were told that the kudzu vine has began overtaking this area of the forest. The woman speaking informed us that in some environments the kudzu vine can cover a sleeping dog in half a day. WOW! It was brought over from some asian countries and has since grown out of control here. You could tell this plant was serious, hanging intentionally from the tree canopies and moving along the forest floor. It had an enchanted forest feeling to it. The slender gray, sleepy trees were quietly being held captive by the ever stealthy kudzu vine. The locals depise this vine as it is slowly overtaking many native plant species. So we began hacking, pulling, digging... whatever to remove these vines.
It was inspiring and refreshing to pause a moment and look at everyone working so diligently together.
I met a girl who has disowned her father's baptist religion. He became a pastor years ago and forced it down her throat. She believes in faith but not religion, because religion is man-made.
There was a 21 year old boy, whom I totally pre-judged as a long haired, video-gaming, pot smoking, concert going mosher. I thought he was eccentric, but wanted to get to know him better. As we were working in a group he was talking about how his dad is a middle school principal and that those years were so hard for him. He hated it. Then I took a step back from my two new acquaintances and watched them work for a second. What are their reasons for being in AmeriCorp? They are selfless to dedicate 10 months of their life to a cause like this. I ask them if their parents had anything to do with their choice to join AmeriCorp? They both instantaneously say No. Everyone has their different reasons.
I figure their upbringing and parental influence has more of an impact than they consciously think. These people have great hearts and dispite their rougher exterior they are being real and honest with their lives and I really admire that.
As I return the biodegradable trash bag full of dead kudzu vines to the drop off area, I walk back down the trail catching various pods of conversation, debate and last-night-run-downs. I love my generation. I love my fellow corp members.
I'm learning to value humanity.