A global citizen scholar works to take calculated but innovative steps towards solving an international problem. Societal impacts start with one person. Throughout my first two years in the University Honors Program, I've completed a couple projects addressing the issue of world hunger.
A bigger international issue that encompasses the issue of world hunger is poverty. Impoverished nations and even neighborhoods in the United States dealing with poverty struggle also with hunger and starvation. Over spring break this year, I went on a mission trip to serve the Catholic Church in San Miguel, El Salvador. I made friends from 5 different states, and, over the course of 10 days, I got to know countless individuals (mostly students) in El Salvador. My mission team assisted the community in breaking ground for an expansion of their family health clinic. The work was truly rewarding and an unforgettable experience.
I learned about patience, presence, and people.
First, patience. Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m not the most patient person. I prefer to know all the answers; to know exactly how things are done. However, in El Salvador, most of the time, my team and I had no idea what we were supposed to be doing. We all spoke enough Spanish to communicate and engage with the community of San Miguel in small talk, but there was a lot we didn’t know and couldn’t understand. Throughout the week we worked on a construction project to help with the expansion of the health clinic run by the Catholic Church of San Miguel. I learned to simply try my best to accomplish whatever it was it seemed they were asking. No matter what we did or how well we did it, the people we met were eternally grateful for the work we did to help them with the clinic project.
The only thing more significant than our help with the physical labor was our presence in the community. It meant the world to the people that we had offered up a week to live and work alongside them. We stayed with host families and everyone we met along the way welcomed us with open arms (quite literally: they hug a lot). While we were away, from Saturday morning to the following Saturday night, my team and I participated in a social media fast. At first, I felt so alone. I was forced to befriend thirteen strangers without my phone to comfort me and connect me with my friends and family at home. In the end, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I was so thankful that I went without my phone. I learned the importance of being able to detach from technology and be truly present to the people in front of me.
Finally, I learned a lot about people. You don’t get to choose the people who come into your life, but you can choose the response you have and the way you treat the people that you encounter. I will never forget that. We talked a lot about seeing God in everyone. Finding the humanity in everyone. Choosing to love everyone, even if it’s difficult sometimes. I also learned a lot about what it means to be happy. The people there were happy, truly happy, and they had absolutely nothing.
I’m more than happy to talk more about my experiences. I know it will take me a while to sort through all that I learned and all that I took back with me from El Salvador–physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I learned about myself and my faith. I’m motivated to continue to learn more and to grow in my knowledge and understanding of the world.
Overall, I came back from the trip feeling 100% content. I feel that in my life, right now, I am exactly where I need to be.
Below is a link to a video I created following my return from El Salvador.
A bigger international issue that encompasses the issue of world hunger is poverty. Impoverished nations and even neighborhoods in the United States dealing with poverty struggle also with hunger and starvation. Over spring break this year, I went on a mission trip to serve the Catholic Church in San Miguel, El Salvador. I made friends from 5 different states, and, over the course of 10 days, I got to know countless individuals (mostly students) in El Salvador. My mission team assisted the community in breaking ground for an expansion of their family health clinic. The work was truly rewarding and an unforgettable experience.
I learned about patience, presence, and people.
First, patience. Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m not the most patient person. I prefer to know all the answers; to know exactly how things are done. However, in El Salvador, most of the time, my team and I had no idea what we were supposed to be doing. We all spoke enough Spanish to communicate and engage with the community of San Miguel in small talk, but there was a lot we didn’t know and couldn’t understand. Throughout the week we worked on a construction project to help with the expansion of the health clinic run by the Catholic Church of San Miguel. I learned to simply try my best to accomplish whatever it was it seemed they were asking. No matter what we did or how well we did it, the people we met were eternally grateful for the work we did to help them with the clinic project.
The only thing more significant than our help with the physical labor was our presence in the community. It meant the world to the people that we had offered up a week to live and work alongside them. We stayed with host families and everyone we met along the way welcomed us with open arms (quite literally: they hug a lot). While we were away, from Saturday morning to the following Saturday night, my team and I participated in a social media fast. At first, I felt so alone. I was forced to befriend thirteen strangers without my phone to comfort me and connect me with my friends and family at home. In the end, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I was so thankful that I went without my phone. I learned the importance of being able to detach from technology and be truly present to the people in front of me.
Finally, I learned a lot about people. You don’t get to choose the people who come into your life, but you can choose the response you have and the way you treat the people that you encounter. I will never forget that. We talked a lot about seeing God in everyone. Finding the humanity in everyone. Choosing to love everyone, even if it’s difficult sometimes. I also learned a lot about what it means to be happy. The people there were happy, truly happy, and they had absolutely nothing.
I’m more than happy to talk more about my experiences. I know it will take me a while to sort through all that I learned and all that I took back with me from El Salvador–physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I learned about myself and my faith. I’m motivated to continue to learn more and to grow in my knowledge and understanding of the world.
Overall, I came back from the trip feeling 100% content. I feel that in my life, right now, I am exactly where I need to be.
Below is a link to a video I created following my return from El Salvador.