I was fortunate to be a part of the Community Collaborations San Juan, Puerto Rico Trip. I was 1 of 22 participants on the trip and we worked closely with various nonprofit organizations to restore different areas essential to the community & its development. We did some work at a community school, the rainforest, local trails, and other areas of Puerto Rico between San Juan & Luquillo. Each day I was able to engage directly with the members of the community, and the environment, and recognize cultural values. This STEP project presented me with the opportunity to do a lot of different things for the first time. I rode on a plane for the first time, I carried over 50 bags of cement, and gravel uphill, I helped revive a community center, and I helped create a trail in the rain forest.
One of my favorite experiences during this trip was when we worked with Cromapolis on reviving a community center and turning it into a school. This project had a lot of moving parts, a lot of work to be done, and little guidance from community members who were very grateful for everything we did. This was my favorite experience because I was a part of the transformation, I saw a lot of new creatures, we worked indoors and outdoors, and we were able to have a lot of creative control over how we redid the classrooms. I worked in the second classroom and in that room, we put a bookshelf in the corner, made a kitchenette area, cleared a walkway for two entrances (or one entrance and emergency exit) and power washed the outside. The leaders of this organization were very insightful about the political state of Puerto Rico and explains some of the issues that Puerto Rico had been dealing with. They explained that the natural disasters, corruption within politics, and the lack of collectiveness among the citizens have each contributed to the conditions they are passionate about improving. We started a legacy at one of the agencies we worked with, we made a poster with the university name on it and each student was able to put their handprint on it & leave advice or a quote. My handprint was blue, and my note said “The legacy begins with you” or “El legado comienza Contigo”. I made my handprint blue because I was fascinated with the scenery during my first plane and car ride around Puerto Rico. I chose that note because I had realized that we think of legacies being something left by someone else and I wanted to inspire the kids that attended the community school to be their own legacy. You don’t have to look farther than your past to get through the present & build a better future for yourself and others.
This was a significant rip for me, not only was I fortunate enough to provide services to people in the Spanish-speaking community, I was able to gain a lot of first-time experiences that inspire me to try new things and travel beyond the United States and surrounding areas.