I recently completed a 4-week Child Health Internship through Cross-Cultural Solutions in Ghana. During that time, I shadowed and volunteered in the Kpetoe Health Clinic and in the Wudzedeke Community-Based Health Planning and Services Center to provide health outreach and educational services to rural communities, focusing on child health, nutrition, malaria prevention, and reproductive health. Along with that, the other volunteers and I completed a dental hygiene education project in the Wudzedeke Primary School where we taught about the importance of dental health and distributed dental supplies.

The Child Health Internship transformed me in many ways, but most importantly it brought a new sense of appreciation to my life. The people of Ghana changed the way I view my own experiences and made me realize how lucky I am for the things that I do have. I have never met much such happy, loving, and content people in my life. And the craziest part of all is that most of those people had absolutely nothing – some not even electricity or running water. It really challenged me to appreciate everything I have in my life and reanalyze the losses I have experienced.

One of the biggest reasons that my trip was so meaningful is because of the people that I met in the Wudzedeke community. They were so open to sharing their struggles and it was truly eye-opening. One lady with five children had metastatic breast cancer and had chosen to stop treatment because she was insistent on not getting her breast removed. Others didn’t have access to inhalers, pain medicine, toothbrushes, and so much more. These people are what made realize how privileged and lucky I am to have lived the life that I have.

Another part of the trip that was transformative to me was the children I met in the Wudzedeke Primary School. Listening to them ask us questions about our lives, such as how we wash our clothes or what kind of food we eat, really changed the way I view my life. It made me recognize just how privileged I am for the things around me 24/7 that I never before considered a luxury. It also was transformative just meeting them and getting to know them. Most of them wore the exact same uniform filled with holes and dirt to school every single day. Yet, they were no different than children you would see anywhere else – so happy and playful. The kids not only changed my view on their life but also on mine.

One of the most unique aspects of my trip to Ghana was the cultural immersion programs we completed every week. From making Kente prints to learning traditional drumming and dancing, we became very immersed in their culture. This allowed me to better understand their way of life and way of thinking, which broadened my experience. I was able to connect with the people there on a new level and for that I am very grateful.

The new appreciation and gratitude I have for my life is something I will carry with me forever. I will never forget the faces and people that I met in Ghana which gives me a new sense of happiness in my life. This reflects in my personal, academic, and professional life. It allows me to go about what I hope to accomplish in a better way. It makes me more appreciate of the things I didn’t previously consider a privilege, such as the caring teachers at my elementary school, which motivates me to work even harder than before. It also gives me a new sense of love for other cultures which will greatly reflect when I am a doctor and meet new patients every day. I am very fortunate to have met the people that I did and I hope to one day go back to Ghana and reconnect with the friends I made.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to Santa Cruz, Costa Rica for a month and volunteered through Cross Cultural Solutions: an international non-profit volunteer organization that aims to work with the community to provide individualized volunteer services. I volunteered in an at-risk daycare center for single and teen mothers by watching the children and teaching them early education lessons each day. The daycare aimed to provide the young children (ages 0-6) with early education lessons in a safe and secure environment, and it was my responsibility as a volunteer to help care for the children, feed the children, and plan and teach lessons based on a weekly topic that the daycare was focusing on.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

Reflecting on my time in Santa Cruz, I recognize that I grew as a global citizen by gaining a wider understanding of other cultures and a deeper appreciation for some of the privileges that I have in my life. I am so grateful that I was able to live in Santa Cruz and interact every day with local people as a volunteer through Cross Cultural Solutions because I never would have had the same cultural immersion if I had traveled to Costa Rica as a tourist. During my time in Costa Rica I volunteered in a daycare center for teen mothers and at-risk mothers. This experience working with the kids and meeting their parents broadened my perspective on how other parts of the world treat women and children as well as how areas lack some of the resources that the United States has. From my experience in Santa Cruz I came to realize how this deficit in resources negatively effects infrastructure and the standard of living.  However, I witnessed how various cultures adapt their lifestyles to best fit their environment and needs. Being in Costa Rica also gave me the chance to step away from my normal routine and re-evaluate my priorities and values. I often find myself distracted and consumed by aspects of my life that are not necessities. However, while I was in Costa Rica I didn’t have access to the same technology or influences that I am normally exposed to and this allowed me to focus on myself, my work in Costa Rica and my experience abroad. I found that this helped me to dedicate my energy on the more important aspects of my life such as my interactions with others and the memories I create with other people.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? 

The city of Santa Cruz played a major role in my growth and development because it was not a tourist destination, so I got to experience living in Costa Rica without feeling like a tourist. The daycare where I worked was an old car garage that had been converted into a daycare: there was no air conditioning, the play area often flooded, the toilets and water stopped working my third week there, and the kids played and slept on concrete floors that often had bugs and debris. Experiencing these kinds of conditions really opened my eyes to the differences in resources that poorer countries have and how their standard of living is vastly different from my own. Being able to care for these kids and help the teachers in the daycare was incredibly transformative because I was able to have a direct impact on the children’s lives and I realized how critical international volunteer organizations like Cross Cultural Solutions are for underdeveloped areas.

Another key aspect of my experience was that Cross Cultural Solutions takes the volunteers on excursions within Santa Cruz on the weekdays and gives volunteers the weekends off to travel around Costa Rica. The ability to experience Costa Rica outside of my volunteer assignment allowed me to explore the country, learn the language, and experience the culture. This made it much easier for me to adapt to the cultural changes I faced and practice my language skills. During the weekdays I was able to learn about the culture and history of Costa Rica while on the weekends I traveled independently to different ecotourism areas. I believe that traveling alone gave me the confidence to be more independent in my life and future travels. As well, traveling around the country to Monteverde, Playa Tamarindo, Rincon de la Vieja, La Fortuna, and Rio Celeste—to name a few– allowed me to experience the natural wonders that Costa Rica has to offer and gave me a renewed appreciation of nature and the necessity for conservation and preservation.

An important factor in my STEP signature project was that I purposely went abroad by myself. I knew that I wanted to have an independent experience and I chose my program so that I would not know anyone else upon my arrival in Costa Rica. I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone and force myself to meet new people and forge new relationships. I met students from West Point who I never would have met if not for this experience and created a lasting friendship with all of them. I believe that this experience transformed me into a more independent, outgoing and confident individual.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

Volunteering in Costa Rica was critical to my personal and professional development. I believe that this experience will help me in future interactions to be a more compassionate and understanding individual because I am now more aware and appreciative of foreign cultures and people. My confidence and independence also grew exponentially from traveling alone to Costa Rica: I know that I can travel alone and tackle any new challenges that I may face in my future career or personal life. Most importantly, my time in Santa Cruz allowed me to develop my Spanish speaking skills and I feel confident that I have the language proficiency to communicate effectively with others in Spanish: I will continue to use Spanish in my future career when I interact with other professionals or patients.

My Step signature project involved a study abroad program in Argentina. I went there for four weeks to shadow doctors and take Spanish classes. I went to the hospital for around four hours five days a week and had Spanish class for two and a half hours three times a week.

Through the experience I learned more about myself and what I am capable of. I gained more confidence in myself and broke out of my timid self-contained shell. I became a more outgoing individual who was no longer afraid to speak up in certain situations even given the language barrier. I was forced to practice my Spanish every day and gained confidence in my speaking and comprehension abilities. I also had the opportunity to ask doctors questions throughout the experience and interact with patients which I would have been very intimidated to partake in in the past. Coming from the experience, I have more confidence in myself in hospital settings and my ability to adapt in foreign settings as well. I was able to get a sense of what I am capable of and my ability to adapt to new situations and cultures.

Further, my view of the world changed. I was able to experience a way of life that I was unaccustomed to and got a taste of what a different part of the world was like. My experience opened up my eyes to the beauty of our world and the people in it. Being immersed in a different culture helped me to gain respect and a sense of understanding about everyone around me and how everyone interacts. I was able to experience conflicting ideals and values between cultures and gained a greater respect towards accepting how other individuals live their lives. I gained a greater sense of gratitude for everything that I am fortunate enough to have access to based upon where I am from and how I was raised. The experience opened my eyes to how much beauty our world is made up of and how every individual has the ability to contribute to it.

One event that helped transform my confidence was the opportunity I had to work in the hospitals throughout the experience. Not only did I have the opportunity to shadow doctors, but I also had the opportunity to go to different specialties within the hospital and even see a surgery. Every week, I changed what rotation I was in and what doctors I worked with. This meant that each week I had to work on building new relationships with the doctors and had to learn new skills and information regarding the specialty that I was in. This helped push me out of my comfort zone and helped me to gain confidence in an individual setting. In each specialty, I was on my own working with the doctor and trying to communicate to better understand what was going on. I also was able to experience health care in a new environment. Everything was free in the public hospital I worked in. This meant that the patients received care from various doctors in different specialties for free along with various prescriptions from the pharmacy for free. However, the level of sanitation and security of information was nowhere near what it is like in the United States. The technology in the hospitals was not the best and the power even went out a few times while I was there. Being exposed to these conditions gave me a greater respect towards what we are lucky enough to have in the United States. Having the opportunity to be so close to the Cleveland clinic with some of the most advanced healthcare in the world really opened my eyes to how truly fortunate I am.

Another event that helped transform my view of the world and the people in it was living with a host family throughout the whole experience. I was able to learn so much about the culture that I would not have been able to learn had I lived in a hotel on my own instead. I was able to eat the cultural cuisine on a daily basis which included eating dinner at 10:30 at night which was a big adjustment to get used to. Further, I was able to practice using my Spanish every single day from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed at night. The first night I was there the language barrier terrified me and I had wondered if I made the right choice studying abroad in a Spanish speaking country, however throughout the experience I gained more confidence in my communication skills. I grew to respect the culture and the individuals around me more and more everyday even though their lifestyle was a lot different from my own. I loved being a part of a new culture more than I ever thought possible. Learning about the culture and their customs in Argentina was one of my favorite things to do throughout the whole experience. I gained a more developed world view and a greater respect for all the different cultures that make up the world.

Having the opportunity to travel on the weekends also helped transform my view of the world. I was able to experience and see such natural beauty in the world that I was unaware existed. We went to Iguazu Falls which is one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. Having the opportunity to see nature in such a way opened my eyes up to all the beauty our world holds. I was taken aback by the sheer size of the waterfall and was left speechless in the moment. It gave me a larger perspective on the environmental crisis we are currently in and the importance of protecting our environment before it is too late. Having the opportunity to travel around and experience even more parts of the world only emphasized my strive to explore the world and experience as much of it as possible. After my study abroad experience, I was no longer interested in vacationing, but rather exploring and fully immersing myself in the culture and experiences around me. My trip transformed my view of traveling and what it means to fully be immersed in the place you are going to. I gained a greater appreciation for the world around me and all that there is to see and explore.

My trip to Argentina provided me with many valuable life lessons and aspects for my life. Specifically, this experience is valuable for my future career. I plan on going to medical school and pursuing a career as a pediatrician. Being able to experience the health care system in a different country not only gave me a greater respect for all that we have in the United States, but it also provided me with medical experience I did not have prior to my trip. I was able to experience and observe different specialties in the pediatrics hospital in Argentina allowing me to gain further insight into how the system works. I was able to see patient doctor relationships and the importance of creating a friendly environment for all the young patients. I learned many valuable skills to help assist me in my future career along with many valuable life skills in general. The language barrier emphasized the importance of communication between patients and doctors and gave me an incentive to become more fluent in Spanish. I gained a greater ability to communicate among individuals by paying attention and practicing reading facial and social cues around me. I also developed a desire to practice my career in various parts of the world if given the opportunity to.

This experience not only is valuable for my professional goals, but is also valuable for my personal goals. I was able to become a more confident individual which is something I have struggled with throughout my life. I realized I am more capable to adjust to new situations than I would have ever given myself credit for. One of my personal goals if to travel as often as I am able to. I hope to travel the world and experience as many cultures as I can. I think it is very important to have a respect for everyone around you and having the ability to experience their ways of life is a step in the right direction. This trip allowed me to have the opportunity to experience a new culture very different from my own. It only enhanced my goal of experiencing and understanding the different cultures around me. My transformation throughout my trip helped me to become a more confident open minded individual. Prior to my experience, I would have never seen myself forming the relationships I was able to or being so open to new ways of life. I was able to transform into a more accepting individual with a broadened view of the world. This experience made me more excited than ever to continue exploring the world and immersing myself in as many new experiences as I can.

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Iguazu Falls

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP Signature Project, I went to Cordoba, Argentina for a four-week service-learning abroad trip. Monday through Friday, I volunteered/interned at a pediatric hospital for 4-5 hours every morning. I also took 30+ hours of medical based Spanish classes at a local school. On afternoons and weekends, I had free time to explore and travel outside the city. This program was through a company called Child and Family Health International.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

My viewpoint of how people should treat health care has changed since going on this trip; the healthcare system in Argentina is nothing like it is in the United States. Argentina offers free health care and free education for all citizens. This means that people are able to go into a hospital, get an exam, and receive treatment and medications for free. This might sound like an amazing thing initially, but the more you think about it, the more you find its flaws. I would have never expected a hospital in a big city to have such limited resources and poor sanitation, because it’s not what you would expect in the United States. Since it was a public hospital, there was a lack in funding for new equipment and an over shortage in supplies and medication. I learned to be grateful for the resources that we have in the US and not to take for granted the little things such as having soap and toilet paper. I also learned to respect how the Argentine doctors were careful to only prescribe what was needed and to do their jobs with the technology that they had. No one ever complained about the lack of resources, they just made the best of what they had, and from my point of view no one suffered from it. You don’t need shiny new technology to get the job done. Sure, it would be nice, and sometimes safer, but that doesn’t make us better because of it. The hospital exposure also taught me to appreciate all the different people that work together to help each patient. I loved that I was able to follow multiple different specialties while working in the hospital, and that I could follow patients to different specialties. Overall, this experience made me surer than ever that I want to peruse a job in the medical field.

I am amazed at all the culture that I was able to take in during my short time there. It was interesting to talk to locals as we traveled to hear about their beliefs, their favorite foods, traditions, and places to visit. I loved talking to someone and then going to the places they suggested, or eating a certain food they claimed I had to try before leaving. I have always thought of myself as a shy person, so I normally don’t just talk to random people. The more I talked to locals, the more I realized that my experience would be so much better if I opened up to more people and tried new things. I’m glad that I didn’t just sit in my host’s apartment in between work and classes instead of exploring. Overall, this experience has made me want to continue to travel to learn more about health care in different countries and to learn more about the culture of different countries. I want to continue to develop my cultural awareness, and I think that observing how other countries treat those who are ill can give insight on how we can better our healthcare system here in the United States. Finally, I loved that I was able/forced to practice my Spanish. My speaking ability improved more during those four weeks than it did in the last semester of taking Spanish. Hopefully, the more I travel, the closer I will become to being fluent.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

The main event that changed me was working in the pediatric hospital every morning. The main struggle with my experience in the hospital was the language barrier between me and the doctors. It was very hard the first week because I was timid and afraid to say something wrong, so I just stood in the corner and watched. I was unable to learn much my first few days because I didn’t understand a lot of the medical terminology in Spanish and I was afraid to ask the doctors for clarification and explanation. I quickly realized that the only way to get better at speaking was to practice. I got over my fear of talking to the doctors and I started asking them questions. After this, my hospital experience changed drastically. Once I started asking questions and writing down notes of things to look up before the next day, I was able to start learning. The doctors became a lot friendlier once they noticed that I was actively trying to talk to them and understand everything to the best of my ability. Many of the doctors began to take on the role of a Spanish and medicine teacher. When there was a break in patients they would talk to me about school, my family, how I like Argentina, my weekend plans, etc. Through these conversations, I learned a lot and got to form a relationship with the doctors. I looked forward to seeing my favorite doctors and residents each day. At the end of the week both them and I were sad when I had to switch specialties and could no longer see them every day.

As stated before, I learned a lot about the culture from talking to Argentines who have lived in Cordoba. Throughout my trip there was some CFHI sponsored events where I met locals. There were also times where I would go out to a restaurant with other people in my program and we would just talk to the other people there. I found that I was able to learn the most when I went out and just casually talked to people outside of my program. Me and a couple other students would go to this weekly even called “English and Mate” which was a get together of Spanish speakers who were trying to learn English. Here, foreigner and locals would talk to us students in English to practice their speaking, and we would talk to them in Spanish. It was a perfect setting because everyone was learning an unfamiliar language, so the conversations were casual a basic. As mentioned before, I was given a lot of recommendations for things to try and places to go from these conversations. For example, I learned of the best bakery to go to in order to try chepas which was little cheese fill bread. Cordoba was a very large and overwhelming city, so it was nice to have locals break it down in order to get the most of my time there. All of the people that went to this event were very friendly and welcoming. I would see them each week and we would talk about what I liked and didn’t like from what they had suggested the week prior. With the future travels that I plan to take, I want to take a similar approach to learning about the culture and the place that I am at.

I was fortunate enough to go on this trip with my sister. This said, it was still a huge step for me to go to a foreign place without my parents or any known adult. No one in my family had ever gone to South America before so everything about preparing for the trip and traveling was new. It was my first time going having a connecting flight, and going on an international flight without my parents. This might not seem like a big thing to some people, but it proved to be very hard with the travel issues I faced. On the way, there my flight was canceled, and I was forced to spend the night in Chile. I was very anxious trying to make hotel arrangements, transportation arrangements, and get a new flight in a new airport with very few fluent English speakers. Hopefully, that was the worst travel experience I will have in my lifetime, if not, I am confident that I will be better prepared and level headed. Even traveling in Cordoba was hard to figure out; I learned to rely on public transportation for the first time. I learned how to use a public bus system and rely on other means of transportation rather than driving myself. I believe that this will prove to be very useful in the future.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

Prior to this experience I had been having doubts about what I wanted to do in the future. This past semester brought on a lot of stress and anxiety with the difficult classes that I was taking. I started to think that maybe I should change my major to do something easier; then I wouldn’t have to go to med school and have to worry about all the classes that I still have to take to prepare for the MCAT. I’m thankful that I was able to go on this trip and experience what I did. Working in the pediatric hospital, alongside the other doctors, made me fall in love with the idea of becoming a doctor again. I loved the idea of working hard to become an expert in a specific field, and then using all that knowledge to help others. I know that there are other jobs in the medical field that don’t require as much schooling, but there is a part of me that knows that I will be disappointed if I don’t go all the way.

The other reason that this trip was important for my future is because it gave me the desire to continue to travel. I know that everyone says they want to travel for leisure, but I want to travel to explore cultures and healthcare. I also want to travel to new places to explore nature. My weekend trips in Argentina showed me the beauty of the world when you go to less populated areas and you stop to enjoy nature. I want to plan a trip to travel around South America to the different national parks and landmarks. I also want to stay with more host families there so that I can practice my Spanish speaking and learn about their culture and traditions. It would be fun and educational to travel to different parts of Asia because I believe their health care system will be completely different than the United State and Argentina’s. More than ever, I am considering a gap year before med school to learn through travel.

The first picture is of my sister and I from our weekend trip to Iguazu Waterfalls. The second is us outside of the pediatric hospital we worked in.

For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in a study abroad program called Solar Engineering Service Learning in Tanzania. I was a part of a group of seven other students in designing and implementing a solar energy system for a boy’s dormitory in a school in Arusha, Tanzania. We also got the chance to partake in activities to immerse ourselves in the culture of Tanzania such as going on a safari trip, roaming the city, and interacting with the local engineers.

Before arriving in Tanzania, I thought that we were the ones providing a service that the Tanzanians couldn’t do. I quickly learned that’s not the case; the use of solar energy in homes is a very common occurrence in Tanzania since the grid is not reliable. I had assumed we would learn about the basics of solar energy from the professors that were accompanying us, but in the end all that we learned to succeed in our goal for this program came from the locals. The knowledge that the locals have acquired in the way they live their lives inspired me to analyze our own life that we, as Americans, have gotten so used to and that we deem the best way to live. Tanzanians don’t have all the resources that we do and as a result they find self-sustainable ways to support themselves. The extent of their adaptability and resourcefulness surprised me. Everyone that I encountered had some way in which they led a non-wasteful life. They recognize purpose in things Americans would toss aside without a second glance if it didn’t do what it was originally supposed to do.  

There were many instances during the two and a half weeks that portrayed this minimalist lifestyle. We were fortunate to be able to set up meetings with experienced entrepreneurs in Tanzania. I was first enlightened to the looming e-waste problem from a woman who had started her own e-waste company, Athina. She mentioned shifting our focus to the longevity of electronics rather than recycling which resonated with me. She hinted at the dangerous position that the world was in because of the intense rate we were using up precious minerals and materials as part of our electronics. It could be within the next decade we would have to seriously consider digging through our landfills to find those essential resources in trashed electronics. The United States is one of the worst e-waste offenders of all the countries because of the minimal amount of laws we have in place to deal with the situation. I wasn’t surprised to find out about our e-waste contribution considering the wasteful life we lead. If a new edition of a smartphone comes out, we immediately get the new one without a second thought for what would happen with our old phone. This is just one instance of how easily e-waste can be generated when you are used to having so many materialistic options.

Later in the week we visited Ernest, a self-educated local engineer, who makes his living repairing electronics. The work that he does reflects the longevity that Athina had described to us. A common method he uses to repair electronics is using parts from old circuit boards to fix the faulty components of the present circuit board. This interchangeable parts strategy is something that he developed as a self-taught engineer. It made me think about how if a university educated engineer had been presented with the same broken circuit board, they would’ve likely recommended just buying a new model. The knowledge that individuals like Ernest have can be utilized to introduce a reusable lifestyle in America.

Furthermore, besides electronics, there were other examples of how individuals in Tanzania would utilize all the resources available to them. We met with a local farmer in the area, Alfred, and on his farm, we witnessed many techniques that exemplified a non-wasteful life. An example that stuck out to me the most from the visit to his farm was an underground biogas chamber that Alfred had built himself. The dung from the cows entered the chamber and the energy produced powered his stove for cooking. The remaining waste was used as fertilizer for his crops. Additionally, he would keep old stalks for the cows to chew on and also grind them for the chickens to eat. Instead of buying new materials for every application, Alfred utilized the waste that his farm generated. The examples that these individuals set inspire me to find ways to change my wasteful lifestyle.

Personally, I’m sure that every time I now throw something away, I will have that split second hesitation in which I will ask myself if this is something I can use again. On a larger scale, there is so much potential to collaborate with engineers outside of America which has become more apparent to me than ever. I hope I get the chance to do this as I move forward with my engineering career. This experience has also inspired me to consider taking part in a language program where I can learn a new language and then live in the respective country for a semester. I truly enjoyed my STEP signature project experience.

My STEP signature project was a two-week cultural immersion and service-learning trip in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a vibrant Caribbean island that boasts natural beauty not only from its beaches, but it’s tropical rain forest and inhabitants that reside there. The hot and humid climate really brings to life the contrasts of an Ohio spring to a tropical Caribbean location. The people of Puerto Rico possess a rich culture that is infused with the native indigenous Taino’s, Spanish European immigrants, and African cultures. Puerto Rico has been home to the indigenous Taino’s for many centuries, while European culture didn’t touch the island until Spanish Christopher Columbus´s arrival in 1493. Puerto Rico was under Spanish control until 1898, when the U.S gained control after the Spanish American War. Since then, Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory, and in recent years has ben considering the possibility of statehood. Just recently, Puerto Rico was devasted by hurricanes Irma and María, that still have lasting effects 2 years later. Experiencing the Puerto Rican culture firsthand was an amazing, transforming project to utilize my STEP funds.

The two weeks included a one-week homestay with a native family in the city of San Juan, and the next week traveling to the regions of Adjuntas, Ponce, and back to San Juan.  The first week I, along with eleven fellow buckeyes took Spanish immersion classes in San Juan and volunteered at various organizations during the week, as well as explored the San Juan area. During the second week, we volunteered in the other parts of the island, and it included more free time to explore popular Puerto Rican destinations such as: El Yunque, Bio Bay tour, Isla Verde beach, and many more.

Before traveling to Puerto Rico, I wish I had studied my Spanish skills enough to have the confidence to communicate effectively. On arrival, I was timid with my Spanish language skills, not knowing if I was saying the right words or pronouncing the terms correctly.  However, after the first week I was able to effectively communicate my ideas to the native speakers more often than when arriving on the island. I can only imagine what just two weeks of practice before coming to the island would’ve resulted in.  It was frustrating, however, to try and utilize this opportunity and use Spanish with native speakers, only for the opposing converser to use plain English as a response. This was more common in the populated capital of San Juan, than the mountain community of Adjuntas and the city of Ponce.

During this journey I learned that the people of Puerto Rico are resilient but loving. My host family showed us compassion through inviting meals, transportation to classes, advice, and especially sincerity. Although the only people living in our host homes was the 60-year-old couple, we were able to meet and spend time with: their 35-year-old niece from Chile, their two sons, and their families. They were very much kind to us and treated us as one of their own blood relatives. After hearing about the horrors of the 12-hour hurricane landfall, it is unbelievable to imagine all of the pain and suffering the people of Puerto Rico had to and are still enduring. The service aspect of the trip was awesome to see some of the ways we could help directly; and to see the joy on those around us we were helping made it all worthwhile.

The part I most enjoyed from my STEP signature project was the strong bond created not only within our group, but with Puerto Ricans we were able to converse with and learn more about the culture firsthand. It was awesome experiencing watching and being involved in a group that grew closer together over the highs and lows of the two weeks we stayed in Puerto Rico. Whether it be our host family, the bus drivers, those from organizations we were volunteering with, or tour guides, I feel like I learned more from them about the island of Puerto Rico than I can learn in any textbook. As an engineering student with a Spanish minor, this experience has transformed me to effectively communicate, and build relationships with those around me, in Spanish or English. Moving forward, I will use this experience for the betterment of myself and those around me.

During my STEP experience in Puerto Rico, my peers and I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Institution for Second Language Acquisition (ISLA) to accomplish a variety of service projects focused on preserving Puerto Rico’s historical culture. The first week we were on the island, we also took daily Spanish lessons to improve our communication skills with the people we were working with. When we were not in class or doing service, our group went on many cultural excursions and had the chance to tour several cities.

The service trip to Puerto Rico truly allowed me to grow as a person in a variety of ways. By traveling to a new place and being able to be fully immersed in the culture helped increase my awareness and understanding of diverse worldly perspectives. One of my favorite things to do in Puerto Rico was to listen to people’s stories that we worked with; how they got there, why they were so passionate about giving back, and their dreams and aspirations. Coming into this project, I did not think that I would be able to relate so easily to the people in Puerto Rico due to our differences in culture. Speaking with dozens of people, I realized that although we all come from very diverse backgrounds, we also have a lot of similarities. After all, we are all people with our own struggles and triumphs.

The most transformative aspects of my travels were definitely discovering the personal importance and meaning behind service work. I was able to gain a greater understanding of the diversity that we have within the United States and how I am able to make an impact in the lives of others. Having the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico to participate in service projects was a whole new kind of learning experience. Witnessing how grateful the people working for various schools, community centers, parks, etc. were has helped me understand that I have the ability to create great change in the world even if the tasks seem small. For example, picking up rusted screws from a park can offer a child somewhere safe to play or cleaning a community kitchen can provide a sanitary place for families to cook meals. Even the smallest act of kindness has the potential to change someone’s life.

Before I came to Puerto Rico, I knew very little of the Spanish language. Looking back, I wish that I had known and practiced more before going on the trip. Although this posed as a challenge for me, I began to pick up simple conversational phrases quickly due to the help of my amazing host family and ISLA teacher. As I became more comfortable using Spanish to talk to the volunteer coordinators we were working with, I was able to uncover the meaning and stories behind the service work that we were participating in. For example, we cleaned out a storage shed filled with school supplies to see what was still able to be used after the hurricanes. At first this seemed to be a normal volunteering task, however, the reason why we were participating in this specific project changed my whole perspective on the work. In order for families who had been brutally affected by the hurricanes to send their children to school for an education, they needed help putting the school back together after the turmoil.

The relationships I was able to make, not only with people we worked with, but also with my group of peers and Dr. Kuzawa was remarkable. Each day we were learning, discovering, and growing together as one unit but were also able to help teach each other. We encouraged one another to try new things and get outside of our comfort zones. For example, we lifted each other up as we climbed waterfalls, tried new and crazy foods, and as we stumbled our way through the dance steps in bomba. I truly feel that this is now a support system that I will have for life and our bond will always be the special memories that we shared together.

One of the most beautiful things that I saw in Puerto Rico was the “El Velorio” painting that we had the chance to see at the University of Puerto Rico. This massive piece of art by Francisco Oller depicts “the wake” of a peasant child. In the 1800s, when the work was created, it was a tradition among peasants to celebrate the death of a child. The reason that I found it to be so beautiful, despite its tragic context, is because it gives in interesting view of the Puerto Rican culture and history at the time. Within the painting there are so many emotions, expressions, and events occurring, and the level of detail included is impeccable. I remember not being able to take my eyes away from the artwork as it evoked such strong feelings in me. Through this painting alone, I was able to visualize the richness in history and pride that Puerto Ricans feel for their island.

As I had mentioned before, the most transformative part of the entire trip was my realization of the power of service. I knew that our group would be a significant help to the various communities we served, but I don’t think that I fully understood the lasting impact that we would have on the people and also the impact that they would have on me. We constantly hear about sustainability in the news and we were able to aid in global efforts by planting and taking care of various plants to aid in the environments recovery in Puerto Rico after the hurricanes, so that the ecosystems and forests may prosper and survive. I had constantly questioned why there was still so much debris from the tropical storms that had occurred several years earlier but I eventually got my answer. In fear and anxiety, many Puerto Ricans fled to the United States for safety and never returned, leaving their destroyed homes and properties. Being a part of the force that helped to renew and restore communities has changed my heart forever and allowed me to understand that even me, a small town girl from Ohio, can make a big difference.

I have a passion for learning and an even greater passion for helping others. Fulfilling the service trip in Puerto Rico helped to feed the fire that I have for creating positive change in the world. It allowed me to discover and appreciate new cultural ideas pertaining to food, education, family, and life in general. I have been truly fortunate for the life and experiences that I have been given thus far and wanted to share it with the world. Being able to go to Puerto Rico helped to enhance my cultural knowledge and enabled to me to grow in my enthusiasm for working with and for others. I hope to continue to find more ways to help and inspire others to step outside of their comfort zone and use their opportunities to make a positive impact in someone’s life no matter how small.

The change that I experienced has already related to almost all aspects of my life. Academically, I have taken up a new interest in history and celebrating other cultures besides my own. The amount of knowledge gained from this trip is unparalleled to any classroom experience I have ever had. I also developed a personal goal of venturing out of my comfort zone to complete a service trip, much like the one in Puerto Rico, at least once a year. As a young professional working in supply management, I was able to gain a greater appreciation for diversity and bring new ideas to my team. Recently, I assisted in hosting a summit that celebrated diverse suppliers with my company which was a transformative experience for the rest of my team as well. I hope to continue to find my voice and inspire others to step outside of their comfort zone and use theirs to spark change no matter how small it starts.

Volunteering with the Caretta Research Project provided hands-on experience and a glimpse into the realities of research and conservation efforts with nesting Loggerhead sea turtles. From dusk to dawn, my fellow volunteers and I, along with the main researcher and intern, would patrol the beach of the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge searching for female sea turtles emerging from the ocean to lay their nests. Once a turtle or crawl was spotted, our team jumped into action to retrieve various measurements, biopsies, and tagging information for ongoing and future research efforts on this vulnerable species.

Through the completion of my Caretta Research Project volunteer work, I have experienced of a variety of transformations within myself, which in turn have altered my assumptions and perceptions of the world. Personally, I have formed a deeper connection to the natural world and the species that live on this planet. This connection, along with the work of my project, has allowed further validation that I am following my passion to work for the conservation of vulnerable species. This experience has also validated my path of choice for my future and professional career and eliminated a majority of my previous assumptions about the realities of professional research and field-work.

The combination of hands-on work, exploration, and new interactions fueled the transformations that I experienced within myself. Completing a majority of our work between 9pm and 6am, I was able to watch the night sky in ways that I never have before. Our first night out happened to be on a full moon, which allowed us to see the beach and nesting turtles perfectly when not using our headlights, since there are no artificial outdoor lighting fixtures on the wildlife refuge. Throughout the rest of the week my fellow volunteers and I were able to point out the Milky Way Galaxy, numerous planets and constellations, and countless shooting stars. Additionally, the wildlife my group and I saw while on the island was astounding and kept us entertained and on our toes throughout the trip. Engaging with vulnerable Loggerhead sea turtles instilled a sense of passion and motivation to continue working with and participating in conservation efforts. These interactions with nature allowed me to form a deeper connection with the natural world.

My daily interactions with the nesting Loggerhead sea turtles also played a significant role in the transformations I experienced. Each night our group would head to the beach around 9pmand begin our search for either the female turtles or the crawls they had made on their way up from the ocean. Once one of these indicators were spotted, our crew would look to see if there was a nesting female and what stage of the process she was in: emerging from the ocean, body-pitting, where she hunkers down and clears the area of excess sand and twigs, digging, in which she uses her back flippers to carefully dig her light-bulb shaped hole, laying, where she would enter a trance-like state and begin laying her eggs, covering, where she would fill her nest and eggs back up with remaining sand, or returning to the ocean. Occasionally, a nesting turtle would emerge from the ocean and decide that the conditions were not quite right, and she would head back to the ocean without laying her nest. We would record this as a false crawl and attempt to determine her reasoning. One night, we were watching a female make her way up toward the dunes when an Army helicopter flew over with its spot light shining directly on the coast. Once the light reached the turtle, she immediately turned around to head back to the ocean. Luckily, she came back the following night to lay her nest.

Once a turtle was spotted, and it was determined that she was in the laying phase of her process, we would begin to gather all of the data needed for current and future research. Approaching the turtle during the laying phase was ideal, as she would be in a trance-like state and we would not cause her to retreat back to the ocean. We would begin by looking for and recording a PIT tag, located under the skin of one of her front flippers, and metal tags located along the inside edge of her front flippers. If either of the tagging methods were missing, we would place new ones where necessary. We would also take numerous carapace measurements as well as her head width. Additional information we would gather included skin biopsies, an egg for DNA research, GPS coordinates, and measurements of the distance of her nest in relation to the dunes, high tide line, and the ocean. If her nest was laid too close to the high tide line, we would have to relocate it further up toward the dune. Collecting this data allowed me to have direct contact with a vulnerable and recovering species and allowed my fellow volunteers and I to spend a significant amount of time with each individual, that is, if we didn’t have to rush off to return to another momma! These interactions allowed me to gain a great appreciation for these creatures and it was moving to get a glimpse into their growth as a species.

Throughout this experience, I was also able to form new relationships with people my age who share similar interests as well as professionals in the conservation field. Some long nights on the beach and our down time in the afternoon allowed for some entertaining conversations and board games in which we got to know each other pretty well. In the evening we would all come together and cook dinner, which was always entertaining as well. Occasionally throughout the afternoon we would help the main researcher with anything that he needed done, including sorting out tags, putting additional indicators on the nests from the night before, or refilling our kits we took out every night. The relationships formed with my fellow volunteers and professionals has validated my desire to work in this type of space has made this experience one I will never forget.

My experience in completing volunteer work with the Caretta Research Project has helped in fueling my desire to pursue a conservation-related career. This experience has established a sense of belonging within the network and has challenged me to continue to work for what I love. As an Environment and Natural Resources major with a specialization in Ecosystem Restoration, I hope to carry my experience and gained knowledge with me throughout the rest of my undergraduate and future careers. I have gained a new perspective for a vulnerable species and will continue to work with an open mind towards the species and environments that surround me.