Once Upon A Time In Appalachia Reflection

For my STEP Signature Project, I lead a Buck-I-SERV trip to Maryville, Tennessee over Spring Break. I worked alongside my other group leader and our advisor to plan meaningful activities for our free time during our trip. Our trip involved our group staying at Once Upon A Time Nature Preserve situated right next to both the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, and our group did various volunteer activities related to the area and the people living there. 

My view of what one needs to survive and be happy certainly changed on this trip. I think in most areas in the United States, and certainly at OSU, there is a culture of consumption – whether it be the consumption and use of clothes, belongings, food, or something else – and this culture is unnecessary and in many ways can be harmful to our planet. At Once Upon A Time, our hosts had a respect for the land and its natural resources and only bought and consumed what they needed. We very much focused on being with each other and enjoying our time in nature while we were there. We all slept on bunk beds in one room and used outhouses and shower houses each day, but it was enjoyable because we were able to focus on being together and enjoying each other’s company. Now that I’m back in Columbus, I am still trying my best to be conscious of what I buy and how it affects the planet. I have been doing my best to only buy what I need and be thankful for what I have, especially since now COVID-19 has made it difficult to do many of the things that I once took for granted. 

Our hosts for our trip, Ed and Arleen, were incredibly humble and wise people who really helped open my eyes to all of the beauty this world has to offer. They had built their home, as well as our cabin and the rest of the buildings on their property almost entirely on their own and had been living off of the land for several years. They still go to the grocery store, but much of what they consume has been grown in their own garden. Their mountain life is simple, but it is incredibly enjoyable, and they have made so many friends just by being friendly and generous. They really inspired me to realize that what truly matters in life – friendships, family, and experiences – are not things with monetary value. 

Through Ed and Arleen, my group was able to volunteer at the Snowbird Community Center, located in North Carolina. We spent the morning talking to the seniors who come to the center to chat with friends and do crafts. Spending time at the community center also reinforced the idea that people do not need a lot of expensive things to be happy – all of the seniors were happy to just be together and spend time doing crafts and telling stories. A few days later, Ed and Arleen took us to listen to Rocky Branch Mountain Music in Walland, TN, which is located inside an old elementary school. Several different mountain music bands come every week to perform for a few hours in different classrooms in the school. It wasn’t much to look at – just a group of musicians performing inside a cramped classroom – but it was a truly remarkable experience. The musicians played with such passion and all of the audience members laughed and clapped along. There was a great sense of community in the room, and the musicians and audience members made a point to include us in their fun. The event was completely free for us, but it gave us an experience we most likely will never forget. 

During a few of our volunteer days, my group worked in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to remove invasive species like honeysuckle and privet. We worked really hard and managed to clear a big area, but continued maintenance is necessary to keep the invasive species from coming back. This in particular helped me to realize that peoples’ actions can have permanent effects on the natural environment. This has encouraged me to really think about my actions and whether or not they are actually necessary if they are harmful for the planet. 

The lessons I have learned from this trip are valuable for me because they will help me to lead a happier life while doing my best to maintain the health of the planet. The health of the planet relates to my major and minor, but also my entire life because it’s the only planet I most likely will ever live on. I know many at OSU and around the world are fighting to reduce the harmful effects of climate change, but many others are not doing enough in their own lives to make a positive difference. This trip has taught me that it is very easy for one person to reduce their consumption in a way that positively impacts the environment, and if many people do it, many world climate and health issues could be solved. This is a worldwide goal that we all should be striving for, and this trip has given me the voice to encourage others to follow in Ed and Arleen’s footsteps and live every day with a respect for the earth and its natural beauty.

 

Antigua, Guatemala Buck-i-Serv

For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to Antigua, Guatemala for spring break with Buck-i-SERV. We volunteered with Constru Casa, a non-profit organization in Antigua that provides sustainable housing to families in need. Four of our days were spent working with the masons and family to build a home out of cinder blocks, gravel, and cement. We stayed in the home of a couple that has lived in Antigua all of their lives. In addition to volunteering, we were also able to go on excursions to experience other parts of Guatemala and its people, history, and culture.

I went into Guatemala with very little knowledge of the culture, history, and even the language. We didn’t know our itinerary or many details about what we were doing. This was new for me, because I like to have everything planned and understood before going on a trip. However, I believe having an open mind and less control allowed me to take in so much more of Guatemala and be in the moment. My views on communication, stereotypes, poverty, and international relations were transformed. This was extremely impactful for me, because I didn’t read any of this out of a textbook. This came organically from conversation, asking questions, and new experiences.  In general, I gained an understanding for social justice and social justice issues that affect the lives of so many people. I know that my service trip did not fix any of these issues, but I found that I do have power in my personal choices and in sharing the story of my time in Guatemala.

The relationships and interactions during this project are what shaped my transformation. I have to keep reminding myself that I didn’t know any of these people before going on the trip, but we became so close and learned so much from each other. To begin, Elvira and Enrique, our hosts, were so kind and welcoming. They wanted us to feel at home and went above and beyond to make sure that happened. They were open to any conversation, whether it be about Antigua, their past, or their marriage and kids. They accepted us for our backgrounds, our looks, our culture, and our lack of Spanish, reminding me that I should always do the same. When I think of Elvira and Enrique, I will always think of one of the best examples I have seen of kindness and selflessness.

When I think of one word to describe Guatemala, besides beautiful, I think “patient.” I was amazed at how people were so understanding when we were trying to navigate a new country and culture. Every street vendor, store clerk, and cashier would smile and listen as we tried to use Spanish or hand gestures to communicate. There was no rush or sense of annoyance. This was also the case with the family we were building the house for and the masons, who spoke almost no English at all. Even the poorest of people in the villages would say hello and smile in passing, no matter what. Their culture was so neighborly and showed me how important communication is – even if it is just a smile. It meant so much to me. The people of Guatemala were just kind, genuine people, regardless of their situation. I continuously thought to myself, what if America was like this? What if we had this kind of patience and understanding of people’s differences? It would be a remarkably different place. Again, I know now that I can do my part in being more patient and accepting in the United States. It taught me a lot to be on the other side of things and feel like the minority in a new place.

Any stereotype I had of Guatemala was disproved, and I got to immerse myself in some very important aspects of their culture. Nobody fits into one box or one look. Some people are short, some people are tall, some people have brown skin, and some people have white skin with blonde hair and blue eyes. I had no idea how important religion is to them. With it being lent, we got to see a parade come by Enrique and Elvira’s house, in which the entire town came out for. I didn’t understand their level of poverty until I was working in a town of houses with dirt floors and walls of sheet metal. I found out about the civil war that just ended in the 90s and how that continues to affect Guatemalans. I got to see pieces and remains of their Mayan ancestry. I learned about some of the issues with child labor, especially because they have many agricultural exports. Everyone loves Guatemalan coffee, but not everybody knows that children are working in the fields for their Starbucks coffee plantations. It put a lot of social justice issues in perspective.

Of course, I learned more about myself than I had imagined. I saw my physical strength when I had blisters and sore muscles from working on the house all day. I saw my mental strength when we encountered tough situations, whether it be disagreements in the group or major changes as COVID-19 evolved. I saw myself and the group overcome fears that we didn’t know we had. I saw my strength in building relationships, staying grounded, and asking questions. Above all, I confirmed my love of exploration, service, and new experiences. The things I got to experience firsthand mean more to me than I can express. Guatemala has a very important place in my heart.

This development will stay with me for the rest of my life and will be especially important as I transition into post-graduate life. The trip put in perspective how lucky and privileged I am. Even if my future plans do not go exactly as expected, I am still extremely lucky to have the journey that I do. I hope to be less fixated on my life plans and more open to the opportunities that come my way. Any experience that will make me more well-rounded, even if that means a different or longer path, will make me a better healthcare professional in the end. I want to broaden my scope and seek out more than just my career – I want to focus some of my energy into service, exploration, and travel.

I will constantly be exposed to new people with complex backgrounds and social situations. This trip made me much more aware and empathetic towards that. Communication will always play a role in how I relate to people as a healthcare provider, and I know how important it is to adapt to new situations and be able to have discussion. I will always seek to learn from relationships and experiences rather than textbooks or the internet. In the future, I hope to find ways to combine my loves of service, travel, and the medical field. I will always keep in mind what is important to me in new or difficult situations – which is keeping an open mind and taking every opportunity to learn.

Constru Casa in Antigua, Guatemala

For the Buck-I-SERV trip I attended over this past spring break, me and 10 others worked collectively to help build a house in Antigua, Guatemala through the non-profit organization Constru Casa. We worked with local masons and the family that received the home to construct a safe and efficient place in a fairly impoverished area. Outside of the service aspect of the trip, we also had the opportunity to explore Guatemala and learn more about the culture and history of the country.

Initially, I was not expecting a lot going into this trip. I thought we were going to build a house and that was it. I was very wrong. I had no idea about all the culture and new perspectives I would gain in only seven days. I had never travelled out of the country, let alone to a third world country. To see first hand the poverty that consumed most of the country, and interact with the people who experienced this everyday of their lives, was truly life changing. And yet they were so happy with what they had, and even gracious to make sure we were provided with anything we needed. Coming back home, I knew I wanted to take those qualities with me and be more grateful and caring towards others.

Not only that, but I also got to see first hand the impact our service had on the family. They helped us every step of the way with building the house. I was inspired seeing girls half my age do twice the work I could do. They worked hard and always showed us patience and kindness. You could feel the sense of community, and that the house being built would not only help one family but also everyone in the surrounding compound.

As for the kindness and generosity, I saw this most in our home stay with the mother of the house, Elvera. From the moment we stepped off the bus in Antigua, she showed us compassion and generosity. We had only known her for seven days, but by the end she felt like family. She cared for us like we were her own children and made us feel safe and at home in a country we had never experienced. She was selfless with every member of our group and helped us learn all we could about Antigua (and she cooked us the most amazing meals).

Another interaction that changed my perspective was when I passed by a mother and her 4 year old child asleep on the side of the street. Earlier that day, we had seen them coming up to us on the street trying to sell us necklaces and hats. This was hard to see because the children on the street did not go to school to get an education, have a place to call home, or have a bed to sleep in at night. Poverty in Guatemala is extreme and this effects the availability of children to get an education. It made me grateful for my home and the education I am able to receive.

Also, I am currently minoring in Spanish. I was looking forward to learning the language in a native speaking country, however I was not expecting all the knowledge I would be able to gain. All of the people we tried to speak Spanish to were so patient with me and the rest of my group. Even though most of them were multilingual and also spoke English, they still helped us and just appreciated that we were trying to learn their language. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to learn about the Guatemalan culture, something we do not get to spend a lot of time on in my Spanish classes at Ohio State.

In my future, I hope to one day become a physician. I plan on embodying all the things I have learned on this trip and carry them through my journey to a career. The best way to treat patients is to show them compassion, patience, and look at them with an open mind. Not only have I found a change in how I view the world, but also my passion for service and helping others has grown tremendously. I hope to take this and find other opportunities for me to make an impact in not only America, but also around the world.

Antigua, Guatemala – Buck-I-Serv – Constru Casa

Through the organization of Buck-I-Serv, a group of Ohio State students, advisors, and I traveled to Guatemala to aid in the building of a Constru Casa home. Constru Casa is a non-profit organization that provides safe and affordable homes as well as community development programs for people living in impoverished areas. 

The main thing that transformed about me was becoming a more focused, curious person. Becoming a person with a curiosity mindset gives my life a sense of peace in motion. This peace is achieved by understanding the world on a deeper level. 

Building the house made me more grateful than ever for the living conditions that I live in currently. It is sad how we take the smallest things for granted. Most houses in the area we were working at did not have clean drinking water. This is a major health issue for the people there. 

Another major health issue that I found was the lack of medical resources in areas outside the main cities. At a lake around 2 hours from where we stayed, I dislocated my shoulder. I thought it was just another pop, so I jumped in the water. However, it was difficult for me to get to the surface of the water. Thankfully, Thomas, one of the group members, was a lifeguard and helped me get to a close piece of wood. Until Roger, the group advisor, was able to get a life jacket around me. Then Roger and the main guide William took me to a clinic nearby. Surprisingly, they had a clinic with an X-ray machine that was just installed there. I was very glad to get my shoulder relocated

After they finished the procedure, my arm was wrapped with medical cloth available at the clinic. We had to go to the city to get an actual sling to hold my shoulder. This shows the lack of access to medical equipment for people around that area. I would only imagine how difficult it would be for someone to survive a more serious injury or illness in those areas. 

Overall, this experience opened my eyes to new ways of learning about the world. Traveling made me feel like a kid experiencing the world for the first time. Dealing with certain issues in a country I did not know anyone in, and practicing a language I have never practiced before made me humble. However, I was able to keep my calm which was surprising in a near-death experience where I could have drowned. I think this is a time in my life where I would look back at for overcoming future difficult situations.

Engineering Service-Learning in Guatemala

 

The Lake Atitlan Region is known by many for its natural beauty and attracts many tourists annually. What is sometimes missed the the poverty and discriminations experienced by many of the local Mayan Families around the lake. Within these homes, Kaqchiquel is the language which is known as spoken. Yet, this prevalent language in Guatemala is not recognized. This means elections, education, and all official business is done in Spanish. This prevents many from getting a quality education as they are “beat” by their peers who have spoken Spanish from a young age and can understand the instruction. The same goes for government. These marginalized people struggle to participate simply because they do not speak Spanish.

Mayan Families is a non profit organization that focuses on community development to enable the Mayan. This was the local NGO that we from OSU collaborate with. They aim to Empower, Educate, and Enrich. They provide preschool education for young children to enable them to be bilingual in their native tongue and Spanish, provide these children’s with nutritious food, and provide the parents with some time to accomplish some tasks while the children are cared for. They also provide cook-stoves which dramatically improve the way of life. This is done by ensuring the smoke does not remain in the one-rooms homes so there are fewer respiratory issues for children and the elderly, but it also dramatically saves costs as it burns woods significantly more efficiently.

When we were in Guatemala, we installed several cookstoves, did some STEM outreach activities at the Preschool, fed the elderly, but also shared our academic abilities by doing some engineering projects. I was part of the Water Testing team where we compared several water sources and assessed several key indicators which provide key information about the water. Other groups explored a rain water harvesting system for a community garden, etc.

The most obvious takeaway was of course recognizing how little certain people may have financially speaking in the world, and how my actions though small compared to their plight, can provide a significant impact that they would appreciate. But what I felt was the bigger takeaway is that poor is merely a word of perspective. Making less than a dollar a day is defined as extremely poverty, but these people have so much that we ought to learn from. Their value in families and community are so strong. These are values which all cultures have, but they simply exhibited so well. Additionally, the natural beauty of the land is absolutely breathtaking. A gentleman on our visit told us this exact phrase, “We really appreciate all that you do to help our people. We appreciate it and bless you for your help. But do not think that we are poor. We may struggle financially, but that doesn’t mean that we are poor. Simply look around…”

Another takeaway that got me thinking is why are they trying to bless me? I understand that I am helping them, but I am coming from a nation which in large part had a strong hand in their current predicament (Look up United Fruit Company for More Information). I definitely felt great that my efforts were appreciated, but these people are owed this in my eyes. After all that has been taken, it is the least that could have been done.

Finally, my last takeaway was how frustrating it was to actually practice Humanitarian Engineering. This does NOT meant that I do not appreciate it! It was just difficult for me to let go of a project because I am so use to being in control. But one MUST realize that this is not our project at all. Humanitarian Engineering ideology is that the project is that of the beneficiary. If they do not like it, the project is useless and a waste of time and resources. One must work with the people and help them in only ways they ask. When asked, it must be remembered that we are helping them make a solution. They are not trying to help us make a solution. The possession is theirs, and that is a key fact to remember that during the Engineering Design Process.

So in summary,  if one were to ask did you learn what Humanitarian Engineering or poverty is I could say no. Because I had exposure to both before my trip. But the truth is, this program has been extremely transformative. Knowing Humanitarian Engineering doesn’t just mean one can do it. One must practice it to be able to say they actually know what it refers to. And this doesn’t make you an expert. It just makes me better aware of it. I definitely want to continue what I have started, but this was a great start. This trip also transformed what poverty means for me. Not that I did not know before, but as I described above, poverty can be defined and so many ways. These people need a bit of a boost financially, but that is not to say everything else they posses is nothing. The culture and values are so rich.

I am extremely grateful STEP enabled me to attend this trip and I would like to thank Student Life (Second-Year Transformational Experience Program), Ohio State International Affairs Office, the College of Engineering, and Mayan Families for all enabling me to be able to partake on this transformational trip.

Constru Casa in Guatemala

My STEP signature project was conducted through Buck-I-SERV beginning on March 7th, 2020. Ten other students and I traveled to Antigua, Guatemala, and worked with the non-profit organization, Constru Casa, to build a house for a family. We conducted service work, explored the country, and learned about the culture for seven days.

Leading up to this trip, I was not as excited as I thought I was going to be. I was nervous about spending a week in a foreign country I knew nothing about, with 10 other people I had never met. I hoped that the experience would reignite my passion for service work, improve my communication skills, and teach me more about another culture. It did all those things and more. It was an experience greater than I could have ever imagined.

The greatest overall changes I experienced were the improvement in my self-confidence and my acknowledgement of differences between people. Thanks to this project, I have come to love myself for who I am far more than when I left. I hold fast in my strengths and abilities, but also recognize more of my weaknesses. I acknowledge that I need to work on those weaknesses. I thought the relationships I built with the citizens would show me how beautiful the differences between people can be, but it was the differences amongst our Buck-I-SERV group that had the greatest impact. Every single individual on our team was so vastly different. We all had different upbringings, ethnicities, and outlooks on the world. The one thing we all had in common though: Our desire to serve.

Since attending college, my self-confidence has been at its lowest ever. It was a difficult adjustment going from a small high school to a very large university. I constantly compared myself to my peers and doubted my worth. I promised myself that on this trip, I was going to be my total, authentic self. Throughout the week, I did my best to keep my energy up, learn about the people on my team, respectfully express my opinions, and put my best foot forward during work. I felt my personality was being well received for the most part, but my team was reassuring. During reflections throughout the week, they took turns voicing the qualities they had noticed about me. They used descriptions such as: Leader, fun, bubbly, hardworking. These words built up my confidence and made me feel more secure.

During the week there was also a pivotal conversation where a weakness in my personality was made known. I expressed my opinion to an individual who had very different experiences from my own. As a result, my statement was offensive to them. I didn’t even understand how what I had said was offensive, so they had to explain it to me. It took multiple discussions with many people in my group before I understood the impact of my statement. It made me realize I need to continue to think, not only about my wording, but also about the audience I am speaking to. My lack of education on the topic, as well as inappropriate choice of words, showed me how ignorant I can be. I don’t want to be ignorant or offensive. Acknowledging this weakness will remind me to be mindful of it when I speak.

From the first day of the project, I took note of how vastly different everyone in our group was. From our ethnicities to our upbringings, this was by far the most diverse group I had ever spent time with. We spent the week learning about one another and recognizing how our differences made us special. We did our best to respectfully share our views and opinions. Despite any differences, the most amazing part of the experience was the way we became such a close group of friends. By the end of the first day we were already cracking jokes and teasing one another. I admire my peers’ pursuits. They are all amazing people who are going to do amazing things. Most importantly I admire how we worked together throughout the week despite any conflicts and differences we had.

Someday, I hope to become a plant manager. If I want to accomplish this goal, I need to have confidence. Because of this project, I feel surer about myself moving forward. I am more confident in my personality, leadership, and abilities. I need to trust my abilities, but also acknowledge my weaknesses. Especially when those weaknesses have affected someone I work with. I need to be able to work with all kinds of people from all different types of backgrounds. Recognizing our differences, having respectful discussions, and dealing with conflicts will be a huge part of my career path. If I ever hope to be a good manager, I need to understand how to work with a diverse team. I need to be educated on differences and be aware of the impact of my words. This experience has helped me grow in these ways.

I learned more than I could have ever imagined through this project. I learned about the kindness and strength of Guatemalans; I learned about the country’s history and culture; and I learned about the resources that aren’t as readily available to them as they are to Americans. It was an experience I am forever grateful for. However, I am most grateful to my team for teaching me about the differences amongst ourselves. They helped me build my confidence and recognize my weaknesses. Because of them, I think I truly gained the most I could have from this experience.

Engineering Service-Learning in Guatemala

My trip to Guatemala was focused around working with Mayan Families and the Mayan communities to help them improve their lives. We installed cookstoves, water filters, and worked on larger projects focused around water quality, and rainwater harvesting at Mayan Families preschools.

From this trip, I have gained a larger understanding for how difficult the circumstances people have to live through are, compared to me. Seeing how the Mayan communities do not always have money, yet alone enough food or water to support their families is a humbling sight to see. But with that being said, these people have managed through these hardships for generations and continue to grow. On another note, it is amazing and heart-warming to see how happy everyone in the communities are and how close to each other they are. Each community is like its own family that cares for one another, and that is something that shows their strength and resilience.

The magnitude of my feeling came from being in the communities and witnessing everything going on around you, as well as, having translated interviews with the families we were helping. In the communities we visited, there was usually one or two families we would help install a cookstove or water filter for. While installing these, you can just observe some of the challenges these people have. All of the houses are made of a combination of cinderblocks, wood paneling, and corrugated sheet metal. Many of the communities have pilas (essentially a concrete sink meant to contain water) that everyone has to share for water. But with all of these “hardships” that I could point out, you see a smile on people’s faces and children running around everywhere having fun.

The interviews we had with families helped me understand why the scenario was like it was. Many of the families spoke Kaqchiquel (native Mayan language) so we had a person from Mayan Families help translate the interview for us. We asked questions focused around their source(s) of water and how they would like the idea of rainwater harvesting. But in that I learned that these “hardships” I noticed are not always looked at as problems for these people as they have dealt with them their whole lives. And that was very eye-opening to me.

What else I learned furthered my respect for the people living in these communities, their willingness to give even though they are struggling. During multiple interviews families gifted us water bottles as a “thank you” for helping them out. It was hard to accept because they were the ones living with limited water supply, not me. But accepting their gift shows how much they truly value other people, the help they give, and being welcoming to their communities.

These experiences have helped changed my view on the challenges in my life. I can now have a greater understanding and perspective to how my difficulties relate to someone less fortunate than me. I have always thought to myself in hard times that someone else has it harder than you, but now I have experience with people who do have harder days to live every single day compared to me.

STEP Reflection

My project was in the Service-Learning and Community Service category. I traveled to Boston to volunteer with a child-serving nonprofit organization, Cradles to Crayons, which “provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play.” My volunteer activities included sorting donated clothes into sizes, putting together outfits to send to children in need, sorting and packing donated books, and sorting socks into groups of three pairs to prepare to send to children. I chose to travel to Boston, because I am moving there for law school after this year and hoped to experience the environment of child poverty firsthand while networking with nonprofits in the area.

My transformation was two-fold: in my view of the world and in my understanding of myself. This trip gave me exposure to issues that I would not see otherwise, and it allowed me to see them on a very personal level. It gave me an understanding of just how many people, especially children, suffer from issues I’ve never had to experience. Additionally, this project allowed me to develop professionally through the creation of an itinerary and communication with several organizations. This experience improved my planning skills and will benefit my professional career.

My view of the world was changed due to the environment that I witnessed. While volunteering for Cradles to Crayons, I was informed of statistics that blew my mind and made child homelessness and poverty even more surreal. Cradles to Crayons helped approximately 145,000 children last year, but at least 300,000 more children in the state of Massachusetts are still in need of their help due to extreme poverty or homelessness. Statistics like these changed the way that I view poverty, as I have never been directly told how widespread of an issue it is. That statistic made me even more passionate to work hard during my volunteer shifts and realize that all the activities I was doing made a huge difference in the life of a child in need. Sometimes volunteering feels like a good thing we should do; hearing the need for our services made it seem so much more direct.

The other aspect of working with Cradles to Crayons that truly transformed my view on the world was my observation of the facility. Cradles to Crayons runs fully on donations, which means that it is difficult to evenly help children. Some age groups had significantly more donations of all kinds than others, and there was nothing the staff could do about this. Unfortunately, this means that some children simply won’t receive the things they need due to lack of supplies. This changed how I think about donations, especially clothing. In the past, I’ve often given clothes to a consignment shop in my hometown, where I can then buy more clothes using the funds my old clothes earned. I am now reconsidering this method. Clearly, others need my clothes more than I do; if their wellbeing relies solely on receiving donated, donating my old clothes just makes the most sense. Seeing the intense need in certain age groups’ clothing departments at Cradles to Crayons was very enlightening in considering my own choices.

The second aspect of my transformation consisted of more professional development. I have not travelled alone very often, and I have never set my own itinerary for a trip. Additionally, I had to communicate with the nonprofits with whom I hoped to volunteer, and I had to continuously update my plan as organizations informed me that they could not host me for my service trip. I initially planned this trip to be in December; when all three organizations I initially was communicating with told me they were unable to work with me during this time, I had to make the hard decision to move my trip back (meaning I would need to miss classes during an important semester). This meant I needed to find more organizations and contact them. Again, several said they could not host me, but I was fortunate to have Cradles to Crayons work with my schedule however was needed. From there, the itinerary planning balanced missing classes, having a meaningful service experience, keeping flight costs reasonable, getting approval from the STEP department, missing work hours, and getting my project in before the deadline for third-year graduates. This took a lot of time, patience, and planning skills that I will use going forward in my professional career.

This transformation is very significant in my life. I was able to experience very meaningful and direct service work in a community I would eventually like to live. I will never forget the thank you cards written to Cradles to Crayons by children that received essential items, and the volunteer experience helped to show me the importance of donating clothes rather than keep or sell them for personal gain. Additionally, I will be able to use my professional development from this experience to be a more successful OSU alum throughout my entire career; independently communication with organizations and creating a trip itinerary is an experience many people do not have until after graduating college. This trip changed my outlook on many things and made child poverty feel closer to home than ever before.

Engineering Service-Learning in Ghana Reflection

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 participated in an Engineering Service-Learning trip to Kpando, Ghana. During the Autumn 2019 semester, I took ENGR 5797.17S, in which I worked in a project group on creating a more efficient, but affordable rice thresher for small scale farmers in the community. Over winter break, we traveled to Kpando to test our prototype with the farmers and gain feedback to pass onto next year’s class who will hopefully implement the project.

 

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.

Going to Ghana was an amazing experience. Before my trip or class leading up to it, the only knowledge I had about Ghana or Africa was that it was a developing country, so the majority of what I thought I knew was based on general stereotypes. Seeing the country from my own point of view was an amazing and eye-opening experience. A general assumption about developing countries is that the people there need our help and aren’t really capable of doing much on their own. During my visit, I found out that this could not be further from the truth. The people there are all extremely capable and smart and hard-working, but they just don’t have as many opportunities compared to what we have here in the states.

Experiencing the culture of Ghana gave me a new perspective of the culture in the US. The culture of Ghana was extremely vibrant and beautiful and pure. The communities are tight-knit, everyone is friendly and welcoming, and people aren’t afraid to take their time. It was a refreshing contrast to the constant grind that is expected and necessary in my daily life. Since coming back, I have made an effort to take these ideas to heart and incorporate them into my every day.

 

 

 

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.

When we first arrived in Ghana, we were welcomed with open arms by our in-country partner, Edem. When we got on the bus, he began to tell us all about himself, his life growing up in Ghana, and how/why he started his orphanage and service organization. He was so excited to welcome us into his hometown and share his culture, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Throughout the trip, he was constantly checking up on us and scheduling meetings for us and various community members to have a conversation. At the same time, he would constantly be telling us that we worked too hard and needed to take some time to rest. My interactions with Edem were the first hint of the culture and people of Ghana, and I really admired it. Throughout the trip, Edem continued to introduce us to various farmers, mechanics, and other skilled professionals and all of the information and knowledge that they had caused me to question why I, a 20-year-old college student, was even needed there.

Another event that led to this change in perspective was when I visited one of the local rice farms. We were assisting with the rice threshing process and brought a rice thresher prototype that we had made to test. Our prototype was a treadle-powered rotating cylinder that used friction to pull the grains off the stalk. The prototype did not work very well, and the farmers clearly preferred their current method to the machine that we brought, mostly because it ended up being more laborious to use our machine. We had previously told them we had a machine coming that would hopefully thresh their rice more quickly than it did currently, so when it came and didn’t work very well, I was a little embarrassed. However, I’m glad now I had that experience because it was very humbling and clear evidence that the farmers know their craft much better than any outsider coming in.

Coming back to America and seeing all the creature comforts that I didn’t have in Ghana made me even more appreciative of everything that I have here. One of the most noticeable things was the water. There was a nearby water plant that supplied water to the house that we stayed in, but it wasn’t very reliable and there were several times where we were left without water and were unable to shower. And it was a privilege that we had access to running water at all. It made me realize how lucky we are to have such ample access to water here at home.

 

 

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.

Personally, the transformations I experienced as a result of going to Ghana have really widened my perspective of the world while at the same time made me realize just how much more there is that I still don’t know. Ghana is just one of 54 countries in Africa, each of which has a variety of unique cultures, traditions, and histories. This trip made me infinitely more curious about the world around me and what it holds. I have memories of traveling within the US and to Italy, but I had never had the experience of visiting a country outside of the Western world until now. I believe exploring these new cultures is extremely important because it debunks previous misconceptions and assumptions and allows you to form ideas of the place that don’t come from someone else. Seeing the culture of another country also teaches you valuable lessons that can impact and shape your values in a way that would never be possible at home.

Engineering Service Learning in Ghana

After a semester-long course learning about Ghanaian culture and designing a rice threshing machine, my thirteen-student class traveled to the small farming village of Kpando, Ghana to work with the local community on engineering solutions to problems faced there. We visited and spoke with farmers to gain feedback on our rice thresher design for next year’s group to improve upon our prototype and work towards a practical solution to improve the lives of the locals.

My trip to Ghana was my first trip to a different continent, my first trip to Africa, and my first experience being a white minority. It was entirely new to me, and it gave me a new perspective on how it must feel to others who feel the effects of discrimination every day. Since starting college, I have found a wonderful, diverse group of friends that have encouraged me to seek out new opportunities to experience new religions, cultures, and people. This trip gave me an opportunity to build on that by really allowing me to experience a new culture and society firsthand. It was a very eye-opening experience for me. In Ghana, I experienced a new society, and, owing to my pale skin, a new place in society as a racial minority. I experienced how it feels to be the person that is different.  From my time and interactions with people there, I’ve learned the value of appropriate communication and the need to speak up. I am ready to apply what I have learned abroad to my life back in the States. The perspective on discrimination and the daily experiences of minorities that this trip has given me has provided a new kind of motivation to fight for what is right.

 

On our way to the hardware store one day in Kpando, with my group and our translator, we came across several locals shouting and laughing toward us in Ewe, their native language. As we walked down the road, there were many children chanting “yevo, yevo, bonsoir.” I asked our translator about their chanting several times. He explained that they were saying “white person, white person, good evening.” He told me that they were speaking French, likely because they had several French visitors in the area last year and they thought we were French. We had several other encounters with the children where they would come up to us to touch our arms. When we stopped to speak with a local welder, there were about ten small children staring at us a couple feet away. We were in the middle of the Muslim community, and many of the female children were wearing a hijab. Though I had made a few Muslim friends in college, none of them wore a hijab.

After a few minutes with the small children, they started getting closer to me and poking my arm while I wasn’t looking. I was confused and offered them a high five. They were also initially confused but then very excited by this. About a minute later, all of them were touching and grabbing my arms. They didn’t seem to speak English well and were even more confused when I tried to say the little words I knew in Ewe. Eventually, another one of my group members took my place with her arms being touched instead. I later asked our translator about their curiosity. He explained that it was mostly because we look very different than them. They were equally interested in my differences as I was in theirs. I asked if many of the little ones have seen white people before, and he said probably not. I followed up asking if there are any white locals. He said that there are some that live more north, however I didn’t see any other white people in Kpando while we were there.

After growing up in a 97 percent white hometown, the first Indian people I had ever met were my two Indian freshman roommates, who are now some of my closest friends. I do not believe I have ever intentionally treated anyone differently because of their race, but it has always been something that I have noticed, just like the children in Ghana noticed mine, though a little less subtly. This trip abroad was the first time I have experienced being a racial minority, and it was uncomfortable. My Ohioan group got countless stares just walking down the street. Whether it was our skin, the way we talked, or the way we dressed, we were different. I do not believe that the Ghanaians meant any harm to us, but it was easy to notice microaggressions in the obvious mocking of us as we walked from store to store looking for supplies to build an inexpensive machine for a local farmer. I am very fortunate to have gone through multiple trainings on microaggressions and diversity, had a supportive group by my side, and was confident in my purpose in being there.

No one should feel uncomfortable walking down the street or in a working environment. Before this trip, my philosophy relied on others speaking up. My previous tactic was to approach the person in the uncomfortable situation to see how they were doing and offer words of comfort. Now, I am ready to be bold, speak up, and be heard. My experiences as a racial minority in Ghana have prepared me to better sympathize with groups here in America that have minority status, and I am now more motivated than ever to help ensure that they do not feel uncomfortable or unwelcome here. When I traveled across the world to try to help improve the lives of Ghanaians, I didn’t realize that I would return to the U.S. with the same motivation to help Americans in their everyday lives through compassion and the products I will design as an engineer.

 

Working with diverse group of people in an academic and professional setting is imperative for success. Through this trip, I have been given a glimpse of perspective on what it feels like to be different in a society that has certain expectations of me based on the color of my skin, and I hope to be able to share this experience with others to help them understand themselves and their interactions with others. In the future, I will be more aware of my actions and the ways I treat people based on my assumptions and perceptions. There are subtle examples of this every day even outside of race. In a recent lunch-and-learn at my workplace, a woman shared a story about how she saw a woman in her neighborhood wearing scrubs and asked where she worked as a nurse. That other woman was a pediatrician, and it showed how even a female can have subtle, sexist assumptions. We as people have many intrinsic biases and are liable to express them in ways we may not even see or understand. These need to be addressed and even called out when needed. I am ready to be that person. I am ready to have uncomfortable conversations to do what is right. I now feel more prepared to successfully work in a diverse group while making sure everyone feels respected. I am so thankful for this transformational experience in my life, and I hope to continue to learn and improve myself.