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

Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy taught students how to safely catch, tag, collect data, and release various species of sharks and rays. Then, utilizing that data to determine correlations between their research and whether conservation efforts are working for these species.

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

Through this program I was able to push myself outside my comfort zone and gain confidence in my abilities as an individual and as part of a team. I had the opportunity to travel across the country alone, meet new people and gain knowledge about marine species and conservation. Having the ability to work with this program allowed me to understand that I have a passion for exotic animals and want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine with a focus on exotics.

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?

One of most major aspect of this program that transformed me was traveling alone without the comfort of friends or family. When it was time for the departure day, I began getting anxious and overwhelmed with intrusive thoughts. I’ve never voluntarily put myself in those positions before, and challenging myself to do so was a huge transformative event. I learned that I do not need the safety or comfort of others to learn and grow as an individual. I can learn, teach and experience hundreds of different things by myself without relying on the comfort or validation of others.

I have always had a love for marine animals and having the opportunity to spend a week interacting and studying them was a dream come true. I learned the process of catching, tagging and collecting data for each species of shark and ray. Being thrown into these situations at the beginning of the week was overwhelming, but by the end of the first day we learned quickly. I found myself stepping into a leadership position by the end of the week with CMERA and helping others collect the data, while keeping these animals safe. I realize that I can by a leader amongst others, and help inspire them to push themselves outside their comfort zone.

Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy allowed me to understand myself and my abilities. I made some of the best people I’ve ever met. Furthered my passion for marine life and exotic animals. Learned I am a leader and can be confident in my abilities amongst a team and work together. And became more confident as an individual, who I am, and what my purpose is. Having the opportunity to work with CMERA and spend time with these new people was incredible, and I 100% plan to attend in the future as either a student or intern.

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

Gaining this knowledge and confidence in myself is crucial for my personal, academic and career goals because I no longer question my worth regarding my abilities or knowledge. I am confident that I push myself until I succeed and complete my goals. I’ve been told that I am not good enough for veterinary medical school, and I need to make a backup plan. I know that if I work hard enough, I will attend veterinary medical school and become a veterinarian. I will make a difference for the research and conservation of endangered animal species. And I will inspire others to reach their goals and build their confidence.

Blacktip Shark Data Collection

I was fortunate to be a part of the Community Collaborations San Juan, Puerto Rico Trip. I was 1 of 22 participants on the trip and we worked closely with various nonprofit organizations to restore different areas essential to the community & its development. We did some work at a community school, the rainforest, local trails, and other areas of Puerto Rico between San Juan & Luquillo. Each day I was able to engage directly with the members of the community, and the environment, and recognize cultural values. This STEP project presented me with the opportunity to do a lot of different things for the first time. I rode on a plane for the first time, I carried over 50 bags of cement, and gravel uphill, I helped revive a community center, and I helped create a trail in the rain forest.

One of my favorite experiences during this trip was when we worked with Cromapolis on reviving a community center and turning it into a school. This project had a lot of moving parts, a lot of work to be done, and little guidance from community members who were very grateful for everything we did. This was my favorite experience because I was a part of the transformation, I saw a lot of new creatures, we worked indoors and outdoors, and we were able to have a lot of creative control over how we redid the classrooms. I worked in the second classroom and in that room, we put a bookshelf in the corner, made a kitchenette area, cleared a walkway for two entrances (or one entrance and emergency exit) and power washed the outside. The leaders of this organization were very insightful about the political state of Puerto Rico and explains some of the issues that Puerto Rico had been dealing with. They explained that the natural disasters, corruption within politics, and the lack of collectiveness among the citizens have each contributed to the conditions they are passionate about improving. We started a legacy at one of the agencies we worked with, we made a poster with the university name on it and each student was able to put their handprint on it & leave advice or a quote. My handprint was blue, and my note said “The legacy begins with you” or “El legado comienza Contigo”. I made my handprint blue because I was fascinated with the scenery during my first plane and car ride around Puerto Rico. I chose that note because I had realized that we think of legacies being something left by someone else and I wanted to inspire the kids that attended the community school to be their own legacy. You don’t have to look farther than your past to get through the present & build a better future for yourself and others.

This was a significant rip for me, not only was I fortunate enough to provide services to people in the Spanish-speaking community, I was able to gain a lot of first-time experiences that inspire me to try new things and travel beyond the United States and surrounding areas.

This is the legacy we left as a group to highlight our presence, service, and contribution.

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

For my STEP Service-Learning Project, I traveled to Hawai’i with GIVE volunteers to learn about sustainability, culture, and responsible tourism. Every day, I would do hands-on work with the local partners on their land and learn about the history and culture of it. These activities included clearing land of invasive species, restoring archaeological sites, and partaking in local practices.

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

This program was very transformative for me in many ways. I feel that I grew as a person a lot on this trip, mostly because I went as an individual. Traveling on my own was scary because I did encounter some travel issues and was intimidated by meeting new people for the first time in a new place. However, this experience allowed me to grow and become more confident in myself. I got to try so many new things, from different foods, to snorkeling, to shearing a sheep.

This program also challenged my worldview as I learned about responsible tourism and the history of Hawai’i as a US territory. On the outside, Hawai’i seems like the perfect paradise to spend a beach vacation at. However, the tourism industry significantly impacts the local community in terms of resource allocation and exploitation of island culture. While tourism supports their local economy, it comes at an unfortunate cost that I had not thought about previously. Also, there is a dark history regarding the relationship of the US with Hawai’i and the military. These are not issues that are talked about often, and therefore I learned a lot about respecting indigenous populations and current issues.

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?

There were many events and activities that pushed me out of my comfort zone, leading to my transformation. The first challenge I encountered was navigating a complete itinerary change regarding my flights. This required some problem solving and confidence, but I was able to successfully handle the situation. I also had never done physical outdoor work, a new experience for me. I had to navigate using new tools, such as a pickaxe, sheep shears, and a corn knife. Every day, I did not know what to expect; however, this added to the adventure and helped me practice “going with the flow”.

I was able to experience such a transformation because of the support of my fellow volunteers. While we met for the first time after landing on the Big Island, we all became very close fast because we all were doing these activities that were out of our comfort zones. The relationships I formed with the group, our guides, and the locals definitely made the experience meaningful. Also, we would have group discussions every night about various topics, such as responsible tourism and the military history, that opened up my mind to many new perspectives.

There were many moments where I felt hesitant or nervous to try new things, but I always felt safe and supported. This helped me realize that although something may seem daunting, it is almost always worth it to take the leap of faith and try the new experience. I will always remember how much I learned and how much fun I had through trying these new experiences. These memories are encouraging and have helped me transform into a more confident, open-minded version of myself.

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

This change is valuable to my life, both in professional and personal ways, for many reasons. I now feel a new sense of confidence after being able to successfully navigate many new experiences on my own. I developed a wider worldview, promoting an open mind when encountering new situations. Also, I feel I have bettered my ability to work with new groups of people as I interacted with a variety of people throughout the program. This program also opened my eyes to the importance of sustainability and cultural preservation. While I hope to work in healthcare, I would love to find ways to include what I learned on the trip in my career. There are many lessons that I learned during my time in Hawai’i that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life. Most of all, I now realize the importance of education and advocacy.

I volunteered at the UPMC Horizon Hospital this past summer and got to experience more of what it is like to work in a hospital and healthcare setting. My responsibilities varied from being responsible for patient transport, medicine/lab work transport. At the front information desk, I was also clerical volunteer and was responsible for filing and organizing paperwork. I helped patients get to where they needed to go, whether it was physically taking them or instructing them. I also was involved in transporting medical supplies between the pharmacy and other departments, such as the cancer center, which I visited often.

My understanding of the world transformed in that I got a better view at what quality patient care is and how important it is. One day, I want to be a part of a healthcare system as good as UPMC provides. Putting patients needs above all else was always a priority. Getting to see the doctors, nurses, and staff doing their jobs to the best of their ability every day was inspiring and showed me how healthcare is vital to humanity’s future. I think I understand how important it is to me to be a part of the cutting-edge medical research and treatments that I witnessed. I also realized how much my seemingly-small help to the hospital staff relieved a lot of stress on them. Seeing people do work is so much different than hearing it, and in a post-covid world, I was appreciative of our healthcare heroes even more. The staff was incredibly friendly and constantly doing their best to make sure patients were comfortable, which like I said is difficult in a world after experiencing Covid-19. It takes a lot of bravery to be at the frontline. The strength it takes to face and treat cancer, for example, every day is inspiring. It inspires me to try harder to reach my goal of being a doctor one day and being someone who makes that difference, saves lives. The volunteers I worked with were also impactful on me. They were majority elderly folk who volunteered at the hospital ever since they retired to keep them on their feet. Learning about their experiences in life in general contributed to my overall volunteering experience, and to know that they willingly spend their free time helping out a hospital who truly needs their help, touched my heart.

My experience volunteering this summer was valuable to me as a pre-medical student who wanted to experience being in more hospital-care settings. I learned how passionate I am about wanting to be a part of the saving lives I saw people do everyday and I realized even the smallest things that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, etc. do all contribute to making the biggest difference. I learned a lot also about being human – in the sense that healthcare is so much more than science and it is a lot more about just caring. Caring about each other and helping each other. I hope to carry these lessons with me in my last year of college and hopefully in medical school one day.

For my STEP Signature Project, I spent two weeks working on an organic tea and herb farm in St. Ignatius, Montana. I drove across the country with two of my peers, stopping in six states along the way.

This trip has allowed me to strengthen my relationship with myself in a multitude of ways. Both the traveling aspects of the trip and my work on the farm afforded me the opportunity for personal growth I was seeking. As a result of the trip, I feel more confident in my own abilities. Although I was traveling and working alongside two of my peers, this experience required independence in ways I had not anticipated. I have also learned how to apply mindfulness in my everyday life. This allows me to better listen to my body, and therefore, provide care for myself. This past year, I have reckoned with myself personally and academically. One of my goals for the year was to reconnect with myself. I wanted to regain the sense of independence, assertiveness, and confidence I once knew. Through the experiences of this trip, I did reconnect with myself in this way. I had goals for my STEP Signature Project, but these goals were mostly academic and career based. I was unaware that this trip would allow me to accomplish those goals and simultaneously undergo a potent personal transformation. I was able to affirm my interest in food and cooking and this has consequently influenced my future plans.

The first aspect which proved transformational was cross-country travel. This was the longest and farthest I have ever traveled and traveled only with my peers. Before this trip, I had never seen the western part of the United States. As we passed from Missouri to the Dakotas, Nebraska and Iowa, and finally to Wyoming and Montana, each state provided an increasingly unfamiliar terrain. My reality quickly expanded to match my imagined version of the country. I compared each stop to my home in Ohio, witnessing people in places I had never before seen. While many of the differences I detected were minor, each stop had its own unique character distinguishable from the next. I enjoyed talking to locals in each city and paid attention to their recommendations. During the trip, we also visited Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. Witnessing such marvels of nature first-hand was a grounding and awe-inspiring experience. I have always loved exploring the natural world, but since living in Columbus, have missed natural experiences such as these. Spending hours driving across the country also proved to be a reflective experience. This time allowed me to solidify my goals for my time on the farm, and reflect on my accomplishments afterwards.

Once we arrived on the farm, we began working on the land. We worked each morning during the week, for four hours each day. I worked alongside my friends, other individuals staying on the farm through the WWOOF program, and the owners of the farm, Larry and Katie. Through participating in a wide variety of farming tasks, I was able to build a relationship with those working with me, and with the land itself. The activities ranged from weeding herb beds, seeding anise hissop, transplanting starter plants, and harvesting stinging nettle. I witnessed every step in the farming cycle of organic crops. I was then able to understand how all of the individual processes of the farm functioned together. Larry, who farms all of their land, explained his use of sustainable farming practices which helped enlighten me to my newfound understanding.

Our living situation on the farm was also highly influential to my transformation. We stayed in a heated tent with an adjoining outdoor kitchen and composting bathroom. Although we had access to electricity, I spent much less time engaged with modern technology on this trip. At first, I made a conscious effort to instead spend that time engaged with my surroundings. However, eventually, I found myself detached from my phone and the anxieties that can surround it. This detachment allowed me to reset in a way. Because I had released the tension between myself and the constant notifications and attention grabbing devices of my technology, I was able to focus on myself and my surroundings much easier. Before the trip, I had not realized how intensely my relationship with technology influenced many of my internal and external problems. My living situation was instrumental to this realization, as its functionality and natural beauty both influenced me to focus on my presence. Cooking every meal in the outdoor kitchen also reignited my passion for food. All my life, food has been my greatest passion. Being able to spend so much time on cooking and eating fresh food reaffirmed my love. Sharing cooking responsibilities and eating communal meals with my peers also strengthened our relationships and brought us together as a group.

My STEP Signature Project was the culmination of all the goals I set for myself, and changed me in unexpected ways. Through this opportunity to reconnect with myself and nature, I was provided with a grounding sense of clarity. This allowed me to reaffirm my interest in food, which has steered my career goals in an exciting direction. My experiences on this trip gave the confidence I needed to begin to pursue my career goals. While I have always thought food to be a great passion of mine, I had resigned myself from pursuing a career in the food industry. However, this trip proved to me that food is not only a great passion, but my greatest. In my career, I would like to combine my passion for food and cooking with my study of art history. While I am still unsure of what form this goal will take, I feel certain about my choice of a career path. This has also impacted my personal life. I am excited to begin cooking more in my free time and use local produce. I am also excited to dedicate more time to learning about food by reading books and articles, watching documentaries, and engage in conversations about food. Throughout the trip, food was a constant topic of conversation. I noticed how much I was able to learn about my peers through their relationships with food and their responses to it, similar to how enlightening the relationship between art and its audience is. Food is both the root and the result of social conventions. It can be studied as both a motivator and result of human interactions. Food is a necessity but also a commodity, a want and a need. These aspects of the study of food are comparable to certain methods of art historical study. Therefore, I am excited to begin to draw further comparisons between food and art, and use this passion to fuel my career choices.

These pictures capture Awesome Acres Farm in St. Ignatius, Montana. This is where I completed my Service Learning Project!

My STEP Signature Project took place in St. Ignatius, Montana on a farm, Awesome Acres, where I spent two weeks acclimating myself with farm work and Montana as a whole.

A typical day of farm activities consisted of— weeding, re-potting, harvesting, attending to farm animals, etc. Outside of farming I spent time taking hikes, both locally and at national parks, seeing cultural and historical sites, and journaling.

My understanding of myself as well as my place in the world changed tremendously. I not only matured by being away from home and being forced to be independent, but also learned how to cope with living in such tight quarters with two other people. Traveling across the country, living in a tent, and working together every day with Morgan and Lauren— the friends I completed this project with— bonded us for life and helped me to be more open and amiable with my friends. This aspect of the trip made me realize how much better and easier life is when experienced with friends, and the sheer value that comes with community building.

In addition, my relationship to food has grown as well. Eating food straight from the source, cooking it outdoors alongside friends, and learning the ins and outs of how to cultivate food, deepened my appreciation for eating and nurturing my body. Acts of care as simple as good, nutritious meals is something I hold near and dear to my heart now. Building upon this, my relationship to my body has improved as a result of my deepened appreciation for not only food, but also movement. Waking up routinely to work outside and hike in my spare time was very illuminating for all my body does for me.

One of the specific moments that lead to the transformations I mentioned previously took place during an extensive conversation with Larry and Katie, who ran the farm. We discussed a myriad of topics ranging from environmental justice, Native sovereignty, food justice, and the value of being outside. This conversation allowed me to comprehend the magnitude of farming on not just the farmers, but also the positive impact they have on the world. It is truly a blessing to not only have access to food, but to deepen your relationship to your body and nature also.

Furthermore, hiking with Morgan and Lauren in Glacier National Park was also a key turning point of this project. The mysticism that surrounded me, as well as challenging myself to take such an intensive hike, was so rewarding. Growing up I never felt capable of being able to explore nature because it was something that my parents and their parents never did, due to racial trauma. This was healing for my child self and proved to me that I am capable of exploring anything regardless of who predominately occupies that space.

Lastly, bonding with Morgan and Lauren for the duration of nearly a month also led to a significant change within me. They treated me with the upmost care, respect, and attention and we were able to talk about anything. As I mentioned previously, this was the first time I lived in such tight quarters with anyone outside of my immediate family. This was also the first time I have been on such a long and big trip away from my family, so the fact I was able to do it with such kind and generous people strengthened Montana’s impact on me. Friendship is something I want to spend more energy into positively cultivating and my time with them has also inspired me to engage with my community more at home. Communal living has proven to be very good for my well-being.

All in all, this transformation is valuable to my life because it has completely and positively altered the relationship, I have to myself and others, and will inadvertently be forefront in my mind as I move forward with life. My respect to myself, my community, and this planet has grown in ways that alter the way I view the world. The independence I had on this trip absent of my family has proven to me that I am capable of taking care of myself and doing big things— I am more comfortable with spontaneity and am excited to continue to learn more from the world around me.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.
   1. For my STEP Signature Project, I drove to Saint Ignatius, Montana with two of my peers from St. Louis, Missouri. We spent the course of two weeks working on a small-scale, family-owned tea and herb farm, engaging directly with sustainable farming and living off of locally grown produce.
2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?
   1. My time in St. Ignatius and the preceding travel period was an incredibly enriching and thought-provoking period of personal growth for me. I was blessed with the ability to interact with and learn from the natural environment in a number of new ways. Throughout my time, my peers and I had a number of opportunities to explore Montana and the surrounding areas. On our off-time, we explored Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, the Mission Mountain Range and the Flathead Indian Reservation. In seeing parts of the world that are different than that which I have come to know in the Midwest, I was able to find a new sense of self that is grounded and reinvigorated by the outdoors and the life-giving spirit of the natural world – a trait of my child-self that I have been able to return to.  

      Despite spending every moment with my peers and staying in close quarters with them, I was also able to strengthen my relationship with myself through moments of independence. I was enthralled with the quietude of the mountains that allowed me to think about and process personal events that occurred within the last year, and subsequently brought me back to the importance of caring for my mind, body and spirit. 

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?
   1. One of the key aspects of my experience in Montana was the opportunity I was awarded to engage with food at all levels in the production process. My work on the farm consisted of a range of manual labor tasks, including weeding, picking rocks out of the fields, tilling the land, repotting plants, harvesting and drying herbs and tending to the farm’s flock of cows. Throughout this time, I was able to gain a unique perspective of the circle of life of my food and how it makes its way to my plate, which resulted in a greater sense of gratitude for the planet and all of those involved in food production and service. As a result of my work, I was provided with fresh produce from local growers that contributed to my meals during my stay. I was able to see first hand the benefits of community care, supporting local farmers and working directly with the food that would later nourish and feed me.  

      My connection to nature was furthered by my living outside for the entirety of my stay in St. Ignatius. On the farm, I stayed in a tent with two of my peers. We had access to an outdoor kitchen that had a beautiful view of the Mission mountain range, as well as a compost toilet and outdoor shower. From our tent, we were susceptible to the effects of the ever-changing weather conditions; we were lulled to sleep by the cows’ mooing and the rustling of the mountain trees; we went to sleep with the sun’s setting and woke upon its rising. During our time outside of farm work, we jumped on any chance that we had to explore and hike the surrounding areas. I had not had the chance to fully submit to living an adventurous life outside since my childhood, and it was incredibly healing both my mind and body to have the opportunity to return to this.  

      Having grown up in a suburb of St. Louis and attending college at Ohio State, rural living was vastly different from what I was used to. In order to embrace the peacefulness of farm life, I decided to take a break from social media – and I hadn’t felt better! Being away from the distractions of urban life and all that comes with it (including seeking connection online and through social media), I was able to realign myself with my values, my life goals and my passions. 

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?
   1. This experience was incredibly transformational for me, both academically and personally. The time away from distractions allowed me to evaluate my goals, life values and passions from an entirely new perspective, which is what I was hoping to draw from this. I have long known that my passion lies in mental and behavioral health advocacy, and my time in Montana on the farm allowed me to find new ways to connect these experiences to my life passions. I had incredibly fruitful discussions with my peers on the healing and restorative powers of nature and the cultivation of our relationship with the environment. As I mentioned previously, my love for the environment is one that has been with me since my childhood, and it is a blessing to have been able to return to that and to find ways to connect it to my hopes for the future. Likewise, my time in Montana was incredibly healing for my own mental health. After a difficult and stressful semester, I was able to relish in the simplicity of rural living and to focus on finding new ways to care for my own wellbeing.

Luke Peiris

      The STEP signature project I decided to participate in was the Community Collaborations International: Puerto Rico, San Juan Trip. I had the amazing opportunity of working with a group of 20 other people from OSU to help with various volunteer groups in Puerto Rico where we worked in the community and in the rainforest. We were also fortunate to experience the lively culture and beautiful scenery that Puerto Rico had to offer.

      The people our group worked with had a lot of insight and understanding of the political state and financial state of Puerto Rico, so we were able to learn a lot about the history from them. I discovered that since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of America, they get pushed aside a lot concerning people’s rights and the island’s well-being. There is a lot of corruption in Puerto Rico’s government which contributes to this problem and perpetuates the island’s third-world characteristics. Poverty and homelessness is a huge problem in Puerto Rico that their government does not try to solve, and all the taxes and money going into the government is never seen again by the public. 

      Learning about all this and more has given me a much different perspective on countries and places that seem like great tourist locations but are actually suffering from corruption and debt. My assumptions that since Puerto Rico was a US territory it must be thriving and protected by the government were very naive. Their experience living as a US territory/commonwealth is much different from living in Ohio as a citizen. It makes me much more grateful for where I am at and the opportunities I have as a citizen, but it also gives me a lot of empathy and purpose for the people who are in less fortunate circumstances.

      Specifically, interacting with the crew we worked with helped me to understand the state of Puerto Rico and to change my original assumptions. Our group was hosted by a couple, Hassie and Rafael, who live in Puerto Rico and are a part of Community Collaborations, the organization that we volunteered with. We grew very close to both of them while we worked in the El Yunque rainforest. During our work and during breaks, I had the chance to talk to Rafael, who I nicknamed Rafi. He is an ex-military Puerto Rico born volunteer that now works to maintain the rainforest and lead volunteer groups like ours full-time. I learned about the gory, cruel history of Puerto Rico that isn’t taught in the history books; Puerto Rico was conquered and enslaved by European explorers and now it’s still being mistreated by the people in power and neglected by the people that are supposed to protect it. 

      On the group’s first day we worked on a school building that will be transformed into a community home. During that project we had the opportunity to hear from a local politician and hear his perspective on the state of Puerto Rico politically. We learned how the government is corrupt and how it manipulates the people to vote in various ways so they can stay in power. It was very interesting and eye-opening to the nature of the impact we were having by coming to help, even if it was in a very minimal capacity. Because of the propaganda the government implements to allow the people to continue to be lazy and not take action, our work v=building up the community meant a lot more than we realized.

      Learning about the background of the people we worked with and the culture of the island made the trip a lot more impactful for the group. We were able to have much deeper and serious conversations amongst ourselves and with friends and family at home. I did not expect to alter my worldview before going on this trip, but I am very glad that I did because it became so much more than just service and labor, instead it became an opportunity for growth.

      This transformation is important because now I have the opportunity to continue to make a difference. Even if that difference is as small as volunteering again or informing someone, I can still contribute. But more importantly, now I know why it’s important to serve and volunteer, because there are people and places that don’t have the same luxury that I enjoy and suffer from the simple fact that they live somewhere different than I do. I have always felt a passion for service but now that passion is fueled by understanding and purpose.

IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdrEv-AOur2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

For my signature project, I traveled to Hawaii to participate in a volunteer program focused on wildlife conservation. As a volunteer for the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, I participated in programs focused on outreach and community education, as well as research and protection of the Hawaiian green sea turtle.
During the completion of my signature project, I experienced transformations within my self as a person and in my understanding of wildlife. This trip was the first independent travel experience I’ve ever had. I traveled on my own somewhere I had never been before, which was really stepping out of my comfort zone. I also don’t know anyone in Hawaii, so I had no guarantee that I would not be completely on my own the whole time. This trip really forced me to step out of my comfort zone and experience new things that I would likely never have experienced otherwise. During my project, I gained more self-confidence, became more outgoing, and developed a stronger sense of self.
An important component of my volunteering was being stationed on Ho’okipa beach, where hundreds of turtles can come on shore to bask at a time, and making sure that people didn’t get close to or bother the turtles. Hawaiian green sea turtles are protected by state and federal laws, and it is illegal to intentionally be less than 10 feet from the turtles, to feed the turtles, or to intentionally bother the turtles. I had a lot of conversations with people about why they had to keep their distance from the turtles, as a lot of people didn’t understand the harm that humans can do to sea turtles by simply touching or bothering them. Coming from Ohio, I definitely understand the fascination and appreciation that comes with seeing an animal for the first time, but I learned that the best way humans can show their appreciation for sea turtles is to respect them and the laws in place to protect them.
For the duration of my project, I stayed in Aloha Surf Hostel in Paia, Maui. I was very nervous about staying in a group setting and not being able to make friends. I had never stayed in a hostel before, so I didn’t know what to expect and didn’t know whether I would be comfortable or enjoy my stay at all. As soon as I arrived at the hostel, I knew that I had to step out of my comfort zone in order to thrive in the environment. In doing this, I made friends and relationships in my first night at the hostel that will hold meaning and importance to me for the rest of my life. Over the course of the month I spent in the hostel, I developed a lot of friendships with people that I would likely never have met if I didn’t complete this project.
Living in a group setting gave me opportunities to learn a lot about myself as a person. I learned that I definitely value time alone, since I basically didn’t have a moment alone for an entire month. I learned to value myself as a person, and the relationships that I made gave me a sense of importance and allowed me to develop a greater appreciation for myself. I also learned to value the people in my life and the interactions that we have. I gained a strong sense of gratitude for the path that I’m on and the opportunities I have had.
Through my volunteer work and experiences, I learned a lot about working with people and conversing with people who are not exactly amicable, and how to approach settling these disputes. As I was also coming to Hawaii from elsewhere, I was able to learn how to appropriately respect and appreciate the culture in Hawaii, and I will be able to carry this knowledge with me whenever I visit places with different cultures and customs than I have experienced. My volunteer experience provided me with knowledge on working with and understanding people, as well as appreciating and respecting wildlife.
My personal transformation will allow me to adapt and flourish in a variety of situations and environments throughout my life. I now know that I am capable of thriving when put in a new place with unfamiliar people. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for myself as a person, which will help me to succeed in multiple areas of my life. I think that my experience in completing this project will prepare me for my future as it has made me more comfortable in situation that appear uncomfortable. I find myself doing things that I would likely not be comfortable or confident doing had I not completed my project.