- My STEP Signature Project was participation in a Buck-I-Serv trip over Spring Break to go to Nicaragua. We volunteered in the community of El Transito, which included painting a church, serving meals at a local school, and aiding in the construction of a technical school.
- My trip to Nicaragua helped me gain vast worldly insight in many ways while also challenging my former biases and assumptions. One of the most significant things that surprised me was the joy I found in the El Transito Community. Despite living in comparatively small dwellings and working under a brutal sun, the people of El Transito were friendly, kind, and had a positive outlook on life. There is a strong sense of kinship between all ages, and people work together to uplift their community. I realized that factors such as economic status did not stop their happiness.
I challenged myself to fight the notion I had always been taught growing up: that America and the Western World are on top. I do not mean to negate the struggle of growing up with limited access to foundational resources, such as food, water, etc. However, even in the United States many people have these things and are still not satisfied with their lives or the state of the country. I was forced to check my own privilege and perception of “3rd-world” countries. My most important takeaway from this trip was the determination I had to live like the Nicaraguan people and help my community in any way I could.
- The first significant personal influence that contributed to my growth was the support of my fellow group members. Every night, we reflected on the day and the way we approached situations. My peers encouraged me to be more thoughtful in my words and actions. In particular, we had quite a few discussions on how to interact with locals in ways that would not feel as though we were above them. The words from my peers provoked me to go about each day with intention behind all of my actions.
Another important influence was the relationships I made with the local Nicaraguan people. One man, Stu, was from El Salvador but lived in Nicaragua working for a foundation that promoted clean water access. There was one night he came to talk to our group, and something he said really stuck with me: “In America, you don’t drink the water out of the tap because you’re worried it’s ‘contaminated,’ when in reality it’s not.” It may not seem like a significant thing, but when you are in a country where you can’t open your mouth in the shower, you realize how much you take water for granted. I felt incredibly silly for being one of those people who believed my tap water might be ‘dirty,’ and it made me realize that I was very lucky.
There were many other people we met along the way that made the trip amazing. Our hosts, Mauricio and Erica, were from El Salvador as well. I enjoyed hearing their stories and being a part of their lives. There were also a few children we met while volunteering at the school and being at the hostel. Their experience growing up was so different from mine. Many of them were small for their age, as they didn’t have enough to eat. Yet, they were filled with so much joy and life that you couldn’t help but smile while around them. They showed me their favorite snacks, sports, and places in the town. I felt very lucky to know them.
4. I am a pre-medical student, and to be a doctor I believe that you must be compassionate. Patients will remember you and value you when you get to know them and show them that you truly care. This trip solidified to me the importance of developing connections. It makes me feel even more compelled to become a doctor. As well, I learned more about healthcare in a country without the resources of a Western nation. It was a shock to learn that the nearest hospital from our town was an hour away in Managua. It made me think about being a doctor somewhere other than the United States, and the privilege I have to live somewhere where I have accessible healthcare. I’m grateful for this new perspective, but overall, I learned that people are much more alike than they are different.