My STEP signature project was a week-long trip that entailed helping various communities in Puerto Rico where my Buck-I-SERV group and I participated in construction projects, environmental conservation, and even spent time at a local Boys and Girls Club. We were able to work in multiple settings, accomplishing the tasks at hand and learning about the project leads and the importance of our service.
While completing my STEP Signature Project, I grew substantially as an individual. I joined eighteen strangers at the Union to travel somewhere I had never been, and it was overwhelming at first. Yet by the end of the trip, I felt an attachment to those people and Puerto Rico. I learned how to open up to others and be okay with vulnerability while I was developing new relationships with those around me. This trip was a reminder that even though stepping out of my comfort zone is incredibly difficult at times, it always leads to growth of some kind.
Furthermore, my assumptions and view of the world transformed specifically after our third day of volunteering. We were working on a house with an organization known as SBP, and this house was being reconstructed following the disastrous Hurricane Maria in 2017. In the United States, we tend to see recovery from natural disasters, illnesses, etc. fairly quickly, and it is easy to forget that not everyone is as fortunate. In Puerto Rico, they rely on volunteers to come and help with many reconstruction projects. I realized how important the work we were doing was and gained a better appreciation for the project leads and natives of Puerto Rico that continue to support their community.
There were many aspects of my Buck-I-SERV trip that led to my individual transformation and realization, but the interactions we had with each volunteer coordinator (project lead), the relationships I formed with my group, and our nightly reflection contributed the most. Each day brought a new service project and with that project came a different coordinator. Getting to know these individuals immensely educated my group about why we were truly there and how much our time and effort really helped. It was special to learn their stories and was something that stuck with each one of us.
Although we did spend most of our days working on service projects, we had a large amount of time to socialize and get to know one another. Each student on my trip had their own quirks, and it was exciting to learn about everyone. We all discovered similar characteristics and experiences we had with one another and that made our group grow even closer. I wrote in my STEP proposal that I hoped to meet life-long friends on the trip, and I truly believe I succeeded in that. Since we returned, I have already reached out to a couple of them for advice and to catch up. Making connections with fellow students greatly enhanced my experience by giving me the necessary amount of reliability I needed.
One of the main activities we did each day was nightly reflection. It gave us time to sit and unwind as a group and discuss important aspects from the day. At the end of the activity, each of us said someone we appreciated from that day and why. It led you to think about the little things and realize how significant they can be in someone’s life. I have carried this habit into my day-to-day life at home because it truly augments the value of each day and brings my family closer together.
Being in a new environment with people I barely knew was far from my comfort zone and required a large amount of flexibility and open-mindedness. The skills I developed in Puerto Rico will be useful in my future academics and professional endeavors as a PA. For example, I learned how to quickly align myself with others and work as a team, just like I will be doing in PA school and once I get a job. As a PA, I hope to periodically serve and utilize my medical knowledge outside of the country, and this trip gave me a first glimpse at what rewards a service trip can hold.
I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to visit Puerto Rico and learn about its culture and inhabitants. Valuing the variety of lifestyles present in our country and surrounding areas is crucial in creating connections with colleagues, patients, and others. Moreover, the relationships I formed with other Ohio State students shows that it is never too late to make connections. Buck-I-SERV and STEP allowed me to take a trip that changed my perspective on myself and every aspect of my life, and I am thankful for who I met and what I learned.
Me and two others painting a house with SBP.
