Before I went on the brigade I was enrolled in summer school, specifically I was enrolled in Chemistry and the lab that went with it. I think it was the worst decision I made in a very long time. The lectures were about three hours long and it was very rigorous and fast. I was never good at Chemistry in the first place so, I was miserable throughout the whole summer. The routine would be the same: sit for three hours, try to soak up the lectures, go home do homework, sleep, go to lab, go home do homework… day after day. I was learning chemical equations and redox reactions, but I was not inspired and I was certainly not engaged. Summer school, in retrospect, was glum and lasted what seemed to be an eternity. Immediately after my finals I left for Honduras with no time to spare or relax. I was nervous, stressed and mentally exhausted and to top it off, I was having second thoughts about going. In some instances I felt that I did not possess the intelligence my other brigaders had and that made me feel even more nervous and anxious. I kept telling myself that I was going to go and try to make the best out of it and if I were lucky, I would come back a changed person. It was not necessarily because I thought the trip would change me, but more so because I thought if I could survive this trip after having the most horrible summer of my life, I could overcome anything. I did survive, and I came back a changed person way more than I expected to.

I learned more than how to take blood pressure and what medications are given for high blood pressure; I learned how to treat the human spirit. I learned that people from different walks of life could have nothing and be happier than most will ever be.  I learned that the life style I live could not make me as humble or grateful, as they are when they do not have anything.  I learned that I could build friendships with people that are completely different but still come together for a common cause. However, I also learned that justice has much work to be done in every part of the world.  That many must try to work together and continue to stand up for those who do not have a voice. I learned to be grateful for everything I have been given because not everyone has access to an education, a roof over his or her head or clean water as I have. I saw the disparity between the poor and my heart sank. I felt guilty. I felt guilty for complaining about my stupid first world problems while they have parasites in their stomachs. I felt guilty because I have multiple pairs of clothes and shoes and I saw them wear the same thing for days and they were barefoot. It put everything into perspective and then what my mother and father said as I was growing up about counting my blessings clicked. I was foolish for just thinking about my problems over the summer and foolish for not paying more attention to what was going on in the world around me. This trip opened my eyes and I saw what is beyond my home, what is beyond the country I live in and a glimpse of what is happening around the world.  I grew to appreciate what I have, and understand that justice isn’t everywhere. As long as there is poverty, not everyone has justice. It isn’t fair for many to suffer while there is plenty to be done to help out.

This trip was the best experience I have ever had, and at the same time it was one of the most difficult I have experienced. It was difficult to see so many people that were sick and not be able to do much but give them some medication. A part of me felt that I may have not helped at all and just offered temporary medication, but another part of me felt that I had done something greater than myself and something greater than any other textbook or lecture could have taught me.  This summer was miserable for many reasons, I had lost my mother a couple of months before and summer school was just not good. I was not engaged in school or in any other social aspect; I was selfish and did not want to deal with anyone else’s problems. I did not want to see beyond my feelings and I sure did not want to know what was happening in the world. This trip made me grow and realize that life is unfair but we have to keep working to help each other out and continue to work for justice and end poverty. The small service that I did to help out the people of Honduras will stay with me forever. I thought of my mother tremendously throughout the whole trip and what she taught me about treating the human spirit with service and kindness. She believed that by helping each other out and saving one life, we could save the whole world. We just have to be selfless and we have to faith that others have some good in them as well. I have learned, grown and come to appreciate life because of this trip. It was by serving others that I have found myself and grown as a better person. Even though they will never be able to repay me, I am okay with that and would not want it any other way.  I have learned that I have a civic duty to fight for justice for those who are less fortunate, and I have faith that by the small acts of service and kindness we do can start a ripple effect and change the world one day.