Hi! My name is Kelly Cahalin, and I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago.  I am majoring in Nursing and double minoring in Psychology and Peace Studies.  My educational goals include: learning as much as possible both inside of and outside of the classroom, traveling in order to gain a broader understanding of the world, and training so that one day I will be able to provide the best nursing care possible.  My professional goals are similar, yet more far-reaching.  They include: continuing my education by studying to become a nurse practitioner, working somewhere that inspires me, and giving back to the global community in a way bigger than myself.

Luckily for me, the Global Brigades experience fits into this dream in a big way.  Global Brigades allows me to take what I have learned and apply it to real life in order to help real people.  Global Brigades has allowed me to travel to places I never thought I would visit, such as the astounding rainforests of Panama and the beautiful coast of Ghana.  And most importantly, Global Brigades has inspired me and allowed me to give back to the global community in a big way.  I have now seen what can be done on one brigade in Panama and one brigade in Ghana, and the only question it leaves me with is, what can be done in one lifetime of brigades?  Because I am here, and I am willing, and I am ready to shake the world in a gentle way.