Hearing from past participants is always rewarding- we get to see where life has taken them, how their travels with us have changed their lives, and remember how much fun it was to have them with us. A University of Denver student tells us how going to Nicaragua gave her insight, helped her with scholarships, and inspired her to get a degree in international studies:
Before I went to Nicaragua, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. When I came back I felt like I had developed a new sense of purpose. I decided to go to the University of Denver and pursue a degree in international studies so that one day I might be able to continue doing the kind of work I did in Nicaragua. I hope to eventually make a career of it.
My experience in Nicaragua sets me apart from other students and gives me a unique perspective in my classes. I have no doubt that my experience played a part in my acceptance to the University of Denver and helped me receive much needed scholarships. In one of my classes, a professor asked each student what kind of international experience we had had. I was proud to be able to talk about Nicaragua when some of my peers didn’t have any international experience at all. In addition, discussions about poverty and world hunger are more real to me because of the people I met in Nicaragua. Learning about non-profit organizations and ways they help people in need is more interesting to me than to others because I would eventually like to be part of one of those organizations. Nicaragua changed my life and the way I view the world. I’d love to go back someday but for now, I’ll just cherish the memory.
Written by Caitlin Mendenhall
