Ever since
returning home on June 6th, 2015 from the inaugural Stevens Global Service
Initiative trip, I yearned to return to the place that gave me so
much, exposed me to a different culture and frankly allowed me to begin on a
path to becoming a true Global Citizen. I yearned to know when I would get a
second chance to have the ability to serve the amazing people of Jamaica, to
experience the Watershed moments that opened my mind to the wonders and power
of faith and forever changed me both mentally and spiritually. Now, as I sit
here and write this very blog, I am only a few hours away from returning to the
trip that has forever changed my life, and I cannot be more excited to be back
in Jamaica. However, there is another factor of this trip in specific that I’m
even more thrilled about—serving as Student Facilitator for this 2016 trip.
As
the Student Facilitator for the trip this year, I am responsible for not only
serving as a resource of information and advice for the students who are experiencing
their first trip, but also in charge of teaching two lessons during the course
of the week. Words cannot describe how enthralled I am to be able to guide the
first-time students through their first trip, whether it’s helping them get
acclimated to the Jamaican culture, or assisting them in discovering their true
Watershed moments throughout our stay. While on my first voyage last year, I was
exposed to feelings and emotions that I still cannot put into words; and I only
hope that these amazing individuals with me can say the same thing after they
too complete their inaugural GSI trip. I am honored to be able to say that I
will be by their side the entire time to guide and mentor them through the
process, and will ensure that they experience and absorb as much as they
possibly can along the way. And, by being given the opportunity to facilitate
discussions on topics such as privilege and helping vs. servicing, I will be able
to allow the other students’ minds to initiate deeper and deeper thoughts
pertaining to these topics and even more. In a blog I wrote last year, I
preached about this trip lighting a torch in me, and longing to be capable of
helping others discover that torch and light theirs as well; and I think that
through this role I will be able to truly show my other travel mates the true
power of this journey and spread my flame to others.
With
this combination of being able to not only return to the GSI trip but being
able to lead my fellow students through the journey as well, I believe that
this trip may be as remarkable, if not more than the 2015 trip; and I cannot
wait to land in Jamaica and help to uncover the torches inside all of those
around me, in the hopes that they too will long to spread the same flame to
other just as I did to them.
-Andrew
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