Upon entering Elon as a freshman, the term “global citizen” was foreign to me. However, after reading “Power Lines” by Jason Carter in my Global Experience class, in which he details his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, the concept of solidarity and service has become of greater importance in my life. While service was always stressed in my childhood, especially since I was raised in a Catholic upbringing, it wasn’t until I arrived on Elon’s campus that it took any real meaning. Professor Anderson in my Global Experience class always spoke highly of South Africa as well as the “common good”. I began to conceptualize a whole new meaning of service as well as my purpose in life. This was just one reason why my passion for service and working with the community began.
While I applied to South Africa for Winter Term because I was interested in experiencing a tiny part of the revolutionary nation that was able to overcome racial oppression and become one of the most ethically diverse countries in Africa, I was also blown away by the service component of the trip. I am excited to be working with community partners that will not only allow us to help address community issues, but also work on service projects that are beneficial to the community.
When learning about the various service projects, including the Adopt-a-Student program, in which I was shocked that just forty dollars could do so much to support a child’s education, I was immediately proud of the legacy that Elon students have left before me. I would love to continue working with these programs; however, I would also like to continue a passion of mine. Since my internship with Population Action International, I have become very involved with women’s reproductive health issues, including the issues of AIDS/HIV and sustainability. I would love to work with either the Medical Research Council or the Legal Aid in Cape Town to better understand women’s health in South Africa as well as their rights in regards to reproductive health issues. If I am better able to understand the issues, I hope to implement a service program that could be both beneficial to women as well as the health of their families.
I believe that my trip to South Africa will allow me to better understand individuals and groups of both local and global contexts and my responsibilities as a leader within these different communities.