As a previous service-learning abroad participant, I had an idea of what I was in for going into this program. However, participating in the International Engagement in Mexico program absolutely exceeded my expectations.

We performed community service by painting the courts of an elementary school playground area. The students I worked with mainly came from low-income families, with little to no access to clean drinking water, with the school being located in a rural part of Huatulco, Mexico. The classrooms lacked air conditioning in humid and hot weather. All the classrooms used whiteboards for instruction.

This experience helped me grow as a human being and witnessing the community coming together to support our efforts and their own children was a beautiful thing to see first-hand. Seeing the parents be there for their kids specially made me think of my own parents and the efforts they made when they came to the United States as immigrants.

Professionally, this experience challenged me in putting myself in an environment in which I only knew a few basic phrases of Spanish. As someone studying communicative sciences & disorders, I found communication to be a difficult topic, but I enjoyed still making connections with the students in different ways, like playing soccer during recess.

Finding other ways to make connections when a language barrier is present is humbling. I feel that everyone should strive to have these types of experiences at least once in their life and has made me more grateful for the opportunities and resources I have at home. Through studying abroad, I have found a passion for volunteering both at home and abroad and hope to continue to have similar experiences such as this after I graduate.

Name: Andre Edmond
Status: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Grand Haven, Michigan
Program: International Engagement in Huatulco, Mexico