Natalia

I remember I was at the movies when I received the phone call: “Congrats you’re going to Dominican Republic”. My heart jumped! I was immediately filled with joy and an energy that is still hard to explain. My first reaction: I screamed in the middle of the movie theatre! I couldn’t believe it. I was going to DR!  I am a business Management Major, and I was the only one out of 16 that was not Pre-health.  It was an honor for me to get chosen to participate in such a memorable experience.  The impact that this trip had in my life was extraordinary, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of my DR sisters and brother, the children from the orphanages, schools, and hospitals, the doctors and their passion for medicine, and all the great people that I met throughout this trip.  When I look back, I can’t help but get teary eyed. These memories fill me with energy, passion, and empower me to do everything in my hands to keep helping in every possible way those who truly need an encouraging voice, and helping hand.

For me this trip has been the most rewarding experience I’ve had in my 24 years of life. I believe EVERYONE should give back and help others, not only Pre-health students but all majors. There is so much you can give to others and it starts with a simple word and a smile. There is no telling how much you give to people with your help and most importantly, the lesson they teach you as a person surpasses anything that is written in books or taught in class. It is something you can only learn by living it!!!

There is one thing that I have very clear in my mind. When I graduate, I want to work with people. I want to give all my time to those who lack resources and who have been forgotten without a voice to be heard. If one human being can make a big difference by lending a hand, imagine what we could accomplish if everyone participated.

This is the first of the many trips I plan to take with IMO.  IMO has given me the opportunity to explore my potential as a student and most importantly as a person. After the trip, I began researching more about PA school. It is something that I have going through my mind, and I definitely want to do it once I finish my bachelors in Business Management and Nonprofit Management.

I can truly say this is the experience of a lifetime….words are too vague to express how wonderful and unforgettable this trip was… It is trips like this one that make us realize how lucky and fortunate we are for having all the blessings we sometimes take for granted, like our families, a home, a job, good health, school, and the opportunity to better ourselves in a country where the sky is the limit.

Like mother Teresa once said “It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters”…