On March 5, 2016, I packed my bags and left for Pittsburgh, with a group of nine other brilliant people. Little did I know, in just one week I would discover a new family.
Freshman year, some of my friends applied to be on mission teams to volunteer around the country and places abroad, while I toured around Washington, D.C., during our spring break.
Post-break conversations revolved around how life-changing their experiences had been and all the amazing things they learned; that was it. I decided to apply for one this year, and experience the "magic" for myself.
In October 2015, I got an email congratulating me on my selection in the mission team to Pittsburgh, and there was no looking back from there.
In one week, my team and I worked with children (Higher Achievement), volunteered at a program for people with different abilities (Friendship Circles), received an anti-oppression training and shared meals and conversations with residents at a homeless shelter. Needless to say, I have come back more grateful for and aware of my privileges than I ever was. But beyond learning about my own self, I have come to know about the lives of nine other beautiful souls.
At various instances throughout the week, between inside jokes, laughter and deep conversations, I learned hands-on working definition of "team We were all always willing to lend a shoulder to lean on, willing to listen to each other and willing to care.
Not a single day went by when I didn’t want to freeze time and just pause everything to be with the team longer, to be learning with everyone just a day longer.
We were well aware that in one week we wouldn’t be changing the world, but constantly we reminded ourselves of the “Ripple Effect.” You do your part and contribute, and each ripple counts to become the final wave. We were well aware that we are mere drops in the ocean, but every day together, we learned how significant our small acts were.
There was a day I remember distinctly, when I felt helpless and let down at my inability to do all that I wanted to and wished for. I decided to vent out my frustrations to one of my teammates, who very calmly sat me down and shared a story from her childhood. She recounted how a person’s little contributions had impacted her so greatly. She ensured in just an hour that I felt empowered and reenergized.
On another occasion, I looked up to a teammate for some help at our demo site. Without hesitation or a second thought, he stepped up, helped me and ensured I had everything I needed.
It is funny to even fathom that just six months ago, we were all strangers. Just 20 days ago, we were all excited yet nervous about traveling together. Today, we are all family (The Quakers!)
The biggest part of my mission week experience was the people I met and the conversations I had the privilege of sharing. And I cannot stress this enough.
A scholar I worked with at the tutoring program we volunteered at, asked me if I believed in him. I said yes, but I haven’t been able to stop reflecting back on it since. A 12-year-old wanted to know if I, a stranger, believed in him, and it mattered to him. His sincerity, playfulness and smile, I will never forget.
I can never thank enough everyone involved in making this happen.
We all evolve every day, but experiencing a mission team changes you in ways you wouldn’t anticipate. And it changes you for the better.
Thank you team, for "quacking" (our team mantle was a plastic duck) with me and for being fantastic human beings.
