New experiences with different cultures have the potential to change a person鈥檚 perspective. Just ask Josh Hilgenberg and Payge Smith.
Josh and Payge, both seniors this fall, were among a group of 17 鈥楤erg students who traveled to the Texas-Mexico border June 17-24 for a weeklong service trip in a Mexican immigrant community. Service Learning on the U.S./Mexico Border allowed students to immerse themselves in a different culture.
While on the trip, the 鈥楤erg group volunteered for a summer children鈥檚 program through Project ARISE. Whether playing four square, a game of hoops in the hot, humid climate or doing crafts together, the innocence of the children and the warmth and kindness of the ARISE hosts impressed them the most.
鈥淭hese are some of the warmest people I have ever met,鈥 Josh said. 鈥淭hey were genuinely happy that I wanted to work with them, without knowing anything about me. This warmth overflowed into the children, as I could tell they were full of compassion.鈥
Josh decided to take the trip to explore his interest in privilege and race. That came to light when a group of older boys asked him to join in a game of basketball, which he loved. He quickly discovered that his new friends were in it for the fun, unfazed by the conditions.
鈥淭hey forget about the sweat and the humidity and the dirt and focused on the fun,鈥 he said. 鈥淗ere, that鈥檚 not always the case. We complain and wish it was cooler, then go inside, blast our AC and do something else.鈥
It was that experience that awakened Josh鈥檚 awareness of 鈥渕y privilege in every aspect of my life.鈥
The trip also raised awareness about the hot-button issue of immigration, and raised some emotion for Payge. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to hear adults talk about things like immigration and racism and assume they are being political, but when children talk about these things, they don鈥檛 have any other motives. They truly are just talking about their life, and it鈥檚 so disheartening,鈥 she said.
Despite her sadness, she genuinely enjoyed listening to the children鈥檚 stories. It reinforced her belief that 鈥渆very story is important and deserves to be heard.鈥
Some of the students鈥 views changed about immigration after experiencing the border trip. 鈥淎 few students who had gone into the experience primarily against immigration came out at the end more open-minded and empathetic toward others,鈥 Josh said. 鈥淭hat was heart-warming, and it gave the experience purpose.鈥
Gaining new perspectives is huge, but it鈥檚 the gaining of new friends and memories that will stick with the students. 鈥淢y favorite part of the trip was getting to know the kids,鈥 Payge said. 鈥淚 told them my name was Payge, which is pagina in Spanish, and then, through translation mix-ups, one of the boys called me Miss Paper all week. It was so cute.鈥
In addition to Payge and Josh, students participating in the trip included Jillian Goulet, Heather deJonge, Rafaela Mueller, Evelyn Gonzalez, Julie Hild, Allison Prayner, Katie Peck, Nic Gillenwater, Sam Yoder, Allison Farroni, Suzanne Brengartner, Vivian Brauer, Morgan Bingham, Kenna Pancake, Abdu El Fargani. Professors Cindy Lepeley and Ginny Gregg and alumni Courtney Arbogast, Andy Helms and Stephanie Krawek accompanied the group.