MRC Student of the Month - April 2001

Mikiko "Miki" Poy

(Junior - Sociology)

"Be an Inspiration: Volunteer!"

Last summer, I decided to take a chance and travel abroad alone for the first time. I was no stranger to traveling; my parents are professional musicians and I had accompanied them on countless tours around the country and the world. Last summer was a new experience for me; not only was I traveling alone, but I was traveling to a third-world country that I knew little about. I had heard about a program called Orphanage Outreach through an e-mail I received from Maria Schmidt, my MRC counselor from last year. I decided to follow the link in the e-mail, and subsequently signed up as a volunteer for Orphanage Outreach's "Touch the Future" summer program based in the Dominican Republic.

The two weeks I spent in Esperanza, a town in the northwestern tip of the Dominican Republic, became the most fulfilling of my life. I became completely immersed in the culture and atmosphere of my surroundings, and I fell in love with the people and the country within days. The 18 boys at the Good Samaritan orphanage in Esperanza, along with the townspeople, welcomed me openly and made me feel like a part of the community. The majority of the boys, who ranged from 6 to 19 in age, were not orphaned but abandoned by parents who lived within walking distance. While I as there, I taught English, reading and math, and served as a counselor and friend to the kids. The most amazing part of the trip, however, was not what I was able to give to the children and the orphanage, but what they were able to teach me. Their situation, as bleak as it seemed to be, did not stop them from being happy or enjoying life despite its hardships. I came back after two weeks with a completely new perspective, and a new place in my heart to call home.

My experience in the Dominican Republic helped me to realize my love for working with children, and became the inspiration behind my switch from the Animal Bioscience major to Sociology. I plan to attend graduate school to study public policy, and I hope to be able to help at-risk children and minority children in the future. If you are interested in volunteering in the Dominican Republic, don't hesitate to contact me. I have lots of pictures and stories to share!

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