First, what was the trip or program and how did you first find out about it? Was it something you knew beforehand you definitely wanted to do or did you happen across it and became more interested as you learned more?
I spent last New Year's in Costa Rica, listening to the fireworks being launched from the backyards of many houses around us. My parents, best friend, and I were on a medical mission trip with International Medical Relief (IMR), a non-profit organization that I have been a part of since 2015, when I embarked on my first medical mission trip to Haiti. I was fourteen at the time and IMR was one of the only organizations that had trips that were a week (it had to fit into my winter or spring break schedule) and that allowed minors. My mom is from the Philippines and after visiting family in the wake of the 2013 Haiyan typhoon, I became aware of the devastating effects of natural disasters, especially in places with limited resources. Five years after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince in 2010, many villages surrounding the city were still being impacted by the aftermath. What impresses me about IMR is their strong connection with local leaders who have the ability to assess where medical assistance is most needed and, more importantly, wanted. Part of IMR's impact is that they employ locals to work as translators and security for the group, helping many young people receive valuable experience and financial help. For the IMR team, we have the opportunity to talk to the natives about their personal lives, customs, and issues. Many of us develop friendships that we keep even after returning home.
This trip to Haiti was my first exposure to the medical field. It was very taxing work: riding two hours or more in small buses through dusty, unpaved roads in blistering heat, working long hours in less-than-standard conditions, and treating 1800 people in a week. But I thoroughly enjoyed every day I spent there. The experience of working with a team, interacting with locals, enjoying native food, and bonding with the translators was so life-changing. I have since been on five more mission trips with IMR - another to Haiti, the Philippines, Nepal, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
What were your expectations prior to the trip? Did the trip/program relate to your concentration or intended career path?
Most recently, in December 2019, I was on my sixth medical mission, this time in Upala, Costa Rica, near the border to Nicaragua. This trip went just as I expected: another experience of a lifetime. The climate was more humid compared to Haiti. The hospitality shown to us was incredible. We stayed at a hotel owned by a local physician who helped us organize the various mobile clinics. Most of the patients we encountered were Nicaraguan refugees who were not allowed to receive care through the Costa Rican health care system without monetarial compensation.
This trip was different because I was now nineteen and much more certain of my dream to go into the medical field. The mission gave me first hand exposure to medicine – from taking vital signs, to performing laboratory tests, to assisting providers, and teaching sustainable education. I hope to someday participate in these missions as a physician. These experiences have also given me valuable ideas to consider, especially in my classes Disease, Illness, and Health in Literature and Global Oral Health where we discuss the issues and intricacies of national and global healthcare.
What was one of the most meaningful experiences you had while in Costa Rica?
Another unique part of this trip was visiting sick patients unable to come to our mobile clinics. I saw first-hand the poor conditions some of the families lived in. One lady we visited was shivering in pain from an auto-immune disease. Sadly, we could not provide any significant treatment for her. We simply talked to her, gave her a hug and encouragement, cried a little with her, and I've prayed for her every day since then.
Would you recommend the trip to future Harvard students? Would you go again, either to Costa Rica or a similar trip somewhere else?
The question is not if I would go again. It's when I will be going on another medical mission. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, these trips have been put on hold. But once they resume, in whatever form that may be, I would highly recommend going on a medical mission especially with a group like IMR.
Has the work you've done in Costa Rica changed your future outlook on what you might want to do post-grad?
I've learned that I am called to serve others in any situation. Whether it's towards my family, a friend, a stranger, or one of my brothers or coaches on the team, I must always strive to act selflessly for the betterment of others.
