Emily Cribas: Spring Break in Nicaragua with Global Medical Brigades

Editor's Note: This article is written by Emily Cribas, a junior studying biochemistry and molecular biology

This spring break, I traveled with Global Medical Brigades to Nicaragua as part of a medical/dental and public health brigade. In six days, we attended over 700 patients, built latrines, cement floors, and septic tanks for two families, as well as helped other brigade groups on a nearby water project.

Before this trip, I found myself trapped in a bubble of complacency and privilege. I studied in school for the sake of getting the grade, and lost sight of why I was here. I was absorbed in my own problems and stress, that I became oblivious to the real issues people face outside of my everyday life.

In that week, I felt like I made more of a real difference in the world than I have in my entire life. We directly interacted with and tended to patients, prepared medications, gave talks on disease prevention, and helped families with scarce resources have a clean place they can call home.

After seeing the impact that our simple services had on the community, I am emboldened to find my own way of further contributing to even more communities. As a science student, I strive to conduct research that will fundamentally improve these communities. For example, our doctors were hard pressed to diagnose everyone quickly; it would be very impactful if we could develop quick biomedical diagnostic tools for places like this.

This trip has reinvigorated my passion and appreciation for science and other cultures as well as made me place an increased value on global outreach, so much so that I am determined to volunteer at the Peace Corps before retirement.