Lydia Anderson

MeyMey Seng

Staff Writer

Before going to Costa Rica with the International Cultures class, I was super nervous yet filled with excitement. The idea of traveling to another country to learn about their culture, language, and build relationships with the locals are just some of the factors that made me count down the days until the trip.

Although, I was nervous due to it being my first time on a plane, that I can recall. I was actually more worried about the connections that I would be able to make with my very limited Spanish, yet excited to try.

When landing in San Jose and looking out the window, that was when it hit me: I’m actually here! To see the view of mountains replacing the crowded buildings of Philadelphia put me in awe. It’s not just the view that was different but while walking out of the airport, the heat hit me, so I immediately took off my hoodie.

The large purpose of our trip is to both conduct a service project and an individual project that we are passionate towards. Going into the service project that was taken place in the Bribri community was a four hour bus ride to a river. Through the river we rode in canoes for an hour and a half to the specific section in the Bribri community: Yorkin.

Walking into the community was extremely beautiful with all of the family, plants, insects, and other animals that welcomed us. Being there opened my eyes to so many new things and took me out of my comfort zones. From things such as limiting our showers to five minutes made me realize how much water I typically waste on a day to day basis.

With this community, my initial nervousness dissipated. We were all welcomed by genuine smiles and warm eye contact. Since the community did not have electricity, everyone talked with one another, which should be considered the norm. Having a discussion with the rest of the girls, we realized that our phones and social media makes us distant from actually interacting with one another back at home.

When starting the service, we would dig trenches underground, and connect pipes that would support two families into getting running water to their homes. Even though we are not professionals at digging, the families worked with us and were patient. Despite my limited Spanish, I was able to make small conversations with the people in the community, exchanging laughter and smiles.

When hearing about the service project of digging trenches, I anticipated that it would require hard work, which it did. What’s incredible is that the people of the Bribri community do that hard work everyday and are very strong.

The day we left the Bribri community, I expected to be sad, but not as emotional as I did. When we left, hugs were exchanged to everyone, and I could not keep turning my head to look behind at the loving family waving us goodbye.

After leaving the Bribri community, we ventured back into the city where I did things that I never thought that I would be able to do. Except there, I have the team support from the team leaders Jordan and Emily from Rustic Pathways, teachers, and girls in conquering my fears.

Going to the beach and not being able to swim was a difficult thing for me. Even though I have gone to the beach before, it would consist of my mother, grandmother, sister, and I holding hands with a deadly grip, knee deep in. With the support of my group they taught me how to flow with the waves.

That was new for me and I never felt unsafe which is strange for me since I view deep water as dangerous. Along with them, we had two great surfing instructors who were patient and taught us how to surf. While falling off the board dozens of times and still hearing the support from my peers really encouraged me and I was able to ride the waves eight times, well out of about fifty.

The next fear that I had to face was heights when we went ziplining. I was so terrified that I did not think I would be able to do it. The ziplining instructor luckily went with me for the first round where I screamed as loud as my lungs would allow. For the rest of the course, my peers would support me and make me be one of the first to go and even though at the moment I was petrified, I really appreciated it at the end of the day.

On our last day in Costa Rica, creating that amazing bond with the Bribri community, my team leaders, teachers, and girls that I was able to travel with made me already feel nostalgic. Being able to support two families, doing the unimaginable, bonding with everyone, made it difficult to leave. Even though I missed home, I miss Costa Rica already.

Jayla Wright and Eric Valenti

Staff Writers

I wish learning about the Florida shooting had been a shock. Instead, I felt an overwhelming sadness for the lives that were lost and numbness towards the current state of our country. At first, I had thought that this issue of gun control was never going to fix. I feared that the US would be stuck in an endless loop of discussions about the problem with no solutions actually being acted on. When I heard that the students that survived the Florida shooting were organizing walkouts and protests and saw the support from kids all over the country I had a mixture of pride and anger. I was proud of my generation’s awareness but also angry at the people in power who have the ability and resources to end this problem but refuse to. It’s ridiculous to me that children are the ones who have to pick up the slack from adults. The very same adults who promised us a bright future, while at the same time allowing events that can prevent kids to from even having a future to keep happening.

To me, the walkout seemed like a step in the right direction. Kids walking out of class and organizing discussions on how to end gun violence was needed to show that there are people who are taking responsibility towards ending this issue. I’ve often felt helpless when it came towards activism and that I was not doing enough to create a change. The walkout allowed me to hear from educated speakers and also become more aware of other ways I can prevent gun violence from happening and ignite change. At the end of the walkout, there was a sense of unity within SLA’s community and I was pleased with my generation’s ability to join together in a time of urgent action.

The walkout was only the start towards students demanding gun control in the US and I plan on supporting them every step of the way. I’m not sure what are the planned steps after the walkout is beside the March for Our Lives on the 24th. I think the next steps will be more public acts to get attention on the issue, discussions on gun control with those in power, and gradual changes were done to establishments’ relationships with firearms to make it harder for anyone to carry any guns.

School shootings are obviously a huge issue in the United States, and I believe that the walkout was an impactful form of protest against school shootings. Personally, I don’t have an issue with protests or walkouts, and I support the idea of a walkout, but I’m not very politically involved. I didn’t feel as informed as I should be about shootings in the country and felt it wasn’t right for me just to walk out because others are walking out. The week that the walkouts took place was a little bad timing for me personally because I had missed some class that week and I had to make it up.

The idea that someone can still break into a school with a gun concerns me. I’ve researched the  Columbine High School shooting that took place in 1999, and I would’ve thought after an incident like that, that school shootings would never happen again. It wasn’t until the Florida shooting that I understood how often school shootings occur and why. People now believe school shooters all have some sort of mental disability and labeling people with disabilities as violent.

The walkout allowed for people to get politically involved with a topic that they can relate to because this is something that is going on in our communities. I feel an immense amount of empathy for the people who die in school shootings and I can’t imagine what it’s like to go through something like a school shooting. I believe that these walkouts may lead to some sort of solution those who are protesting.  However, I still wonder what this walkout will accomplish. I understand that this walkout is meant to prevent gun violence and raise awareness about school shootings but this doesn’t ensure that shootings will stop. This is why I’m cautious about protests if there isn’t a clear solution I worry about if what your protesting is worth it.