1. Why do you want to go on this trip?
2. What do you expect to see/experience/learn from this trip?
3. How does your participation in this trip reflect your values as well as Sigma Chi's?
1) I want to go on this trip because all my life I’ve been fortunate enough for everything to be given to me, or easily obtained through my own means. Besides my college education, which is the most prominent, I’ve been given a variety of things: from the superficial such as a car, a cell phone, or my own bathroom; to the necessities that are food, water, a home, and sense of safety. If I had to describe the feeling I have that is motivating me to take this service trip, it would be guilt. Guilt because all my life I’ve had everything given to me and never appreciated any of it as I should; guilt because despite having everything and more, I’ve never helped others who are less fortunate than me. I want to go on this trip so I can finally begin helping others and begin properly appreciating everything I have.
2) One of the biggest reasons I want to go on this trip is to learn what it is like to have very little; to have the color of your house be your biggest pride; so that I can properly appreciate everything that I have. And although it’ll be impossible to learn what it is really like to have so little in only ten days, ten days is still somewhere to start.
I also expect to learn about life and happiness. Here in the states, specifically in the commercialized north-east, success and happiness is defined by how much you earn and what lake your summer house is on. I want to open my eyes to the world and see that despite our upbringing, people can still be happy without a Mansion and corvette. While I’m helping people who are less fortunate with their housing, food and water; I expect those same people to be helping me and teaching me about what life is really all about.
3) I believe my participation in this trip reflects all the Sigma Chi values, described in the Jordan Standard, which perfectly match my own set of ideals. I believe only a man of good character would have realized the opportunity there is for both personal growth and charity that there is in this service trip. A student of fair ability is also required to be able to work with the other brothers to successfully organize this entire trip. Ambitious purposes are also required or else a man might never even go on the trip. A congenial disposition is the key value that this trip requires in my opinion, because without it a man might look down on others less fortunate and be wary of committing his time to help them. Good morals are also required to drive someone to help others less fortunate than him. A high sense of honor and deep sense of personal responsibility also tie into this because on a personal level, this trip is something I’ve already put much of my time into and plan on putting much more into it. I genuinely want this trip to happen so I can grow as an individual and be able to help others that may not be as fortunate as me.
1.) Immediately after returning from the last service trip to the Dominican Republic, I knew it was something I wanted to do again. It was incredibly interesting learning and participating in Dominican customs and traditions. However, more importantly, it was very rewarding to see the positive impact we had on the lives of the people. On the last trip, we painted a number of houses in addition to a school and the people were thrilled. They continually thanked us and were eager to work alongside us! On this trip, our primary project will be building latrines, which will have a hugely positive because of the lack of appropriate plumbing down there. I look forward to the differences we can make and the lives we can touch with our work in the Dominican Republic and I cannot be more excited for this years trip!
2.) Since we will be staying with families in a remote village, I expect that we will live in a fashion similar to their day-to-day lives. I am eager to learn more about what goes into a day in the Dominican Republic, whether it is how they travel from place to place, what goes into the preparation of a meal, common occupations, or popular games, activities, and dishes. However, I also expect to be put out of my comfort zone. I think we will see some extremely impoverished conditions and live in homes that may not be very similar to those that we come from. This being said, we will not only learn lots about their culture and ways of life, but also about ourselves and where we come from.
3.) Our mission on this trip stems from the ambitious purposes we hold as Sigma Chi’s. We have to work hard in organizing the trip and raising enough funds to make this trip possible. Having gone on the last Dominican Republic service trip and seeing the conditions of life down there, I feel a personal responsibility to helping the people down there in ways that they may not be able to help themselves. We have access to resources that will have a substantial positive impact on their lives and we must work hard to ensure that the projects become possible, and subsequently executed through meticulous planning.
Jonathan Fricke '14
1) After going to the Dominican Republic last winter break, I saw a few inland poverty stricken areas. People lived without many amenities that I take for granted such as running water and plumbing. I decided to go on this trip because I want to help those who are much less fortunate than me. While in the past I have performed community service, I have never had the opportunity to help and live among a culture that is this different from my own. Therefore this trip to the Dominican Republic represents a rare opportunity to help others and learn about another culture.
2) From this trip I expect to be able to lend a hand in improving a community. From my upbringing I was taught various values and skills working with my hands. I would like to be able to teach others various skills which can be used to continue to teach and build the community after the service trip leaves.
3) This trip embodies all of the values of Sigma Chi and those that I hold. Being able to help others who are less fortunate, is something that I take great responsibility in. If I were to pass up this trip, not only would I be letting myself down morally, but also those who are in need.
Connor Noel '15
1) I want to go on this trip to improve the quality of life of a community of people and broaden my perspective of the world. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to permanently live without plumbing, never mind without permanent outhouses. I wonder what kind of systems they have in place now. I imagine that the twenty outhouses we plan to build will be a significant improvement over what their current customs are. Being a part of this trip will be extremely rewarding by helping fundraise for and build these outhouses with my own hands.
2) This trip will immerse me in a culture with a much lower standard of living than I’m accustomed to. Living with one of the families that will get to use the outhouses we build will be a great way to experience what life is like for these people. I hope to gain insight from having this experience about what things they hold important and how they differ from what is important to me.
3) Both my values and Sigma Chi’s are reflected in this trip. Two core values I share with Sigma Chi are friendship and learning. I will be befriending a community and giving them a friendly helping hand. I will also be learning about their customs, what needs to be done to complete a project like this, and how life in the Dominican Republic relates to my own.
Craig Rogoff ‘15
1) I want to be a part of the DR trip simply to give back. I want to make an effort to do something for people who have very limited resources. I want to supply this impoverished community with living essentials that we in America take for granted each and every day.
2) I look forward to gaining perspective on life that I wouldn’t otherwise have. Coming from one of the richest countries in the world, everyday norms from my perspective are considered novelties in some countries. Not only do I want to be able to experience this fact, but I want to take the necessary steps to change it.
3) By participating in the effort to better a community’s living standards, we are giving this group of people something they would never otherwise have. We are recognizing how privileged we are to have what we have in day to day American life, and taking a step back and to give a piece of this to people who have nothing. This trip typifies certain values such as good character, which I, as a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, am proud to embody.
Matthew Michael '16
1) I decided to go on this service trip to expose myself to a different culture and provide assistance to those in need. In addition to this trip providing a bonding opportunity for me and my brothers, I can connect with people of a different cultural background and help them. I haven’t traveled much outside of the United States, and I believe this trip will be an eye opening opportunity to experience a society that is much less fortunate and developed than my own. It will also allow me to provide the service to help others in need.
2) I expect to come away from this trip with a new outlook on the world. Experiencing the lifestyle of the Dominican Republic will help me evaluate my values and priorities in life. I will be exposed to a society that isn’t concerned with what the next iPhone will be like or what new movie is coming next weekend, but with how they can afford to put food on the table. The trip will provide a great opportunity to do some self introspection and learn more about myself. Also, by helping the families of L’Elmo, I will feel a great sense of accomplishment by getting to physically see the end result of our labor and philanthropic effort, as opposed to just sending money to an organization and never seeing the end result.
3) This trip is associated with the aspects of good character and good morals. We are providing community service which shows unselfishness and a commitment to help others in need, while showing that we have the character to dedicate our time for our labor. We are providing assistance to families for the sake of benefiting a community.
Andrew Stark '15
1) I want to go on the DR trip because it is an amazing opportunity to visit another country while doing something great for the people of that country. I will learn so much on this trip, while getting the chance to better the life of other people.
2) On the trip I expect to see a way of life that I have never seen before in person. I expect to have many experiences in the Dominican Republic that will help me grow as a person and give me a new perspective on certain things in life. I hope to learn many things on the trip that will allow me to continue helping people and doing things like this in the future.
3) The Sigma Chi values are very important to me and a reason why I am happy to be a part of the organization. The characteristics of a man that are stated in Sigma Chi’s Jordan Standard are well exemplified in this trip because I believe it is important as a person to be able to put yourself aside and help other people.
Sean Hickey '16
1) I heard
great things about this trip from multiple brothers who have gone in past
years. It is a chance for me to help out others who are not as fortunate as we
are, while also gaining exposure to a way of life that I am not accustomed to.
I also am very excited to provide help along with my other brothers on the trip
for whatever tasks we are asked to do and interact with the people living
there.
2) I expect
to gain a lot of insight into how a good portion of the rest of the world
lives. Growing up the United States, and the north east specifically I have
lived in a comfortable “bubble” for most of my life, with little exposure to
how the rest of the world lives. I think putting myself into the lifestyle that
the people in the Dominican Republic live it will open my eyes and help me gain
personal experience and understanding on many things that I take for granted in
my everyday life.
3) I think
this exemplifies my values as a man of good character and possessing of good
morals. It would be so much easier for me to just sit at home and watch TV
during my winter vacation, however I feel that going to the DR the help those
less fortunate shows my commitment to help others over just my own personal
relaxation and enjoyment. Another aspect to address is the thought that morally
helping people no matter the situation is always the right thing to do. This
trip will give me the opportunity to not only show my good character but also
help me feel morally just in my actions.
Ben Faiga '14
1) Two years ago when I attended the Gamma Pi Dominican Republic service trip it was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. It was also extremely rewarding, being able to help those in need and directly seeing the impact and response of those you are helping. The gratitude extended by those in need in the DR had no bounds and it was clear that they can use any possible assistance.
2) I expect to have an increased understanding of the situation of poverish nations throughout the world. I would like to see the impact that our work will provide the people. By the end of the trip I hope to have not only an increased awareness of poverty in the world but also an better understanding of how people as individuals can help.
3) The Dominican Republic service trip distinguishes Sigma Chi as a philanthropic organization on campus as we are directly providing help to the people as opposed to only providing fund raising. As men of action, this is exactly what we are called to do as members of Sigma Chi.
Vincent Alleluia '14
1) I believe there is an inherent, incalculable value associated with knowing and understanding cultures that are foreign from your own. While I lived over in England, during my junior and senior year of high school, I experienced a myriad of cultures ranging from urban German cities to rural Romanian farmlands. Out of this exposure to various different cultures I found myself not only learning things about different countries, but also about the world and myself. This is why I plan on using this trip to not only learn valuable things about the Dominican Republic’s culture, but to also gain valuable insights about myself and the world by applying the lessons I learn through my experiences at the Dominican Republic to my life and to the way I generally think.
2) I plan on experiencing a culture so dissimilar to my own that it makes me reevaluate my way of thinking, pertaining to what I take for granted and how much I truly have. I’ve heard stories from brothers who have been on this trip before and they all say that it is truly a life-changing experience. I hope that when I return from this trip I come back with a new appreciation for all that life has offered me so far, and a new appreciation for all that life has to offer.
3) This trip reflects my values as a Sigma Chi in the sense that I want to reflect the ideals that have been bestowed upon by the Sigma Chi fraternity, upon the people who I encounter whilst in the Dominican Republic by conducting myself in a manner that exemplifies the Jordan Standard. By conducting myself in such a manner I hope to spread the ideals of Sigma Chi to people of the Dominican Republic that have not been previously exposed to these same ideals before.
Brian Doherty ‘14
1) I want to go on this trip to improve my bond with my brothers, while also helping those less fortunate than me, and spreading the ideals of sigma chi around the world.
2) I hope to be exposed to a style of living that I have never seen before and realize how fortunate I have been in my life. I hope to be inspired by this and use the opportunities I have been given to both better myself and those around me.
3) All sigma chis should strive to spread the fraternity’s ideals to everyone willing to learn. This trip provides the rare opportunity to help and teach those who we would normally not be able to reach. Personally I hope this trip will allow me to better myself and others, I hope this trip will be an eye opening and learning experience.
Kevin Haddad '16
