Thoughts & Feelings

What do you hope to accomplish with your participation on this trip?
I hope to continue our positive impact that I saw evident on our trip last year. I hope our group successfully constructs as many latrines as we can, as well as provide validation for the community in Don Juan.

Why is it important for Sigma Chi and the Gamma Pi Chapter to sponsor this activity?
It’s important for us to go down to help them because it shows the people of the villages we work in that people care about them. Also, it’s important for us as Sigma Chi to diversify our knowledge of life, and ultimately come to a more whole understanding of what goes on in this world. From our standpoint, it puts our life of excess into perspective. From the standpoint of the Dominican communities we touch, it provides a very serious validation. The impact we have down there is priceless. From physically constructing the latrines, to playing baseball with the kids at night, we accomplish more than one could even imagine by going down there. They look forward to it all year, as do we.

In your personal experiences, what has prepared you for this trip (previous service events, fundraising foreign travel, brotherhood initiatives, speak Spanish)?
I’ve participated in the trip once before, and have learned a tremendous amount. I was in a role as a participant last year, and this year I feel my role is more of a leader. I’m excited to show to others what was shown to me.

- Matthew Michael, Class of '16