Volunteering changed her life

One Norwich University student found her passion in life at an early age. A love for volunteering led Maria Hernandez, 19, a junior criminal justice major from Fresno, Calif., on a life-changing trip to Nicaragua in the summer of 2009.

When Hernandez made the rough transition to college on the East Coast, hundreds of miles from home, her love of volunteering traveled with her. In her freshman year at Norwich, Hernandez joined AmeriCorps, a national program dedicated to community service. It was through her volunteering experiences at Norwich that Hernandez would learn about the trip that would change her life.

In the summer of 2009 Hernandez traveled to Nicaragua with some fellow Norwich students through the NUVisions Abroad program. Hernandez was struck by the desire for education and the lack of opportunities for Nicaraguan students. "To actually see it, and hear how much of a thirst for education and to become something more was very interesting and motivating," she said.

The Nicaraguans' perceptions of Americans were also shocking to Hernandez. Family is very important to Nicaraguans and they view Americans as not being family oriented. They see American teens as disrespectful to their parents, and believe that Americans do not take enough time to appreciate life's simple pleasures.

This experience touched Hernandez in such a way that she now appreciates her own life more.

"The entire trip in general was life-changing for me," she said. It taught her take advantage of what she has and to be thankful for the experiences the United States provides for her.

The experience particularly hit home for Hernandez because her parents are native Mexicans. For her the experience was like "living what I could have lived," she said. "If I had been born in Mexico I wouldn't have any of the opportunities that I've had in the United States."

"It definitely made me more appreciative of how much my parents sacrificed to come across the border," she said.

Since the trip, Hernandez has realized the importance of not only helping other people, but also in ensuring that those people will go on to help others. Hernandez recognizes that she would not be where she is today if it were not for people helping her out along the way.

"I've always been grateful and appreciative for things that I've had or how far I've come because of the people who helped me," she said.

Hernandez hopes to continue her volunteer efforts and help as many people as she can.

Through her life-changing trip to Nicaragua she learned one valuable life lesson that will stay with her. "I realized how huge something small can be," Hernandez said.

Hernandez urges people to help others in any way they can. What may not seem like a big deal to you can be life changing for somebody else.