When I applied to the Global Social Benefit Fellowship, I was aware of many of the positive aspects it entailed – traveling abroad, an internship opportunity, foreign language acquisition. But, little did I know that it would provide me with such direction, self-awareness, and different perspectives of looking at the world. Social entrepreneurship reconciles many of the contradictions that pervaded my life such as my competitive nature with my sense of solidarity and my interest in the humanistic element of anthropology with the practicality and challenge of business. Social entrepreneurship is the epitome of an area in which I want a career. It is an ever-changing, high pressure field that requires creativity, versatility, and resiliency that I have developed throughout my life.

Impacting Measures

Going into the field, I tried to prepare myself to be ready for anything. I had never spent significant time in a developing country nor had I ever been in a situation where no one spoke English. The only expectations I had revolved around social entrepreneurship and its effectiveness. I envisioned it as the be-all and end-all solution to development and that the work we would be contributing would be immensely needed by Fundación Paraguaya.

My sister’s fairy tale service trip

The first week in Paraguay it was obvious that our placement was not all that we hoped for. Our supervisor missed meetings; the organization had no idea where to place us; our respective offices did not give us any work to do; and there was no opportunity to talk to the women clients. Meanwhile, my sister, with whom I have no semblance of a competitive relationship, was building houses in Malawi for a week. Dramatically contrasting my experience, her service trip was surreal. The whole village greeted her like she was Angelina Jolie; her host family named their newest born child after her; and she flooded my Facebook newsfeed with dozens pictures with 20 children huddled around her.

However, as frustrating as these circumstances were, I found myself adapting quickly and having a Polyanna view of the world. I immediately started working on my own project that I thought would be helpful to the organization. The absence of demands from my manager and coworkers did not paralyze my ability to be creative and self-motivated. I embraced the chance to work on my Spanish skills even though that meant swallowing my pride and looking incompetent. My most embarrassing moment probably came when we were returning to Carapegua from a weekend trip, and I went to notify the bus driver that we needed to stop soon. With my cumbersome bags in hand, I stumbled to the front of the bus only to find the door locked. As I turned around, there were about two dozen Paraguayans staring at me with their eyes shouting “what a gringa.” As awkward as this situation was, it definitely gave me much needed humility and patience. In everyday challenges, I saw opportunities to grow, and I tried to make the most out of every experience, good or bad.

The immensely generous grandmother

The new experiences that come from seeing different places, trying strange foods, and connecting with people overshadowed the disappointment I felt about Fundación Paraguaya’s letdown of my expectations. The most rewarding and unexpected part of the experience was bonding with my host family and coworkers. The genuine kindness and thoughtfulness they exhibited every day made a lasting impression on me. I remember an encounter that we had with our host mother’s mother who we met twice and who was practically a stranger. On my last night, she came by and presented us with crafted table settings that took her a whole day to make. Although these people have far less than I do, they are content and find happiness in the simple things such as family gatherings and soccer games. Their generosity and contentment reminded me that people and relationships matter far more than the trivial matters I tend to stress over like how many points I will score or the academic distinctions I will attain.

Measuring Impact

Before the fellowship, I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school at either Oxford or Cambridge to get a master’s degree in development studies, but I did not really know what I would do with a such a degree until after I spent 5 weeks in Paraguay. In this regard, the fellowship not only drastically improved my CV and qualifications, but more importantly, I was able to write a personal statement that drew heavily on the experience and how it influenced my future aspirations.

In a strange way, the deficiencies I witnessed in microfinance actually inspired me to continue to work in the field of social entrepreneurship because I also saw huge potential and ways to maximize microfinance’s impact.  The hardships and dilemmas social entrepreneurship faces require the problem-solving and independent thinking that I enjoy and that challenges me.

Bonding with the host dad and learning to drive a motorcycle

The class also offered much of the needed self-reflection I needed to determine why I am a good candidate for graduate school, how I will benefit from a development studies program, and what I uniquely have to offer. The Myers Briggs test that we took in class helped me to realize how I operate and why I tend to feel the way I do about things. I was aware of my strengths and weaknesses, but I never really took the time to explicitly list them and reflect on them. It also seemed to apply to my basketball life as well, explaining that I am an outcome-oriented person who tends to take things personally because I am so conscious of feelings. I was also able to draw from heroic leadership to understand what type of leader I am. From our reading, I realized one of the most important qualities is that I am constantly open to new experiences, looking for ways to improve my self and grow, and willing to empathize with others.

King’s College Cambridge

I honestly think that the holistic experience of the GSBI fellowship is why I was accepted into Cambridge. Without the credential the fellowship brings, the practical experience, and the self-reflection involved in class material, I do not think I would have been mature enough or prepared to have been accepted into such a prestigious university. Through reflection, I learned that in many ways my life has been pointing me toward a career in social entrepreneurship. When I sent in my application, I saw a connection between what seemed the disparate elements of my life. My basketball career developed the competiveness and work ethic needed to run a successful business. My ability to be comfortable in typically uncomfortable environments embodies the flexibility I need to have in the uncertain field of development. What seemed as a random assortment of interests and qualities finally fit together for me, and I saw that I had a cohesive life story.