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<\/a>A Celebration at the community center<\/p><\/div>\n
The more houses I visit, the more I begin to appreciate the idea of simple living. Not just because less materialism means less of a negative impact on the environment (which I am all for), but also because this lifestyle seems to better appreciate many of the immaterial ideals which I feel we have lost in the \u201cdeveloped\u201d world today. The regions that we label \u201cdeveloping\u201d have maintained a kind of emotional, social, and cultural health which carries with it ideals such as responsibility for the environment, importance of family, and yearning for a deeper spiritual connection with the outside world. While daily life in the city consists of deadlines, computer screens, and stress, the typical scene in Campeche includes hard work in the field, conversations with family, and time for rest and reflection. The machines of modern society seem to have convinced us into believing that fame, wealth, and power will bring us happiness and health, when in reality, these seem to be the causes of ill-will and misery. In the social enterprise documentary titled Who Cares<\/em>, one woman perfectly describes the physical, emotional, and spiritual balance which I think we all seek: \u201cHealth is happiness for the body, and happiness is health for the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n Lunch at the office: always together.<\/p><\/div>\n The fellowship also helped me realize that the world is a much smaller place than I could have ever imagined. After meeting a woman in Campeche who had visited her sister an hour away from my hometown, and running into a trolley driver in Oaxaca who had worked on a landscaping project at Santa Clara University, I became convinced that all peoples of the world are connected. So if we are all intertwined in some way, my actions affect the lives of others on the other side of the globe. With this in mind, I wonder why corporations and international businesses do not act in a more socially-conscious manner. I await the day where \u201ccorporate social responsibility\u201d is no longer a term used only by forward-thinking and innovative companies. Instead, socially- and environmentally-aware practices will be so commonplace, if not necessary for success, they will simply be referred to as \u201cbusiness,\u201d and the term CSR will become extinct.<\/p>\n An Ilumexico customer with his first panel<\/p><\/div>\n As I look toward my future, I become more certain each day that the main goals of the company I work for will include environmental\/social impact. While entrepreneurship calls my attention, I also believe that intraprenerurship is an important facet of business development. Many companies would like to implement a more socially-conscious business model, or boost their focus on current global issues, and simply need the right kind of team members and leadership to steer them in a direction where they can make the greatest positive impact.<\/p>\n The nature of our fellowship project required a high level of team collaboration and personal determination. Through these group and individual tasks, I had the opportunity to evaluate and reflect on my strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. While I have always enjoyed positions where I have the opportunity to directly interact with people, I began to discover some of the reasons why<\/em>. I found that meeting people of various backgrounds brings me joy; I seek the diversity of experiences, the confrontation of new ideas, and the consideration of differing opinions. I also enjoy the impulsive and resourceful nature of field work, even if it means unplanned or unfortunate occurrences. From the treacherous mountains of Oaxaca, the late nights of analyzing data, and the bouts of sickness from suspicious street foods, I found that I have an innate drive to push past my comfort zone. I will walk as far as needed, stay up as late as necessary, and work for as long as I can until the job is done or the destination is reached. It\u2019s not so much a drill sergeant mentality as it is the idea that there are too many things in this world to explore, see, learn, and do rather than sleeping, worrying, or stressing.<\/p>\n The Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan<\/p><\/div>\n Although I have begun to steer myself down a clearer path, I still have much farther to go. I feel as though I am currently floating in the middle of the ocean in a safety boat called SCU. Three land masses are located at an equal distance from me in different directions, and I have no idea which is safest or will provide the most resources. Once I start paddling towards one, I may not have the chance to return to the others for a long time. Which do I choose?<\/p>\n Do I slowly drift toward Silicon Valley paradise, where I can become a young business professional or a start-up team member? I will earn a decent living which will be enough to support myself, save a little for the future, and feed the somewhat lavish lifestyle which is common in the area. I\u2019ll spend weekends in The City with co-workers, grab lunch on the Google campus with a friend, attend fundraisers at local breweries, and live the life that many college graduates desire. Yet, after four years in the Bay Area bubble, I wonder if I want to continue to remain in my comfort zone. Will I become a complacent 23-year-old who works night and day just to earn the next promotion? Am I underestimating the impact of my past experiences? Through the Fellowship, I discovered the wealth of connections that exist in the Silicon Valley, but would this be the best option for me at this moment in life?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can row back towards shore, to my hometown of Ventura, CA. After four years of being away from home and watching my family celebrate, struggle, and grow from afar, I realize how much I\u2019ve missed out on, and how much I miss them. Family is one of the most important aspects of my life, and by prioritizing other things, will I be happy with my decision? While I busy myself with my studies at SCU, my grandma grows older, my nephew enters high school, my uncle passes away, my niece is born. College has provided me with numerous opportunities and invaluable skills that I will use for the rest of my life, but has it also distanced me from what matters most? \u00a0What is<\/em> most important in life? Spending time with family, who is one of the reasons I am here today, or helping those less fortunate, whether they\u2019re in my town or on the other side of the world?<\/p>\n Nerdy nephews at the family Halloween party<\/p><\/div>\n The newest member of the family<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lastly, I could paddle. Paddle as fast and as hard as possible, against the rogue waves and sea storms to a land unknown. My desire to live abroad and my passion for helping others would come together in places like Latin America or Indonesia, where I would live for a year or more to fully immerse myself in the culture and get to know its people. I understand that it would be difficult. I may be pushed to my limits, left on my own, or be completely unfamiliar with my surroundings. Yet the rush of independence, the challenge of the steep learning curve,and the ability to step away from the stress of the U.S. will allow me to appreciate the little things in life. Is this what I was made to do?<\/p>\n I learned many things from the fellowship, but most of all, I learned that I have more options available to me than I thought possible. While this scares me slightly, it also feels like a healthy kind of nervousness. It’s as if I\u2019m going bungee-jumping: my toes are at the edge, I’m leaning over my feet, and all I have to do, is leap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019m sitting in the wooden-slatted house of an Ilum\u00e9xico customer in Campeche. It took the Ilum\u00e9xico team two and a half hours this morning to drive to the rural village, which consists of about 75 people. We are surrounded by … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n