During my time in Alicante, Spain, our program took a day trip to Tabarca Island to participate in a community cleanup project. As a group, we walked along the shoreline and throughout different areas of the island collecting trash and helping preserve the natural beauty of the area. This experience allowed us to give back to the local community while also becoming more aware of the importance of environmental responsibility, especially in coastal areas that depend on tourism and natural preservation. 

For one of my classes this semester, we were fortunate enough to have a dedicated assignment focused on bettering our community through service. We did this by volunteering with community-based organizations, such as the Hispanic Alliance. I volunteered at a Lunch and Learn panel held at Greenville High School, where the goal was to share important information about higher education with students in the Hispanic community. Many of these students are first-generation students, meaning they may not have family members who have gone through the college application process before. Because of this, they may be less familiar with resources such as scholarships, in-state tuition, financial aid, and the different opportunities available to help make college more accessible. This experience was meaningful because it allowed me to support students who are navigating an important stage in their education while also learning more about the barriers that many families face when pursuing higher education.

​I also volunteered with Veggie RX and Clemson Rural Health to translate English health-related documents into Spanish to better support the Hispanic community and their healthcare needs. This work was important because language barriers can make it difficult for people to fully understand medical information, access resources, or feel comfortable asking for help. By translating these documents, I was able to contribute to making healthcare information more accessible and inclusive for Spanish-speaking individuals and families. It also helped me better understand how communication plays a major role in building trust and ensuring that communities receive the support they need.