by Do Hyun Kim
2015 MVS Scholar, Harvard College

The trip was very well organized and there never was a dull
moment. Meeting the Elks members was also a bigger treat than I could have
imagined; it just so happened that one of the members I spoke with was a
university professor of engineering, and I have since been in contact with her
having wonderful discussions about my interest in bioengineering.
Everywhere we went, we were met with hospitality and
gratitude, and I felt proud to be a part of the Elks group. I also developed a
greater understanding of what it means to serve; my definition of service
dynamically changed throughout the week and my experiences from this program
will shape the way I serve my community in the future. I began to understand the importance of
indirect service, and how incredibly rewarding it could be. There truly is no
better way to learn the meaning of service than by trying the different types of
service available, and this program helped me achieve that.
What made this trip even more worthwhile, however, were the
people with whom I spent the week. I think Creed Bratton from The Office said
it best: “No matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have
this miraculous gift to make that place home.” The scholars in the program came
from all over the country and had different backgrounds, interests, and
beliefs, but yet we were united in our goal to contribute to our communities
and make the world a better place to live. Within a week, we became extremely
comfortable with one another and soon became very close friends. As I write
this blog, weeks after the trip has ended, I am still in contact with the
friends I made in Chicago. This experience and all the lessons that came with
it has been a memorable one that won’t soon be forgotten.
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