Culver students get medical experience, inspiration on Costa Rica mission trip

 

A health care service trip to Costa Rica helped one Culver Academies student discover a future in nursing and reinforced two classmates' plans to pursue careers as caring for children with medical needs.

For seniors Uriah Rodriguez and Kai Pierfax Stenhouse, the two-week trip this summer reinforced their aspirations to become pediatric nurses, while the journey completely changed Kayla Terwey’s career plan.

"I wasn't really looking for a career in medicine or anything like that,” she said. “I'd never been to Costa Rica, and it just sounded like an amazing opportunity to help kids and also learn a lot.”

Now she is planning a career in nursing.

All three students participated in the Global Leadership Adventures Healthcare Discovery program in Costa Rica paid for by Culver’s Roberts Leadership Scholarship Program.

The students provided vision screenings for children and helped the elderly with mobility assessments, stretching exercises and recreational activities.

Rodriguez also viewed the trip as a way to explore a possible career path.

“I saw this as a way to make sure, ‘Yeah, this is what I want to do,’ ” she said.

Pierfax Stenhouse said he started thinking about entering the medical field after his mother died last year.

“Before the trip, it was thinking I might want to work in the medical field. Now I know I definitely want to be in it," he said.

The students spent several days conducting vision screenings and basic health assessments for children in underserved communities. Working in small teams, they helped test students' eyesight and identify potential problems that required follow-up care.

Terwey said the experience of connecting with the children left a lasting impression.

"There was a little bit of a language barrier, but I speak pretty good Spanish," she said. "Even with the language barrier, you didn't need words to connect with these kids."

One encounter with a young girl particularly stood out to her.

"She was blind in one eye and no one knew about it. No one was listening to her," Terwey said. "Finally when she sat down with us, she just started talking and we just sat there and listened to her."

Terwey said they helped make sure she got the help she needed. She said she was gratified to help the girl receive care.

The students said they were struck by the enthusiasm and gratitude shown by the children.

"That made me the happiest, just seeing them smiling. They just wanted to play at the playground and hang out with us," Rodriguez said.

Pierfax Stenhouse said simply showing care and concern made an impact.

"Seeing how happy they were just because someone took the time to care about them showed me how much even a small act of kindness can mean," he said.

 

 

The group also spent time at an elderly care center. Terwey said the experience was as much about emotional support as physical wellness.

"We came in and we did a few dancing exercises to also help with stability. We made it fun. There was so much laughter," she said. "Everyone, they kept asking us at the end, ‘Are you guys going to come back tomorrow?’ "

Rodriguez said meaningful connections formed quickly.

"My person was just very huggy, just wanting to hold my hand," she said. "It reminded me of the value of love and just being there."

Pierfax Stenhouse said conversations with residents offered valuable perspective.

"There was this one older man and he told me, ‘Try to live your life to its fullest because it's really short,’ " he said.

Beyond volunteer work, the students participated in cultural and recreational activities, including zip lining, surfing, white-water rafting and learning about Costa Rican history and traditions.

The experience also challenged them to communicate in Spanish and adapt to a new environment.

Pierfax Stenhouse said the language barrier was the biggest challenge for him.

Rodriguez said stepping outside her comfort zone was her biggest challenge. She said it  helped her build her confidence.

"I definitely felt very challenged, mentally, physically,” she said. “The best part was the friendships that we made there."

Terwey said zip lining was especially memorable.

"I got stung by a bee though, mid-air ziplining. So that's like a core memory that I have," she said.

When the trip ended, all three students returned home with a clearer vision of their future careers.

For Terwey, the decision was simple.

"I was exactly where I wanted to be," she said. "It felt natural for me to do that. I just could see myself doing that, like, for the rest of my life."

Rodriguez reached a similar conclusion.

"I know that’s the route I want to take," she said.

Pierfax Stenhouse said the trip reinforced the importance that helping others has in his life.

"Not only did it make me feel good, it made me happy that they felt seen and they felt comfortable and they felt happy in that moment," he said. "That's why I really wanted to be able to do this."

All three students said they would recommend the program to others. Terwey is already considering another medical service trip next summer, possibly in Thailand.

"It's incredible," she said. "Everyone should get the opportunity to do something like that."