Sara Wissmann, a <strong>he</strong>alth science major, has always wanted to serve ot<strong>he</strong>rs, especially through mission work overseas. Last summer, a field experience through <strong>Truman</strong>’s Health and Exercise Sciences Department allowed <strong>he</strong>r to explore <strong>he</strong>r passion w<strong>he</strong>n s<strong>he</strong> traveled to Malawi, a country in Africa, to teach HIV education seminars to youth and adults. By Jesslyn Tenhouse (‘09) 10 <strong>Truman</strong> Review
“I ’ve only been in America my whole life, so I don’t know what t<strong>he</strong> rest of t<strong>he</strong> world is like,” Wissmann said. “T<strong>he</strong>re are so many ot<strong>he</strong>rs to consider and serve and <strong>he</strong>lp,” s<strong>he</strong> said, expressing <strong>he</strong>r desire to acknowledge and <strong>he</strong>lp fill t<strong>he</strong> needs of ot<strong>he</strong>rs throughout t<strong>he</strong> world. Field experiences through t<strong>he</strong> Health and Exercise Sciences Department provide opportunities for students to apply career-oriented skills in an off-campus internship during t<strong>he</strong> summer months. For five weeks, Wissmann lived in t<strong>he</strong> New Jersey-sized country, working with HIV Hope, a program that works to encourage and support those afflicted with HIV. T<strong>he</strong> program is a facet of New Mission Systems International, an agency that coordinates Christian missions globally. Wissmann and <strong>he</strong>r companions primarily stayed in Malawi’s modernized capital city, Lilongwe. However, t<strong>he</strong> group conducted most of t<strong>he</strong>ir seminars in small villages, w<strong>he</strong>re t<strong>he</strong>y spent t<strong>he</strong>ir evenings without electricity, conversing with villagers. “W<strong>he</strong>n it’s dark outside you just talk with people,” s<strong>he</strong> said. “You’re done working at t<strong>he</strong> end of t<strong>he</strong> day,” Wissmann explained, acknowledging t<strong>he</strong> relational aspect of t<strong>he</strong> culture. In addition, Wissmann said s<strong>he</strong> noticed especially t<strong>he</strong> humble, giving spirit of t<strong>he</strong> villagers. “T<strong>he</strong>y’re really selfless,” s<strong>he</strong> said. “T<strong>he</strong>y’re very simplistic and don’t base value on material possessions.” One particular experience stood out to Wissmann. “T<strong>he</strong>re was a little boy who I formed a relationship with while we were t<strong>he</strong>re,” s<strong>he</strong> said. “Even though we didn’t speak each ot<strong>he</strong>r’s language, we would play games and <strong>he</strong> would teach me through motions.” On Wissmann’s last day t<strong>he</strong>re, t<strong>he</strong> boy brought <strong>he</strong>r a doughnut as a gift of acknowledgement and appreciation for <strong>he</strong>r friendship. “While we were t<strong>he</strong>re, <strong>he</strong> didn’t change his clot<strong>he</strong>s more than twice—<strong>he</strong> had holes in t<strong>he</strong>m,” s<strong>he</strong> said, noting t<strong>he</strong> selflessness in his expression of gratitude and how his generosity moved <strong>he</strong>r. Chris Lantz, HES professor, department chair and one of t<strong>he</strong> coordinators for HES field experiences, said many students completing internships abroad, and even locally, report similar satisfaction with t<strong>he</strong> program. “T<strong>he</strong> students consistently evaluate t<strong>he</strong> field experience as t<strong>he</strong> top experiential opportunity t<strong>he</strong>y have in our department,” Lantz said. “Among all t<strong>he</strong> great things going on, t<strong>he</strong>y commonly will cite field experience as one of t<strong>he</strong> most—if not t<strong>he</strong> most—developmental experience.” Lantz explained two of t<strong>he</strong> three programs within t<strong>he</strong> HES department require practical fieldwork, and some students complete as many as 320 hours. Nearly 90 students participate each summer, and Lantz said t<strong>he</strong> experiences <strong>he</strong>lp students make decisions about what t<strong>he</strong>y want to do in t<strong>he</strong>ir future careers. “In many ways, those field experiences eit<strong>he</strong>r reaffirm t<strong>he</strong>ir interest in a particular area or s<strong>he</strong>d light on t<strong>he</strong> fact that this might not be t<strong>he</strong> best fit for t<strong>he</strong>m professionally,” Lantz said. HES students have studied nationally in t<strong>he</strong>ir home communities and in ot<strong>he</strong>r places throughout t<strong>he</strong> U.S. Ot<strong>he</strong>rs, like Wissmann, have chosen to study as far away as Africa, Ireland, Australia, Mexico and England. Students generally search for and select t<strong>he</strong>ir own internships, but Lantz and four of his colleagues, <strong>he</strong>lp find sites, give approval and take care of problems and ot<strong>he</strong>r issues. Students also “I wish everybody would step out of our borders and see what life is like in ot<strong>he</strong>r countries.” complete a variety of assignments throughout t<strong>he</strong> internship that promote personal reflection on t<strong>he</strong>ir experiences. Lantz noted that field experiences, especially those abroad, <strong>he</strong>lp round out t<strong>he</strong> entire <strong>Truman</strong> experience. “In order to consider oneself to be truly benefitting from a liberal arts and sciences education, you’ve got to immerse yourself in a foreign culture,” <strong>he</strong> said. “I just don’t see how you can say that you’re knowledgeable in t<strong>he</strong> ways of t<strong>he</strong> world unless you’ve seen t<strong>he</strong> different ways of t<strong>he</strong> world.” Lantz said, many times, t<strong>he</strong> field experiences provide eyeopening opportunities for t<strong>he</strong> students. “Kids who come to <strong>Truman</strong>, rich or poor, have led a life of privilege,” Lantz explained, referring to t<strong>he</strong> caliber of schooling that students receive and often take for granted. “Isn’t it interesting w<strong>he</strong>n t<strong>he</strong>y go someplace and t<strong>he</strong>y see w<strong>he</strong>re kids are fighting for t<strong>he</strong> chance to go to school and often, at great personal risk,” <strong>he</strong> added, referring to t<strong>he</strong> new lens through which students evaluate t<strong>he</strong>ir experiences. Wissmann said <strong>he</strong>r field experience is one s<strong>he</strong> wouldn’t trade. In fact, s<strong>he</strong> plans to affiliate with NMSI, t<strong>he</strong> organization through which s<strong>he</strong> worked last summer, to continue mission work after s<strong>he</strong> graduates. “It’s definitely an invaluable experience,” s<strong>he</strong> said. “I wish everybody would step out of our borders and see what life is like in ot<strong>he</strong>r countries.” . Summer 2010 11
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