23 NOAH COLLINS-HOWARD ‘27 Community Service in Ghana: July 29 – August 6, 2024 EXPERIENCE Mylana’s summer in Tanzania was nothing short of transformative. Working at the Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, she gained hands-on experience shadowing doctors, assisting in surgeries, and interacting with patients. Each day began with hospital rounds alongside other students from the US, and ended with time for reflection and group discussions. While working toward the goal of helping others, Mylana reflects on how deeply impactful the experience was for her. Her roommate, Katie, a student from Florida, became her greatest support and her rock throughout the journey—a bond that has blossomed into a lifelong friendship. CHALLENGES AND GROWTH Her visit to an all-girls school was eye-opening for Mylana. Delivering essential supplies created a bond with the students, but hearing about the physical discipline some endured left a lasting impression. These moments deepened her empathy and strengthened her resolve to effect change. Another particularly challenging moment was assisting a diabetic patient with severe foot complications—a task that tested her mental strength as she has a slight phobia of feet. Mylana persevered, noting, “I didn’t let it ruin my experience,” and expressing how important it is to keep going. REFLECTION One patient, a 7-year-old boy, will remain in her heart. The child, blinded by a chemical accident, formed a connection with Mylana. “He squeezed my hand, and I just knew I was there to help him, even just as a comforting presence,” she shared. Mylana returned home with a renewed sense of purpose, confident in her goal to pursue pediatric surgery. She reflected, “This experience made me so much more confident and sure of myself. I feel capable, I value myself, and I’ve learned I have a voice.” ADVICE For fellow AQ students considering international service, Mylana offers this encouragement: “This will be the best choice you ever make!” MYLANA WIESE ‘25 Community Service in Tanzania: July 20 – August 4, 2024 CATCHING UP In our Summer Landmark 2024 issue, we featured Mylana’s attendance at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, just outside Boston. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. Mylana shared her motivation for wanting to pursue a future in the field of medicine, as well as her preparation for her journey to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where she would gain hands-on experience working alongside doctors at Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital. Now back from her travels, I was eager to learn about her time working with experienced medical professionals, her first international trip without her parents, and her immersion in an entirely different culture and environment. SERVICE Noah has been all over the world, and this past summer, he embarked on a life-changing journey to Ghana with his father, mother, brother, and several others. Their mission? To bring essential school supplies to multiple villages and help install a borehole to provide fresh, clean water to underserved communities. Noah’s commitment was part of the Water for Life initiative, an effort to address water scarcity and related health issues in remote regions in Ghana. Organized in partnership with TEAM CSR and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the Rochester, New York Chapter, Theta Upsilon Sigma, sponsored this specific installation. Noah is a member of the Youth Affiliate Program, Sigma Beta Club, helping to create sustainable change. COMMUNITY IMPACT The borehole not only provides safe drinking water but also fosters educational opportunities by freeing young girls from hours-long journeys to fetch water. Now, these girls can spend more time in school, focusing on their education and future dreams. Reflecting on the experience, Noah noted how easily we take running water for granted in the US. He recounted the emotional ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the joy and gratitude of the locals were captivating as they danced and shed tears of happiness—a moment he says he’ll never forget, “It was an emotional day, but a great one.” CULTURAL DIFFERENCES Traveling to Ghana also opened Noah’s eyes to the daily challenges many people face. Even routine tasks, like brushing his teeth, required bottled water due to the lack of running taps. Exploring local markets presented its own challenges, as people approached him to sell goods, making him want to help every child he met on the streets. Yet, Noah believes that the cultural differences and unfamiliar settings only further reminded him of the importance of being kind to others. GRATITUDE PRACTICE Reflecting on his experience, Noah shared a powerful message: “When we come together, we can create meaningful change.” Grateful for the opportunity to serve, Noah looks forward to finding more ways to make a positive impact wherever his travels may take him next.
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