Jamaican Me Crazy: Life-Changing Mission Trip

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." This quote from Mahatma Gandhi summarizes my approach to service, and the deeper understanding I have gained offering my service to others.  A few particular experiences stand above the rest, however, and those are my mission trips to Jamaica.

2012 marked my first time on such a trip, and I was gained an interesting insight into Jamaica and service in general due to this.  The Jamaican people are not by any means wealthy, especially compared to a country like the United States.  Despite this, poor is never a word I would use to describe them.  They were always looking for a reason to smile, and even more importantly, a way to share that smile.  By visiting the sick, elderly, and working in schools, I came to a quick realization:  Jamaica is rich, not financially, but with her people and their culture.

Returning to the U.S. made me reflect on what I was (and am) thankful for.  Instead of stressing over homework or money, I was so appreciative that I had parents and a family that love and care for me.  I was thankful for a roof over my head, and strangely enough just being born with the ability to walk and talk.  Jamaica taught me that I had so much more to be grateful for than I had ever realized.

Inspired by my first trip, I was offered the opportunity to return to Jamaica, this time as a leader.  I helped to assemble a team of twenty students, eager and ready to embark for foreign lands.  This was a different test than the year before, as I was not only responsible for myself, but also my nineteen teammates.  My goal was to ensure that they were all afforded the chance to learn from the Jamaican people, and discover even more about themselves.

To mark this week as a high point of my college career wouldn’t be an understatement.  Immersing ourselves in the activities we were partaking, and trusting that our teammates would be there to support us, my mission trip team slowly, but surely, developed into a family, bonded by faith and service. 

Comparing and contrasting the two years is an unfair assessment, and would lessen the value gained from the experiences.  Instead, what I have taken away from both of these journeys is that through service, I came to know a different part of myself, my teammates and friends, and the people I served.  Service is a prize worth any price.

Intimidated.

Intimidated. This isn't a word that I usually use to describe my approach to life, but that's how I felt walking into 2800 Crystal City Drive.  A brand new office and brand new faces were one thing, but a subject that I knew little about was another.  Fear that I wouldn't know how to do any of the work, or worse, that I would just plain fail was etched into my mind.  Thus, my first day as an intern for World First, a foreign currency exchange company, began.
Walking three floors up, I slowly took a deep breath and opened the door.  I couldn't have been more disarmed by what happened next.  I was greeted by a roomful of warm American hellos coupled with a few British cheers.  Jumping out of his seat, my boss, John Min, shook my hand and welcomed me to the company, making sure he impressed upon me how happy they all were that I was there, and how they were ready and willing to show me the ropes.  Any fears or apprehension I had harbored before evaporated, and I calmly took my seat, ready to begin my job experience.
A couple weeks have gone by, and while the work is challenging, I look forward to going everyday.  The people are always pleasant and laughing, and the work is always new (and sometimes even exciting).  World First has helped me to understand that asking for help isn't a taboo, and that when you're all working towards the same goal, no one gets left behind.  One of my favorite high school teachers used to say, "I've been a teacher for thirty years, and haven't worked a day in my life."  Working with the employees at World First has given me a hint of just what he may have been talking about.

Just the Beginning...

"Carpe Diem."  This popular Latin phrase is an essential way to live my life, and the way that I have chosen to pursue who I am.  My name is Bill Conlon, and I am from a small town outside Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Throughout my life, I have been afforded many opportunities to grab life by the horns, and to make the most of everyday. 

I attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and have made sure to fill up my bucket list with the events and opportunities found exclusively in our nation's capital.  One of these was an internship on Capitol Hill.  Here, I was able to learn the inner workings of the United States government, specifically, Agriculture, Energy, and Environment.  This experience helped me to gain an appreciation for the government, as well as to get a taste of what office skills were and how to use them. 

Inspired by living in a place where so many cultures and creeds meshed, my interest in how the United States and other nations interacted was piqued.  This led to studying abroad in Europe, exploring London, Rome, and various other cities, while interning in Parliament, and receiving a first hand glimpse of the similarities and differences between the United States and the United Kingdom.  I was also able to gain practical knowledge, such as researching and scheduling.

Realizing the need to further my education, I am currently enrolled into a Masters Program that seeks to foster business skills in the future leaders of the world.   These skills range from Accounting and Marketing to Ethics, as well as a deeper knowledge of how to navigate the often rough seas of the job market. 

My unique experiences have offered me a chance  not only to take advantage of my past, but also to realize my tomorrows.  The skills I have acquired over my lifetime, and continue to pursue, are essential to seizing the future that I desire.