Border Awareness Experience enlightens, inspires Mercyhurst students
“Our trip to the border reminded me of the journey of this nation’s past and the great hopes for its future. We are a nation of immigrants, and always have been. The fact that today—even in the face of such insurmountable odds—that people still give everything just to get to America should truly inspire each of us to commit ourselves toward a better future through advocacy, service, courage, and determination.”
Reflection by student Gavin Griffin
The six Mercyhurst University students who traveled to McAllen, Texas, Jan. 8-13 as part of a university-led Border Awareness Experience came away profoundly enlightened and inspired.
Led by Sister Michele Schroeck, RSM, with Mercyhurst employee Liz Patnode, the students headquartered at ARISE Adelante, a Sisters of Mercy-sponsored women’s community organization providing education and supportive services to colonias (rural areas lacking infrastructure) in the South Texas Rio Grande Valley. The students included Gavin Griffin, Libby Hagen, Cheyenne McGuire, Emily Reid, Samantha Weber, and Kate Wigton.
While there, the Mercyhurst group visited the border wall, heard testimonies of staff, visited families in their homes, volunteered at the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center, and learned from various speakers the legal aspects related to asylum, local Texas and national laws affecting immigration, and efforts by the South Texas Human Rights Center to prevent migrant deaths and strengthen the capacity of families to locate missing loved ones.
More student reflections:
“What struck me was the immense hope and gratitude of all the people we met. Despite the hardships faced in their home country, during their journey and with their arrival in the U.S., they have remained joyful. For them, a life here, no matter how difficult, is better than all the hardships they’ve faced along the way.”
Libby Hagen
“I liked the Respite Center. The children were so excited for something to do and so happy to interact with us, even after their difficult journey.”
Cheyenne McGuire
“The valuable opportunity to connect with individuals through a shared language (Spanish) provided a profound experience. It underscored the transformative power of communication, revealing how language serves as a bridge, uniting people who carry distinct and diverse life stories. The ability to engage in meaningful conversations transcended cultural differences, fostering a sense of connection and understanding among us.”
Emily Reid
“Talking with some of the community members has opened my eyes to what people are willing to give up or risk in order to live in the U.S. It is a very difficult and lengthy process to receive legal papers but seeing the people at the Respite Center be so hopeful about their future in the U.S. was incredible.”
Samantha Weber
“It was great to see everything firsthand and hear people’s stories. Meeting the families helped me put faces to the issues instead of just imagining a broad population of people who are struggling. Everyone was inspiring because of their unwavering positivity and faith. It was also interesting to experience the border wall in person because I had a much different picture of what it would look like and feel like. The border experience canceled out some of my preconceived notions and opened my eyes to the reality of the situation.”
Kate Wigton
If you are interested in more information about the experience or to attend next year, contact Sister Michele at mschroeck@sistersofmercy.org
PHOTO: Border trip participants, left to right, include Gavin Griffin, Liz Patnode, Libby Hagen, Kate Wigton, Emily Reid, Samantha Weber, Cheyenne McGuire, and Sister Michele Schroeck, RSM.