Have you felt called to make a difference, but didn’t know where to start? The Center of Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) might help you find your path forward. For Aven Thomas, a biology student at Walla Walla University who was still exploring her future path, a spring break medical mission trip to Guatemala brought unexpected clarity and led her to declare a pre-med focus.
"I loved it. I loved the people; I loved the locals. I loved everything," said Thomas.
Despite unexpected hurdles—like peaceful protests that left the team unsure if they’d even make it to Guatemala, long travel delays, and even finding a scorpion in the shower their first night—the group’s spirit held strong. “If anything, it brought us closer,” Thomas said. “Those moments—figuring things out together, laughing through the surprises—became part of what bonded us.”
Thomas first served as a receptionist at the mobile clinic set up by Volunteers for Intercultural and Definitive Adventures (VIDA), which was hosted in a local church in San Martín Jilotepeque. She worked alongside other student volunteers, including a team from Loma Linda University, helping check in patients and keep things running smoothly. Though with a language barrier it was hard to truly connect with the locals. At first, Thomas felt unsure of her place; she didn’t speak Spanish, and with many others already stepping into their roles, she questioned whether she could truly help. “I felt like I was just doing busy work,” she said. “I was discouraged.”
That changed when a teammate offered a few simple words of encouragement: "Don’t worry. You’ll find your place." That moment of reassurance gave Thomas the courage to keep showing up. And soon, things began to shift.
With support from her group—especially fellow student Allison, who stepped up as a translator—Thomas transitioned into a triage role. She began taking vitals: blood pressure, glucose levels, height, weight, and heart rate. It was there, in those face-to-face interactions, that Thomas found her rhythm. “Even though my Spanish was limited, I got to connect with people. That’s what mattered.”
What struck Thomas most was the overwhelming need in the communities they served. "There was a patient who came in for back pain, but when he showed his injury, it was clear he had been suffering from something serious for two years. It’s heartbreaking to see how long they endure things that, here, we would treat right away. Thomas said, "Some patients walked six hours up the mountain to see the volunteering doctors.” Witnessing this left a deep impact on Thomas. “It’s heartbreaking what people endure simply because help isn’t available. It made me realize how much I take for granted.”
The mission trip wasn’t just a service project; it became a defining moment for Thomas’ future.
As a first-generation pre-med student, Thomas had been unsure about which direction to pursue in healthcare. But during the trip, she met a doctor who shared that he, too, was the first from his family to attend college. “Talking to him showed me it’s possible,” she said. “Even if it takes longer, I know now that I will get there.”
She’s still deciding on a specialty—though surgery stands out—but Thomas knows her heart is in service. “The smiles, the hugs, the relief people showed after getting help—there’s nothing like it,” she said. “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Posted May 12, 2025.
