Life University Leadership Weekend - Betzi Monroy
To be a part of the FHLA STEM trip never crossed my mind; being considered a leader was also something I thought would never happen. I would like to thank everyone involved; this tour would not have been possible without the initiative of the many students who participated. I would also like to thank Dr. Javier Del Hoyo, who introduced us to Life Leadership Weekend. I have been exposed not only to like-minded students but also to a new perspective of a profession that I thought I knew.
Life University has done a fantastic job portraying chiropractic as an enjoyable profession, leaving an astounding impression of the overall trip. For starters, the students were very friendly and reflected the amicable ambiance of the university. It was comforting to meet people from across the country who had come to the university to learn about their chiropractic program. One person who specifically stood out to me was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Eldoret, Thomas Cheruiyot, from Kenya. He shared his hopes to expose more Kenyan students to becoming chiropractors.
Besides the impressive university campus, we also ventured into one of the largest aquariums in the world, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Up to 120,000 animals from 500 marine species call this aquarium home. Some of the main attractions were the massive whale sharks, manta rays, and Rigby along with his waddle of penguins. We also visited the famous Centennial Park, where the Summer Olympics were held in 1996, and the US accumulated 101 medals throughout the games.
This trip was not only educational but also very sentimental for me. I was born in Georgia and had not been back for about 13 years. When I first found out about the trip, I was already excited, and when I learned it was in Georgia, I became ecstatic. The landscape was significantly different from the environment here in Idaho, with an abundance of deciduous, undisturbed oak-hickory forests. Discovering different environments has opened my mind to the diversity this country has to offer. Upon seeing this, I was certainly grateful for being selected for this amazing journey.
Although I had the time of my life on this trip, I realized that chiropractic is not my calling and attribute this experience to that epiphany. As I approach college, I have been using career conferences to explore whether a certain occupation is my vocation, and now more than ever, I believe that my career path is Civil Engineering. However, I firmly advocate for more students to participate in future FHLA events and expose themselves to the many professions the world has to offer.
If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would, without a doubt, happily take the chance. I am truly grateful for the FHLA organization. Being exposed to students with similar ethnicities and backgrounds helped me become confident and, most importantly, proud of being Hispanic/Latina. I encourage other Hispanic students to come to FHLA events and embark on their own eye-opening experiences. After this adventure, I would love to return to FHLA and mentor or help other students who would love some guidance into college or career fields.