Before her first MEDLIFE trip, Natalie had never been on a plane. A first-generation college student at Lamar University, she had never left the country, either. “The furthest I’ve gone before that was… Ohio,” she said. Two trips to Peru later, she’s applied to dental school, and Lamar’s Honors College invited her onto the campus radio station to talk about the experience.

Finding MEDLIFE

Natalie first heard about MEDLIFE at a new student orientation. She knew she wanted a career in health care but wasn’t sure which path yet, so she joined every medical and dental organization she could find. MEDLIFE stuck.

The trip took longer to decide on. Her parents weren’t open to it at first, so she kept talking with them and kept going to interest meetings. What finally made the difference was a sit-down session with a chapter officer who had already gone. She walked prospective students through where they’d stay, what each day looked like, and what her own trip had been like.

Going Abroad As a First-Generation College Student

Natalie was nervous about safety, about not knowing anyone, and about the simple fact of doing something so new. Looking back, she says she was “worried for no reason, honestly.” “My first trip was my first time on a plane,” she said. “It was like a crazy step for me.”

What she learned changed how she thinks about health care. She realized how much access shapes people’s health, and not only abroad, but “even in different areas of your own country where people don’t have equal access.”

From First Trip To Dental Service Trip

Her second trip was a dental service trip, and by then she was certain about dentistry being her path. She noticed a stronger focus on the historical and cultural context behind health care in Peru, and she learned more about MEDLIFE’s year round follow-up care program with patients.

She also met Mary Lou, a community leader she describes as “such a pillar for her community.” Watching how hard Mary Lou and other women in the community work for their families and neighbors stayed with Natalie long after the trip.

Taking It On Air

The radio invitation came through Lamar’s Honors College, where an SLT now counts as a “high impact activity” toward graduating with honors, the same category as study abroad. Natalie and another MEDLIFE member talked about what the trip involves, the culture they learned about, and what they gained from it.

“These trips have been such a pillar in my passion for healthcare and for dentistry,” she said.

Her Advice

As president, Natalie has spent the past few years rebuilding Lamar’s chapter, and it’s growing again. Her advice for anyone thinking about joining a pre-dental volunteer abroad program, or any student nervous about signing up, is simple: “Just take the leap and go for it.”

Lamar’s chapter heads back to Lima in May. To learn how you can get involved with MEDLIFE today, fill out the form below or download our brochure!