You Don’t Come Back the Same
14 Days in Nicaragua that Changed my Life
Written by: Hillary Daniels
On June 21st, I boarded a plane with hopes of helping a community in Jiquilillo, Nicaragua, through GIVE. But honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never been on a service trip before, knew very little about the country I was heading to, and certainly didn’t think I had the physical strength to help build a school with my own hands. In just fourteen days, everything I thought I knew—about myself, my values, my beliefs—completely changed.
Four months later, that trip still stays with me. It whispers reminders when I’m down, cheers me on when I’m scared, and gives me the push I need when I’m hesitant.
The truth is, something clicks within those fourteen days. Maybe it was day one, meeting strangers who would become like family. Maybe day three, digging a sandy hole for hours. Or day five, climbing a volcano and conquering fears I didn’t know I had. It could’ve been day eight, teaching Shana English simply because she wanted to learn. Most likely, it was a piece of each day that stayed with me. But it wasn’t until day fourteen, when I had to leave these incredible people and this remarkable place, that I realized something inside me had changed. Something had clicked.
I didn’t lose anything on this trip. I didn’t return home feeling like a “bad American” or burdened by guilt. Instead, I grew. I was pushed so far out of my comfort zone that I had no choice but to grow. That’s what this trip does: it pushes you. It challenges you to be better, to be more, to grow, to change.
You don’t go to Nicaragua and come back the same person.
What I Learned in Fourteen Days with GIVE:
In those 14 days, I discovered what I truly value. Many of these values I thought I already held: the importance of family, friends, and education. But throw yourself into a small Nicaraguan village with twenty-something strangers, and you start to realize just how deeply you value those things, and how easily you take them for granted.
1. Family
I came to understand the true importance of family. I saw families in Nicaragua—who, by society’s standards, had very little—laughing together, praying together, learning together, helping each other, and loving each other. They thrived simply by being together.
Driving through Jiquilillo each day, most families lived in little more than huts surrounded by plastic or cardboard. And yet, the love between them was overwhelming. I recognized that love because I’m lucky enough to have it in my own life. I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to grow up with that until this trip. It opened my eyes to the real power of family.
2. Friendship
I won’t pretend I make friends easily. I’m a guarded person, and I rarely let someone get close to my heart. But in fourteen days, I gained twenty-nine friends who will forever have a place in it. The stories we shared, the work we did, and the experiences we lived through brought us closer than I ever expected. I don’t go a single day without talking to someone from that trip. We message constantly, Snapchat like crazy, and FaceTime whenever we can. The states, and even oceans, that separate us feel insignificant. When you share two weeks that change your life, a bond forms that’s unlike any other friendship.
3. Education
Education has always been my passion. Since kindergarten, I’ve told anyone who would listen that I was going to be a teacher. At 22, completing my degree in Education, I’ve had plenty of classroom experience, but nothing compares to what I learned in Nicaragua. My concentration is High School English, and I’ve witnessed many students who feel disillusioned in the classroom. But not in Nicaragua.
There, students crave knowledge. They thrive on learning. Any piece of information you share, they absorb it. For many, education is everything. It’s the stepping stone they need to build a better future.
Their love for learning was unlike anything I’d seen. It was something I desperately needed to witness. I firmly believe that we are lifelong students. That belief never rang more true than during those two weeks. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve complained about class, about waking up early, about walking through the snow to get there, etc. I said I valued education. But during those fourteen days, I truly learned what that meant.
Plain and simple, I wish I could bottle this experience and give it to everyone I meet. The things I saw, the things I felt, the memories, the laughter—even the tears—they’re invaluable to my growth.