This Summer, 14 students and three faculty members traveled to the Dominican Republic to build a house for a family with the organization Cambiando Vidas. Please enjoy this final reflective blog posts below from the students as they each share a couple of sentences about how the week with Cambiando Vidas changed them and what they will bring back from the community of Lavapie to the Deerfield community.
JT ’26: This trip has completely changed my perspective on housing. Seeing just how much work goes into building one house, and seeing the housing situations of those less fortunate has made me better appreciate the housing that I live in. Interacting with the local Lavapie community has also shown me how universal a sense of community is, and how key it is in making a house a home.
Hutson ’27: This trip has changed my perspective on community. The people in San Juan value relationships and care more than tangible things, and I think I need to implement that a little more in my life. I think I will bring back more appreciation and gratitude for smaller relationships that I may have overlooked before, as well as a bunch of new friends to see on campus.
Billy ’26: this trip showed me how much some things may mean to someone and showed me how fortunate I really am. The idea that your community isn’t just your direct friends, but also everyone you live with and around at Deerfield. It is important to support everyone within Deerfield and go out of your way to help because it makes everyone better.
Cole ’26: This trip has demonstrated the importance and strength of community. Within the community where we were working, there was an immense presence of love, care, and selflessness. I hope to bring these qualities to the United States, strengthening the bonds and communities that I am a part of.
Blythe ’27: This trip has solidified for me what the true meaning of home is. Seeing the community of Lavapie embrace us like family and witnessing how they interact with each other has deepened my understanding of the importance of relationships. Going back to Deerfield, I will make sure the “foundation” of my house, or the relationships I have with others, is strong and fortified, much like the one I witnessed abroad.
Annie ’27: This trip has given me a new perspective on what community feels like. At DA we often talk about fostering a community for everyone, but this trip has shown me what that really looks like. The amount of love and kindness I have experienced has been eye opening, and I hope to be able to bring my new insights back to DA in order to strengthen our community.
Emma ’27: It feels impossible to put into words the emotions I have felt this week, and the life changing moments I have experienced. I have always had a tight knit relationship with my immediate family, so I thought I knew everything that has to do with being a part of one. However, after being welcomed into the family’s home and enveloped in warmth and kindness, I understand that family isn’t just those you share genetics with. It’s the people that show you grace and compassion with no judgment, no matter how long they have known you.
Arabella ’26: Wow…what a week. At the beginning of my trip, I was not sure what this trip would intel. I knew it would be hard work and long hours, but little did I know my life would be changed forever. I found a new community that welcomed me with open arms. I learned what true hard, dedicated work looked like, forever changing my perspective. At the end, we did not just build a house, but we fostered a home.
Jarron ’26: Boy oh Boy was this trip lifechanging. I learned what a real, loving, compassionate community looks like. The unwavering love and a helping hand were always present at every moment. Coming back, I will try to build a community replicating that of Cambiando Vidas.
Josie ’26: Never have I felt as welcomed and wanted as I did throughout the week on the worksite. Whether I was handing my peers concrete blocks, playing volleyball with local kids, or holding the baby that would soon reside in the house we were constructing, I was consistently greeted with a hug, a “como estas,” and a warm smile. Prior to this trip, I had the belief that a house takes years to build, but now I have learned that all it takes is a little mezcla, a few hammers, and a lot of love.
Katherine ’27: I believe that this trip has not only changed my perspective on life but has also helped me to grow in so many ways. The community of Lavapie was so welcoming and loving. They treated us like family and shared so much love with everyone around them. They have inspired me to lead with love no matter who I am interacting with. I will forever remember this trip and hold the many memories made close to my heart.
Zara ’27: On this trip, I immersed myself in a beautiful culture that would forever change my life. The community of people that we worked with not only supported us in the construction of the home, but also became life-long friends that we would share everlasting memories with. I’m so glad I was able to be a part of the family that we built, and I can’t thank this trip enough for giving me that opportunity.
Lucy ’27: I was offered many things on this trip. Perspective, kindness, and a constant supply of food and drink from the grandmas and aunts of the family who worked to keep us fed and hydrated. After I said “gracias” to them, I expected to hear “con gusto” or “denada,” but almost every time, they said “siempre,” which means always in Spanish. This trip showed me that I’ll always have a connection to those people I met and that they’ll always stay with me.
Jack ’27: Spending time with Cambiando Vidas has opened my eyes to the rough living conditions in different areas of the world, and how it might impact daily life. Despite these challenges, all of the people endured with a smile on their face, and a will for happiness. I will return to the Deerfield community with a higher sense of appreciation for the opportunities that Deerfield provides me with.