Reflecting back on my experience of piloting U-lead in Panama is an overwhelming task simply because there was so much effort, time, and planning that went in to making the conference such a success. When I applied to College Council over the summer I had no idea that I would be so lucky as to participate in piloting this program. We discussed this program very briefly at a retreat in Utah but knew nothing in detail about u-lead until our locations were relayed to us by Katie on one of our numerous conference calls. I was elated to hear that I would be going to Panama City, Panama with Dani Rivera, James Reid, and Jennifer Mings. I have worked closely with them for many years; we all went to high school in New Mexico so we had grown to know each other well. Going to Panama with Operation Smile definitely took the cake for best spring breaks, and going with these three was the icing on top. And so the planning began the minute we all arrived in Norfolk,VA in January for the University Symposium.
The University Symposium is not for the faint of heart. We spent two complete days working to plan out every fine detail of the schedule for the three day conference that would be held in March. There was so much to consider while planning this and as a group we were simply given a very minimal budget, a few guidelines, and that was it. We were on our own to fill the conference days with constructive activities for building a strong student club, communicating with your community, gaining leadership skills, fundraising ideas, and spreading awareness about Operation Smile within Panama. We also somehow managed to coordinate all four of our hectic schedules for the school year so that we could squeeze in an essential conference call once a week, luckily that time worked well also for our sponsor who was in Paraguay, Carlos Veron. Over the next few weeks that followed the symposium we slowly knocked out a few tasks at a time, a power point presentation here and a t-shirt order there. When the time finally arrived for us to head down to Panama I was filled with a sense of pride knowing that we all worked so well together and had a blast doing it. We were efficient and on time with almost everything we hoped to accomplish, and our communication with one another was wonderful. Even communicating with Carlos all the way in Paraguay went well thanks to Skype. Although the daily ten to fifteen e-mails were a bit overwhelming and all the additional work on top of our individual Operation Smile clubs, school work, and jobs pushed each of us to our limit almost daily, it was all more than worth it in the end.
I was still in disbelief that I was even going to Panama by the time I landed there. It quickly set in though that I had arrived and it was all actually happening when we were greeted immediately by Maria, Roberto, Ana, Carlos, and “teacher” Gabby. I instantly felt like I had known them all for a life time because of their genuine enthusiasm and kindness towards the four of us. They were with us every step of the way once we got settled in and the final details were being planned for the conference. I was so impressed to see the dedication for Operation Smile that was displayed by the three student leaders, Maria, Roberto, and Ana. I hope that they will keep up their work with Operation Smile and that the u-lead conference will continue to have a positive impact on them and their fellow students in the region. I was blown away by their passion for Operation Smile, which was clearly shown in the beautiful video they had made from a mission that they had attended in the more rural area of Panama. I was so glad to see that they had the opportunity to see what an amazing cause they are working so hard for and that they could appreciate it firsthand. The Panamerican School sponsor, Gabby, was lovingly referred to as our little conference “pusher” since she never took fundraising of the brain. In between guest speakers and break out sessions Gabby would be selling Op Smile tattoos, bouncy balls, shirts, cups, cookies, and any other type of merchandise a student could want to represent Operation Smile. She is the queen of raising money for Operation Smile, the back seat of her car was like a moving storage facility full of Operation Smile merchandise I(It reminded me all too well of my own car trunk!). She is adored and loved by all of her students and I can definitely understand why. Gabby has a huge heart when it comes to giving to others and I know she is going to continue to do amazing things for this organization. She was so helpful in taking us around the city to get supplies or get us to whatever location we needed to be at next. She was always willing to help in any way that she could and for that I was extremely thankful. Xenia was also incredibly instrumental in getting us from point A to point B every day. Every morning she was there at our hotel to pick us up and take us where we needed to go. I absolutely think the world of her and am in awe of what a strong student program she has created in Panama.
Every day of the conference was better than the day before. We started off not really knowing what to expect, who to expect, and what languages we were going to have to work with. It was all really unknown to us so we had to just roll with the punches. As the days went on it seemed more and more like a little ISCE, but instead of 600 students we only had 50. I thought that 50 students was such a perfect amount because by the end of the 3 day conference I had learned all of their names and really gotten to know the majority of them. It was amazing to me how much growth I saw in some of the students in such a short period of time. This conference took them out of their shells and turned them into leaders. They gained confidence and grew a strong sense of desire to go spread awareness of Operation Smile in their region. By far the best part of this conference for me was the service project the students did in the hospital. They put together posters and presentations for nutrition and dental hygiene modules and presented them to children and parents in the waiting rooms. They were all very nervous at first that the parents wouldn’t be receptive to listen to what they had to say but they rehearsed their presentations, learned the facts, and put together beautiful posters anyway. When they finally reached the waiting room I saw an instant change wash over them once they realized how influential these presentations were on the families. After doing a few presentations to families two of the girls on my team spotted a little boy crying in the check-in line with his mom. They walked over with big smiles on their faces, handed him a tooth brush , and talked to him for just a few minutes before the tears stopped and the smile appeared. I was so proud of them in that moment and I hoped that they knew their small action most likely made that little boy’s day. Something as simple as a tooth brush and a smile can change a kid’s day for the better. When the morning finally came for us to pack up and leave Roberto, Ana, and their parents picked us up from our hotel in two cars well before the sun was even up. As James and I got out of Ana’s car her mom told us that we were welcome any time and that we will always have a family in Panama. I knew this was true, these people are my family and I’m so blessed to know them. Operation Smile has brought so many amazing people from all over the world into my life and I will always cherish the time I was able to spend with such inspirational people.
I want to thank the University of New Mexico Operation Smile club for their amazing support for me and the entire U-lead program. This program was definitely a group effort, which even included people who were not directly involved with the conference. The UNM club was nice enough to hold a bake sale fundraiser to raise money to pay for and supply t-shirts as gifts for the wonderful speakers we had come talk at the conference. Jon Dominguez, my right-hand man when running the UNM club, generously designed the u-lead Panama t-shirt that we all rocked daily at the conference. Audrey Young, a mother of a club member, was extremely kind and made 50 pillow cases for children to use while recovering from surgery in post-op during an upcoming mission in Panama. I thank you all, your commitment and passion for this organization is an inspiration. I am so proud and humbled to call you my friends, I could not ask for better.
I would also like to thank TEAM PANAMA! You made this entire experience worth my while and have all enriched my life more than I can explain. James, I never would have imagined all those years ago that you would have come this far with this organization and been able to impact so many lives in the process. I have watched you grow with Operation Smile and your dedication and passion for helping others is contagious. You have the best heart and spirit about you, something I really admire in you. You made an amazing team leader, I am so impressed with your ability to stay organized and keep your cool while living the wild life that you do! Jenn, oh Jenn. Sorry I am REALLY sorry that I can’t spend every single day with you. No one makes me laugh like you do; you definitely made u-lead Panama a blast for everyone! I am so proud of the work you have done with Op Smile and I am so excited to see what you can accomplish in the next few years. I really admire your ability to stay true to everything you believe in no matter what other people say, a trait that is reflected in your leadership strength when running your own Op Smile club. Dani, you created the most positive vibe while we were in Panama. You constantly had a smile on your face and a bright outlook on the day. You are so willing to take on any task anyone throws your way, no matter how daunting it may be. I am so happy I was able to get to know you better during this entire process! Carlos, thank you so much for being such a wonderful sponsor! I speak for all of us when I say that you made this experience a great one. You were so incredibly helpful during the planning process and we could not have done it without you. I am really glad I finally got to meet you, can’t wait to see you in China!
Operation Smile has taught me so much these past 6 years and has definitely shaped me into the person that I have become today. I have gained so much from the opportunities that have been given to me and I am thankful that Operation Smile continues to have the confidence in me to pursue these opportunities as best I can. The place where I am most at ease, feel most needed, and am most humbled is with Operation Smile. U-lead has already changed many lives, including mine, and I look forward to seeing how the program will grow in the future. I am confident that u-lead is here to stay and will continue to reach students all around the world, inspiring each of them to be the change.
