U-Lead #2

We are incredibly proud to announce that the Operation Smile student leaders of Panama planned and ran their own U-Lead conference! When we went to Panama City, we wanted to "Inspire Waves of Change." The goal of our mission was to give the already strong leaders of Panama to the tools to help others become more involved with the organization and become leaders. The hope was that we would create a ripple effect. We did not just want our impact with our week in Panama. We hoped that students would take what they learned at our three day conference in March 2011 and use that knowledge to teach others in similar conferences. This May, Ana Isabel Correa, Roberto Zuñiga,  and Natalia Londoño completed that goal. With the support of club sponsor, Marìa Gabriela Sagel and Operation Smile Panama, the students worked extremely hard to put together an extremely successful conference. These student leaders were extremely integral part of the first U-Lead conference. After meeting them, we knew that these were leaders with vast amount of potential, passion, and innate talent. It was immediately clear that these students could inspire their peers more than we ever could. We knew that their experience helping to raise money and support medical missions in Panama combined with their amazing drive and commitment to the organization could truly inspire waves of change. We truly cannot express how proud we are of these students. Operation Smile Panama stands as a testament of the vast potential of student leaders in mission countries. As Operation Smile International works to send American students to help on medical missions and U-Lead missions, the organization is also developing sustainable initiatives to unlock the talents of in-country student leaders. This second U-Lead conference shows how students in mission countries are willing and able to make an impact in the organization. This conference signals a shift in the organization to increased in-country student involvement.  The first U-Lead conference in Panama was simply a push in the right direction. We gave these students tools to help others and they exceeded expectations in every way.
We hope that other countries will follow Panama's lead. Operation Smile Panama has been incredibly supportive of student initiatives and now holds one of the strongest Student Programs in the world. While the organization works to complete screenings, medical missions, and post-op therapy, they are also looking toward the future by training the leaders of tomorrow.

Way to go Panama! We are so proud of you. Keep Inspiring Waves of Change.

U-Lead #2: Marìa Gabriela Sagel

In 2011 Ive helped to organized 2 U-lead in Panama. Each of them have really been an experience.IN March we atendend to the U-LEAD with Carlos Veron, James Raid, Danielle Rivera, Megan Lloyd and Jennifer Mings , they teached us a lot and we learned from them what a U lead truelly is. This group was great. In May 15 we organized the conference for Academia Interamericana de Costa del Este and Cerro Viento School. I started planning and organizing with the leaders as soon as I got the date.Our job started in May 2 when me got together to Nutrition and Dental hygiene material. We worked together to fix the agende to prepare Powerpoints and Videos. We only counted with 8 hours of conference. I think they key of the success was getting together the day before to see the agenda and fix whatever we had to and then see who was going to be in the checking in, see what materials we had missing, and see where we were going to put the rest of our stuff. The truth is, our details with the itinerary was also the best thing we could’ve done. The day of U-lead was finally here. This time is a different experience, one of the leaders wasn’t able to go so I had to take her spot as a leader. Being honest, I was nervous, it was the first experience of the guys giving a conference all by themselves. Our first activity was the Ice Breakers, we all danced together and in that moment I took at deep breath and I knew the conference was going to be a real success. We didn’t had shy kids, they all wanted to participate in the different activities. That’s how we started the speech from OPS,and  began with the interactions with the leaders and breaking into groups at 10:00AM. We divided the group in 4 differents groups that represented the 4 pilars. All the pillars were very well performed, the group did such beautiful presentations about education, awareness, service, and lidership. For the students to see what a patient needs to go through we developed a scavenger hunt. My students really impressed me with the game, it was excellent! The groups from both showed us that they had really good fundraising ideas and they expressed their ideas with a unique enthusiasm. The Cerro Viento School did a play about Dental Hygiene that was excellent, sincerely made us laugh a lot, they showed us their presentations that they really got the real purpose of Operation Smile. We had some technical difficulties, the conference was a Sunday so we didn’t all the personal to help ups with the problems, we didn’t know why in one computer we could se the image but no audio we had to connect both of the computers and count 1,2,3. Now and then put the videos at the same time so we could hear and also see them. I really liked how they fixed the  problem with the presentations very quickly. This shows that they have the capacity to find a solution and go on. Im very satisfied with all of the team that worked together: Operation Smile Panama and the sponsor of both schools, the group of leaders and the students invited to U-lead. Im sure that Panama is a country that’ll surprise with their volunteers. We’ve found many dynamic people and with a lot enthusiasm for helping.

*Marìa Gabriela Sagel, or "Teacher Gabi," is an Operation Smile club sponsor at the Panamerican School in Panama City, Panama. She has been an key part of developing Student Programs involvement in Panama.

U-Lead #2: Ana Isabel Correa

When I received the news that I was going to pilot a U-LEAD conference, I was more surprised than when I received the notice I was elected as a Panamanian leader. When I attended the first U-LEAD conference in Panama, which was given by James Reid, Jennifer Mings, Megan Lloyd and Danielle Rivera, I was just helping them. I wasn't even a team leader, but in this case, I was going to give the conference, to talk about everything they talked, and to LEAD. I was nervous of the fact that I was going to talk in front of 50 people, but thanks to James, Jenn, Megan and Dani, we gave an amazing conference because we learned a lot from them and they were very influential for us. I have to say that they showed us the real meaning of leadership!

Definitely, the First U-LEAD had a positive impact in my life, and that's why I wanted to make an impact in other volunteers life. So the planning began 1 month before in order to have everything ready for the conference that would be held in May. Gaby helped us a lot. She did an amazing schedule to cover all the 3-day-material in ONE DAY. We talked about Dental Hygiene, Nutrition, fundraising activities, the 4 pillars (education, service, leadership and awareness) and Oscentral . Of course, the best part of the conference was the Ice Breakers. EVERYBODY loved it!! They told us that the ice breakers helped them to create a comfortable mood and they were in the right moment, I really had a lot of fun while I was in the conference. I’m pretty sure that most of all the students that attended this conference learned a lot.

After the conference, I read every single paper in which the students wrote their opinions. Fortunately, no one had any complain. The students loved the group colors division, the "U-LEAD welcome" and the team presentations. Both schools, Academia de Costa del Este and Academia de Cerro Viento, made an excellent presentation about Dental Hygiene and Nutrition.

While I was reading, there were like 5 papers missing, when I suddenly found a paper in which my name was written. It was anonymous, and it said that "Leadership is what Gisselle and Ana Isabel had showed us today, they we're very influential for us and someday I want to do the same they did today". That's when I realized that I made an positive influence in their lives.

Last but not least, I’m so happy to say that I'm part of Operation Smile, and I never thought it would change my life. I hope to continue working on it and spread smiles all over the world. The world needs leaders, and that’s what Operation Smile turn people in.

U-Lead #2: Roberto Zuñiga

 It was a very pleasant experience for me to return and be part of a U-lead meeting. Thank God it turned out to be excellent! This is the first time that U-lead was carried out in Panama entirely by Panamanian leaders. All the expectations were met. Thanks to our hard work we made it possible for the persons who attended this meeting to change the way they thought regarding other noble people. To help the needy without expecting anything in return. They came out of this meeting feeling like new persons. They came out as leaders, being able to help others, following the right path by joining this great organization, Operation Smile.

U-Lead #2: Natalia Londoño

I've been involved with operation smile since 2009, I remember my first experience with it was a conference that we took in Panama that was similar to ULEAD conference, but it wasnt at all, my team leader was Barron, and I remember that I was always asking him about how to become a team leader here in Panama. That year I graduate from school so in 2010 I wasn’t that involved in every Operation Smile activities because I didn’t have enough time, but I was always helping with donations or some other little things. This year I returned to be an active volunteer because I have more time to assist in all the activities, so I was invited to the U-LEAD conference given here in Panama. It was an amazing experience because even though I have already went to an ISLC in Virginia, the U-lead given by James, Jennifer, Megan and Danielle was amazing because it was a very close and touching experience. Two months later, I had the fortune to be chosen as a leader in the first U-Lead given and organized in Panama by US!! First when they told me I was a little nervous because I had never had this experience of speaking in front of so many people. But I assumed the challenge because it was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed and that would help me to improve my skills of that I´ve always wanted to be in the organization, a leader. It turned out to be an amazing experience, we all made an excellent team work so that everything worked out in a good way, I think we fulfilled our purpose with the people who attended the conference, and we had the pleasure to work with people with a great motivation and a deep desire to be part of this wonderful organization. We divide all in 4 diferent groups, each one presented the 4 pilars and we did it in a very dynamic way, they were all very creative and participative in all the activities that we planned for them, we also talked about nutrition and dental hygiene and im sure that they loved the U-LEAD conference. I feel very gratefull to had this experience and more than anything of being part of Operation Smile.

Reflection: Megan

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.

Reflection: Dani

It’s been a little over a week since we have returned from Panama City, and like any Operation Smile experience, nothing but a long response could describe just how incredible and worthwhile it was. It may be a bit redundant to say that Operation Smile is an incredible organization, but it has an amazing quality that as Jenn puts it, makes it better than real life. Operation Smile gives us the chance to really do something with our lives. It’s a place where the present is so important and amazing, that all of the other stuff that usually distracts us falls away. My trip with our sponsor Carlos Veron and fellow College Council members Megan Lloyd, James Reid, and Jennifer Mings was no different. From the moment we got through customs, (next time I should probably read the form a bit more closely!) the students who worked so hard from Panama to help us put the conference together surrounded us. Ana, Maria, and Roberto were absolutely amazing, and we are also grateful for all of the help and support they provided both before and during the conference. Not only that, but they also were often our taxis and tour guides, and we had a great time getting to know them as we got everything ready for the conference and for our team day. All three of them are such incredible leaders and I am so glad that we got to work with them.

After our fantastic days spent shopping for supplies, putting together the final aspects of the conference, promoting Operation Smile on the radio, and checking out the Panama Canal, we finally were ready for the conference. After all of our preparation, the weekly conference calls, and the constant emails, the conference finally began. We worked so hard to put this all together, and it was with a great deal of excitement and nerves that we began. We were nervous because we weren’t certain how great the language barrier would be. However, the students who came to the conference were so enthusiastic and fun to be around that, despite the difference in language, we didn’t struggle much. Those who were fully bilingual were always willing to help us out, and those who weren’t were so enthusiastic about Operation Smile that communication was much easier than it would have otherwise been.

While there were many highlights to the conference, including the hard lessons learned in the What is it Like to be a Patient Scavenger Hunt, our enthusiastic speakers, and the games, my favorite part of the conference was the service project that the students did on the morning of the last day. I think of this moment as proof that our conference was really effective and worth their time, and ours.

Typically, mission-training students get more time to prepare, spend more time with the information, and have more resources. Each of our breakout groups had great students who were so inventive in the way they presented the information, and all of the groups had bright, hands-on posters that invited kids and their parents to participate.

I remember going through mission training over a year and a half ago, stressing over how much I was supposed to remember, how to make it interesting, and how to make it interactive. Since the students were working with even less time, we were a bit nervous how it was going to go. However, they absolutely and completely surpassed all of our expectations and genuinely made a difference. Some of the students in my group were put in a waiting room in the far end of the hospital. The TV was bouncing back and forth between Spanish music and infomercials, and the few families in the waiting room looked exhausted and stressed. The students hovered together around the entrance, the natural reaction to being thrown into a new situation. It’s that first moment on the mission where suddenly, you’re there and there are people all around, and you’re not quite sure how to start. The students glanced at each other, and then the moment passed and each pair headed off to a different family. Their confidence in their presentations was incredible, and the families were all appreciative for their presentations. One family, of a mother with her young son and baby daughter were waiting for the boy’s blood to be drawn. Very shortly into their presentation, he was called back to get his blood drawn, and he returned in tears. Instead of shying away from the emotional boy, four students compassionately surrounded him, dental hygiene and nutrition posters in hand. In order to staunch his tears, one of the girls removed the pin holding her name tag to her shirt, got a slip of paper from the hospital desk, and created a homemade sticker, that said “superhero” for him to wear. Meanwhile, the other three girls encouraged him to participate in removing the germs from their poster of a dirty mouth. Though he was still watery-eyed, he began to remove germs, completely forgetting about his sore arm. These four girls were so successful, that not only did they manage to teach the family about basic dental hygiene but they also managed to deal with the situation at hand without a blink of an eye.

These presentations, which are done on medical missions, can be difficult, and just like the rest of the students at the conference the girls did an amazing job with it. After the service project, James, Megan, Jenn and I were all so proud of how well it went, and how well the students adapted to each situation.

The conference really was a success, and I’m so glad I had a chance to work with James, Megan, and Jenn for these past few months to put it all together. Though we are all from Albuquerque, New Mexico, I was the only one of the four of us that attended Bosque High School. I was so grateful for the chance to get to know all of them better. James has one of those personalities that is just so much fun to be around. He did an amazing job spearheading the planning for this conference, and it was largely thanks to his extra work communicating with Operation Smile Panama that made this conference work. Megan is one of the most genuine people I know. We’re the two newbies on the College Council, though if you watched Megan working you would never know it. She is such a hard worker and so creative. She has done some absolutely incredible things with her club, and I want my college club to follow in UNM’s footsteps, because Megan and her club do such great things. I’ve had the chance to work with Jenn in high school through Operation Smile, and it absolutely amazes me what this girl can do. Her drive is absolutely astonishing. She may be one of the busiest people I know, and despite being so busy, she still manages to do a great job on everything she tries. Finally, we were so lucky to have Carlos as our sponsor. I’m so glad that he now works for Operation Smile, because he is such a great addition to student programs. He was willing to do whatever it took to make sure the little things all came together, becoming our translator, tech guy, and he also kept track of the budget. He was also one of our most popular speakers for the conference, and such a fun person to be around.

I am so thankful for this opportunity and for the chance to meet and work the people, from Xenia, Catherine, at Operation Smile Panama, to Gabi, who is so hardworking and talented, to Roberto, Ana, and Maria, to Jenn, James, Megan, and Carlos, to finally the students themselves. It was all of these people who really made this experience the crazy, fun, educational, life-changing experience that it was.