Facebooking from an African orphanage life is, it’s never too late to do something extraordinary, and completely change the way you look at and experience life.” Since her schedule was filled helping villagers, there was little time to sign on to Facebook, so Schmitt would post late in the evening, while in bed under her mosquito net. “I would mention happenings that occurred that were important to me, and if I had a strong enough Internet connection, I’d post a photo.” On one occa“ I wanted people to see that sion, she allowed her no matter how old you are or followers a “sneak peek” into a service how boring you think your life learning opportunity in which she and is, it’s never too late to do Crenshaw cleaned something extraordinary, and and dressed children’s wounds, taught a lesson completely change the way you in hygiene, and “were swarmed by a sea of chillook at and experience life.” dren for the toothbrushes and toothpaste” donated by the USI Dental Schmitt said Ghana holds “a special spot” in her heart. “This year was filled with much deeper connections to the people I worked and lived with,” she said. “Although I stuck out like a sore thumb, Ghana feels like a second home to me.” Though her intention was not to explicitly promote study abroad, like the Eagles Abroad or blog like the class in China, Schmitt regularly posted Facebook updates and photos during her 12 days in Ghana, providing a window into another world for her family and friends. “I feel that’s how social media outlets should be used, rather than complaining about traffic or posting food pictures all the time,” she said. “I wanted people to see that no matter how old you are or how boring you think your Nursing major Erika Schmitt made her second trip to Ghana this summer on a Global Engagement Internship. Schmitt and fellow intern Ariel Crenshaw, a biology major, also participated in last summer’s course in Ghana. They stayed at an orphanage and school while working with staff at Ghana’s Mount Sinai Hospital, following doctors on their rounds, assisting nurses, and witnessing births and deaths.
Erika Schmitt tends to a child’s injury at Ghana orphanage.
Hygiene Program that he was passing out. “This is only a fraction of what I’ve done so far,” she wrote. “More to come if I get time and a decent signal.”
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