Arvion: “What I’m Carrying Forward”

Arvion, from Washington DC, is a college student at the University of the District of Columbia.

When you pack your bags

When you pack your bags for a journey like LearnServe Global, you expect to learn about global issues, take in new landscapes, and see how other parts of the world operate. But when I look back through my camera roll, from biting into fresh sugarcanes right from the stalk to sharing a traditional meal of nshima and greens with friends, I realize that the biggest takeaway wasn’t a place or a project. It was a community.

It’s easy to get caught up in the itineraries, the big ideas, and the sheer amount of new information you absorb on a trip. Whether we were looking at local political history and media debates, watching powerful regional theater, or learning about grassroots conversation and how organizations empower local communities to coexist with wildlife, every single meaningful experience came back to one core thing which is people. 

Community is what makes all the pieces come together. It’s unscripted laughter, the shared meals, and the quiet moments of connection that break down barriers and remind you how similar we all really are.  

“Real impact happens when we show up for each other, listen closely to local leaders and voices, and build spaces where everyone belongs.”

What I’m Carrying Forward

Trips eventually end, flights land, and we all return to our everyday routines. It’s tempting to let the excitement fade into memory once you’re back into your normal schedule. But I refuse to leave that sense of community behind. 

Carrying the community forward means remembering that real impact doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we show up for each other, listen closely to local leaders and voices, and build spaces where everyone belongs.