HILLARY VARGAS

Johnson and Wales University

Age: 19

This past year, I had the privilege to go on a community service trip to Tijuana , Mexico for spring break.

During this week, we did not have access to television or computers. We took cold showers and worked long days. Too many this would not be their first option for spring break but after interning for a year at SIC LLC this was "kismet" .

One of our tasks while in Tijuana was to lay down cement floors for the local schools. We also visited an orphanage where we played soccer and other interactive games with the children. The image of the children's smiling faces remains one of my fondest memories from the trip. These children appreciate the few things that they have with so much love.

We live in a country where we have the opportunity to succeed. To see children that don't have the opportunity of a loving family to support them, or to be able to accomplish their dreams and live out the "American Dream" is so hard to believe.

I now have a deeper appreciation for what it means to be a SIC Girl. Through Community Activism , the third fundamental value of being SIC, I contributed to a small but significant change in a child's well being.