During the summer between my sophomore and junior year, I traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, where I had the opportunity to be a play volunteer at Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

I got to connect with children and their parents at the hospital, and give them the opportunity to have fun with activities and games. Communication is always a kind of divide when you don’t speak the same language, but one thing I learned in Cape Town is that there are universal languages such as ’play’ and if you can make a child smile by playing with them, it really doesn't matter what language you speak.

The trip also included many cultural and historical learning experiences including visiting neighborhoods like Bokaap, the contemporary art museum, Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and going on a safari to help us connect with the culture of South Africa.

Cape Town will always hold a dear place in my heart, and my experience with the kids at the hospital has influenced me in choosing a career in international occupational therapy where I hope to work in communities with little access to healthcare.

I am forever grateful for the people I have met who have become lifelong friends and the opportunities that this trip has given me. Cape Town is a beautiful city that has so much to offer, and I hope one day to go back and learn more about the community and the country.