Alumni Spotlight: Alexa Edmier

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Alexa Edmier is currently a high school senior in Mesa, Arizona. She enjoys finding new ways to help her community, hiking, and traveling with her friends and family.

Why did you decide to volunteer with United Planet in Chile?

Alexa: Many different factors went into my decision to travel abroad with United Planet. First, I was a minor and needed a very safe and structured program. My parents were very hesitant to send me thousands of miles away, so I needed to choose a program that was known for its safety. I was also looking for cultural immersion. I believe that my volunteer work and interactions with those around me gave me the experience that I had hoped for.

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Alexa: Every morning I would head to Guillermo Matta around eight. I would then assist an English teacher with her lessons, emphasizing the correct pronunciation. I followed Miss Jacqueline to each of her classes, and would often work with struggling students individually.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Alexa: This experience has altered my outlook on the world drastically. My goal in life is to simply make a positive difference in the world, and I plan to do everything in my power to accomplish that. I now fully intend to aid in the decline, if not the eradication of life-threatening diseases in third world countries. Many people in under-resourced countries suffer from diseases simply because they cannot pay for their treatment. Therefore, I plan on studying how to make treatments more affordable and accessible for these countries. I now plan on participating in Doctors Without Borders in the future. Through this participation, both myself and doctors in these under-served populations would gain new insight into solutions and possible treatments.