Dan's Mission Trip to Guatemala

Dan Goswick Start Date: Jan 26, 2014 - End Date: Feb 22, 2014
  • Guatemala

My Travel Story

by: Dan Goswick Start Date: Jan 26, 2014 - End Date: Feb 22, 2014
I've often told my friends and family I'm the luckiest person on the planet. To this day, I still believe I'm right. 

Throughout my childhood I've traveled across the nation with my family. New York, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, San Diago, New Orleans to name a few. Then I traveled to Alliance, Ohio to the next chapter of my life: The University of Mount Union. 

I became a Raider. It was then that even more opportunity came my way through my marketing major (which I stumbled into by accident, but another story for another time). Professor, mentor and friend Mark McConnell told me about an opportunity to study abroad in Thailand for 6 weeks in the summer. 

I packed my bags and flew to Thailand (and boy were my arms tired. My future kids will love my dad jokes...). 

There were plenty of adventures that I had in Thailand where I learned about myself, my career, and the world. I saw places that most people will never see, met people I would have never had the privilage to know, and traveling like that I truly felt alive. 

Fast forward to 2013. I have become very involved in Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity and Mount Union and found my second passon is service. I love the feeling that I am making a difference in not only my community but the world. Then again, good luck shown on me again.

I learned about the Social Responsibily and Personal Well Being course taught by Dr. Stephen Kramer. The spark notes verison of this class is you travel to Guatemala over spring break to do service all week and be exposed to the culture. 

Travel, Service, Culture all wrapped up into one. 

All my life when I travel I do it for me. In the big picture of things my travel up to this point has been very selfish. Of course, I think I'm a nice person, and I think I've helped mold the lives of those I've traveled with and I've loved every second of it. This time however, I will travel for a greater cause than just myself. I will travel to make this world a better place for someone else. To make the world better than I found it. 

In class we're reading a variety of books about making ourselves better people and making the world a better place. I want to take these lessons with me not only to Guatemala, but with me for the rest of my life.

So, down to the fun part. We are asked to raise $400 dollars for this trip, however we can. I've heard from many of those older than me:

"All kids do is play on their phones and go on Facebook"
-- Every grown up ever

Well no. I'm using social media to spread this site and to raise funds for my trip. If you can spare any amount of money I would greatly appricate it. Not all of my blessings are from luck. They are from you. Those who support me on all my adventures. My friends and my family. As always, I thank you so much.

Anyways, I want to spread this message across the interwebs and show how not all young kids are worried about Justin Bieber's hair, who hit the home run last night, or how my artsy picture of my starbucks cup makes me 'unique'.

No.

I want to show everyone that the world is good. 

I want to show that there are people out there who still care about the world.

I want to show it's not too late for my generation or the next.

I want to show everyone that one person can make a difference.



I want to make a difference. 


  • Guatemala

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