This is the second in a series of blogs written by alumni of the Student.Go program.  This year Student.Go is celebrating 10 years of providing summer and semester missions service opportunities for college and graduate students in locations all over the world.

This blog is written by written by Chip Rotolo – a student at UNC Chapel Hill, NC who served through Student.Go in Helena, AR this past summer, 2011.

This past summer (2011), I had the privilege of working as a part of Student.Go. I spent most of the summer working in Helena, AR, but the network of friends, mentors, and inspirations I gained from the experience spans a much greater area and continues to grow.

            In Helena, I was able to work with people of all ages, backgrounds, and environments.  Student.Go orientation prepared me to relate and interact with the people I met of different cultures, and by the middle of the summer, I felt as if I was truly a part of the community. It amuses me to reflect on how passionate and involved I became about everything and everyone in an environment so different from what I was familiar with. In a place I initially knew nothing about, I became a leader for sharing God’s Word and promoting well-being for all.

Having been exposed to so many different kinds of people, opportunities, blessings, and struggles this summer, I gained a much greater understanding of myself, those around me, and my relationship with God. I saw the Spirit work in ways I had never seen, and I saw the beauty of people with a diverse range of gifts helping each other in various ways. I was given ideas and end goals to keep in mind for my work, but was left unrestricted on the way I wanted to use my creativity and passions to reach those end goals. I was challenged to lead independently, but also had resources and assistance when I felt that I needed them. My definition of the “big picture” was renewed.

            My Student.Go journey gave me clarity and direction for my future and an unforgettable experience to always reflect on. I encourage all college students wanting to go beyond “the norm” to look into all that Student.Go has to offer. I am so grateful for my experience and look forward to future opportunities to be a part of Student.Go.

Chip and the Helena swim coaches