Fire Up Your Passion, but Don’t Let Mission Trips Backfire

Unsurprisingly, this rising popularity of humanitarian mission trip is particularly common among the wealthy. Traveling abroad to build houses or provide any other social service in developing countries cost money and time that not all parents can afford.

Now, the commonplace of going on a mission trip, by no means, diminishes its value. Many students engage in charity work abroad with a benevolent intention and some in particular gain invaluable lessons from an exposure to impoverished surroundings — an opportunity that they otherwise would not have had.

What really undermines the value of mis- sion trips is the motive behind it: the mere purpose of enhancing one’ s college resume. The very same mission trip could be meaningful, and even life-changing, to those who serve with veracity.

“It’ s not a good idea to engage in something because the student or family believes it will augment their ability to get in,” says Richard Shaw, Stanford’ s dean of under- graduate admission.

Rebecca Davis O’ Brien, a freelance writer based in New York City, further points out

that Shaw distinguishes a“three-to-five day experience to see what poverty looks like,” an abrupt attempt to make up for a lack of involvement in social work within previous years, from summer programs that are“pattern of involvement.”

According to O’ Brien, admissions officers say these trips can fit into a narrative of service or work abroad“. Sustained or meaningful involvement comes through,” Shaw said.

Another important factor to consider before blindly going on a mission trip is whether the trip truly meets the locals’ needs.

“ In truth, [American kids who come in the name of charity] want to bring their‘ Golden State Warriors 2016 NBA Champions’ t- shirts, take photos to post on Facebook and Instagram, then marvel at the African kids, ask where they can find a Maasai warrior to take a photo with (and the Maasai hate this) then go back to the gilded lives and feel competent enough to offer their expert views on development once they join university,” comments “Godfrey” from Kenya on Bruni’ s article.