I feel compelled to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to my host parents in Argentina, whom I feel blessed to have been able to visit. They are more than just a host family; they have become an integral part of my life, guiding, supporting, and shaping my experience in Buenos Aires and back home in the U.S.

My host family and me in May 2018

My host family and me in May 2023

My host mother Zulema always told me– both when I lived with her five years ago and when I saw her today– “hay que aprovechar.” This roughly translates to “you have to take advantage.” She mostly says this to me it in reference to traveling, visiting different countries, expressing your love, and living boldly. But I think this phrase applies aptly to one of the themes of our study abroad trip. What can we as students do to prevent violence, dictatorship, and trauma in our own country? What lessons can we take from what happened in Argentina and apply to our own country? 

Symbol of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo

We can, and should, take advantage of what we have learned here in Argentina. We have all grown profoundly during this trip as students, listeners, observers, multilinguals, and human beings. As we are our own people, each of us will “aprovechar” in our own way– some may go into human rights work, others may go into law, others will integrate this growth into their lens as psychologists. For myself, this trip has changed the way I view the experience of trauma. I know this new perspective will undoubtedly influence my future clinical work. I look forward to seeing how each of us integrates these lessons into our work and our lives.