President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

If I could tell my 20-year-old college student self a thing or two, it would be this: break out of your comfort zone and embark on an untraditional spring break trip — not to the beach but to a new culture in another land.

That’s what nearly two dozen University of Dayton students did just last week, and I’ll admit I’m living vicariously through their eye-opening experiences in El Salvador and Ecuador as part of Spring BreakOuts organized by the Center for Social Concern.

The students went in search of adventure, a bit of self-discovery, and a broader perspective of the world outside 300 College Park. In doing so, they embraced two profound life lessons: care for the Earth and care for one another.

In Ecuador, Marianist Brother Giovanni Onore — a biologist and educator — welcomed the group as he does for every immersion. Looking at the world through his eyes, the students gained a deeper understanding of conservation, the significance of the country’s cloud forest region, and the ways flora and fauna sustain the ecosystem. Most importantly, they saw the teachings of Pope Francis’s encyclicals, Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, come to life and left the country with a renewed commitment to caring for our common home.

A visit to an amphibian research center during the trip left an indelible impression on Luci Bair, of Carmel, Indiana. “At the center, we learned that countless species of amphibians, specifically frogs, have already gone extinct. It is heartbreaking to learn more about how we are continuing to destroy our beautiful home,” said the junior international studies major whose concentration is global health and the environment.

“As a Catholic, I feel most connected to the Lord in nature. When we destroy our Earth, we harm ourselves,” she said. “This experience has instilled a newfound purpose to protect this beautiful place we call home. …While I don’t exactly know where my career will take me, I hope to help protect the Earth’s beauty for generations to come.”

Students who traveled to El Salvador with CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador) witnessed the lasting scars of the Salvadoran Civil War. They explored the role of past U.S. foreign policy in shaping the people’s lives and examined the complex factors driving forced migration from the region. They also visited sites honoring the slain Saint Archbishop Óscar Romero, Jesuit martyrs, and American Catholic church women, while learning about the fight for human rights in El Salvador.

“Hearing from local activists and families gave me a powerful perspective on both injustice and resilience,” said Elliott McLaughlin, a sophomore health and wellness major from Omaha, Nebraska. “This trip has strengthened my dedication to service and social justice.”

Michelle Diaz, a senior electronic and computer engineering technology major from Honduras, was struck by the courage and resilience of the Salvadoran people. “Through their struggles, I’ve learned that the fight for justice and human rights was not just about political power, but about protecting communities, dignity, and freedom,” she said.

Sure, students can learn these lessons through textbooks, but when the world becomes your classroom, your perspective and your life change. And that’s a lesson worth learning at any age.