High School Students' Perspectives: The Value of Volunteering on International Short-Term Medical Missions

Community service experiences allow you to define interests, develop career skills and interests, and enrich the student learning process with networking & mentorship experiences, meanwhile providing instant gratification while serving others. Nevertheless, finding the right opportunity as a high school student is a challenging task. More literature is needed to focus on the experiences of high school students in short-term medical missions and the benefits these experiences offer. This report describes the opportunities for high school students and the benefits of participating in a short-term medical mission from the student perspective. The growth one earns in community service is invaluable; it enriches the volunteers' personal lives and shapes them into humble, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals. Ultimately, this study highlights the often-overlooked significance of volunteering, emphasizing the value of giving back and the profound impact of gaining experience in healthcare and understanding different socioeconomic contexts.