Howdy! My name is Karli Siptak, and I’m a freshman business honors major. This spring break, I had the opportunity to travel to Panama with my peers through the Global Business Brigades program. Through the Global Business Brigades, we were tasked with consulting with micro entrepreneurs in Panama. We made signs, logos, flyers, business cards, and recordkeeping documents for our clients.
Our trip to Panama during spring break provided me with experiences that I will never forget. I was not only given the opportunity to build new friendships with my peers, but I was able to learn so much about life outside of the United States. We visited businesses in Panama City and spent a lot of time visiting with micro entrepreneurs in the rural part of Panama. The opportunity to see the contrast of the way of life in these two areas was eye opening. My favorite part of the trip was having the opportunity to hear about the micro entrepreneurs’ lives beyond their businesses . Overall, my key takeaway from this trip is that even by doing the smallest things for someone, you can make a lasting impact in their life. Being able to see how grateful the business owners were for the work that we did for them was so fulfilling, and I am so thankful that I decided to participate in the Global Business Brigades.
