Dana Scott / Winonan

A group of 18 Winona State University students and seven travel leaders raised $4,000 and more than 2,000 pounds of donations to bring to Jamaica on their travel study. Brianna Justen was the only first-year to embark on this trip, which was organized through the special education department. Justen is an elementary education major with an emphasis in early childhood.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was in second grade,” Justen said.

Last semester, on her way to class, Justen saw a poster for the travel study to Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

“This is what I want to do,” said Justen. “It works together with what I want to do in my career, and I’ve always wanted to travel and volunteer to physically and emotionally change someone’s life.”

While Justen has been out of the country before this trip, she was still nervous before the departure. However, Justen said she was surprised by how welcoming everyone in Jamaica was, because it is not something one sees in American cities.

Once in Jamaica, the group did a service-learning project with students at Pedro Plains Primary School. The project consisted of mixing and pouring cement for a netball court, painting the fifth and sixth-grade classrooms, reading bird passages and leading music lessons with the students.

“They were really excited to be at school, they knew they were privileged to be at school,” Justen said. “I wish kids in America, and myself at that age, knew how privileged we are to go to school.”

The most difficult part for Justen was transitioning from a slower-paced life in Jamaica back to the fast-paced reality of school, work and responsibilities. She said in Jamaica there was no need to look at a clock, and she finds herself doing the same now.

“I’m not looking at the clock waiting to go,” Justen commented on being back. “I know how privileged I am to be in school. It is hard, in a week, to change things ingrained in yourself but this trip has changed how I look at college.”

Justen’s favorite moment of her time in Jamaica was after they finished pouring the cement for the netball court and seeing the smiles on the students’ faces when they realized they had a smooth surface to play on.

They also went to St. Mary’s Primary school, one of the five schools the travel study group delivered donations to, in the mountains. Another one of Justen’s favorite moments was seeing the joy on the students’ faces when the Winona State students got off the bus. The St. Mary’s students even sang them a song of thanks.

Justen still hopes to continue to travel around the world.

“I value the volunteering aspect more now,” Justen said. “You get to see more of the community in the country. The tourist spots hide the culture and frame it to fit the people visiting, and I want to see a country for what it really is.”

Justen is currently planning to go on another trip with her younger sister through a volunteer service to Fiji. She also hopes to one day teach in another country.

Justen also shared a quote one of the trip leaders repeatedly said. Justen believes the quote will help her in her future career, and is a phrase she wishes to live by: “Be aware of wonder.”