Two weekends ago, two of our chapter’s members, Hannah Thomas and Tony Blankers, headed down to Northwestern University in Chicago to attend a national GlobeMed get together, called “Summit”. They heard incredible speakers, made new GlobeMed friends, and were challenged to think about what GlobeMed means to them. Our communications team interviewed these two after having time to reflect on their experience-
1. Why did you want to go to Summit?
HT: I was excited to connect with other students from throughout the network and hear what they’re doing at their campuses and with their partner organizations. I also was really pumped about all the awesome speakers and hearing their thoughts and ideas about global health.
TB: National Summit has always been heralded as an inspiring, fun, and interesting event. When presented with the opportunity to attend, I quickly obliged.
2. Had you been there before?
HT: Yup. I went last year.
TB: No, not once, never.
3. What surprised you about it?
HT: I was surprised about how different each chapter is organized, yet how focused our network’s mission is as a whole. It was sweet to see how the unique characteristics of each university can be used effectively in this movement for global health equity, and how young leaders can emerge from that.
TB: At a national level, GlobeMed has a culture that is similar, but largely different from our own chapter’s culture. Most GlobeMedder’s share similar values of compassion, love, and service, but what surprised me was the motivation for these values. Because GM is a secular organization, most chapters (every one but ours), and most members are not Christians. Thus, ultimately motivation for there values comes from a place of self-interest and self-fulfillment. Though I am not perfect in serving from a place of Christ-like humility, hearing other folks talk about their thought process and motivation spurred a lot of deep thought and conversation.
4. What is your biggest takeaway from the weekend?
HT: Biggest takeaway: If we want to know our “calling,” we have to know who’s “calling” us. I was challenged to think critically about why I’m a part of GlobeMed, and why God brought me here. It was extremely interesting to reflect on how God is using GlobeMed as a network, and to ponder and discuss what makes biblical justice and social justice different.
TB: American college students have a lot of power to make change. Another way to say this is that american college students (including myself) have a lof of privilege. Not only do we have the privilege to receive an education, but we also have the privilege of choosing what to do with it. In the end, we can choose to serve others, serve ourselves, travel oversees, live with our parents. Simply, we have the privilege of choosing and that sets us apart from 99% of the world.
5. If you had to weave a memory tapestry, what 3 images would you include?
(pictures that represent your time/what you learned)
HT: An umbrella, a firefly, and a plug-in defroster.
TB: The stained glass window at the backdrop of the Northwestern Chapel: Not only did it create a stunning and dynamic backdrop for our keynote speakers, but the blending and vibrant colors of the large stained glass window were brilliant and spurred conversation and awe from Christian and non-Christian alike
Cheese curds: Not all hotel rooms have refrigerators, especially not the rooms in the Evanston Best Western. Let’s just say I may or may not have left a bag of cheese curds unrefrigerated all weekend, but being too cheap (and Dutch) I brought them home, returned them to my fridge, and continued eating them to this day.
Lake Michigan: It speaks for itself, but I wish I lived by a lake or a large body of water such as this. Northwestern folks don’t know how lucky they are to live so close to the beach!
6. What is the biggest piece of new knowledge that you came away with?
HT: Risk is necessary for innovative social change. When you walk off a cliff, you’re forced to grab onto things you never would have before. It’s OK (and important) to fail.
TB: GlobeMed is alive and kicking. Our chapter, our partner, and our school is part of a larger movement for global health equity and student activism. Despite the “Bethel bubble” and other things we like to complain about, nothing is holding us back from making change “out there” in the “real world” even while we are students.
To learn more about Hannah and Tony’s experience, Summit in general, or if you have any questions, email us at bethel@globemed.org
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