2019-20

Several Leavey School of Business students spent their break on Ignatian Center Immersion Trips.  We asked a few of the students to share their winter experiences.

Tanner Condit
Major: Management Information Systems
Graduation Year: 2020
Immersion Location: San Francisco

What was the focus of your immersion?
Our immersion focused on issues surrounding housing inequality and policy within the San Francisco Tenderloin neighborhood.

What was your favorite part of the immersion?
I think the most impactful part of the immersion experience was the opportunity to take part in a vigil commemorating everyone who passed on the street in 2019. This experience was incredibly eye opening and it was inspiring to see the community come together. Another one of my favorite parts was doing morning Tai Chi with elderly community members in the park. 

What did you take away from your immersion trip?
The trip reframed a lot of my views on homelessness, addiction, inequality, and privilege. It also made me consider how business and policy can affect people in both positive and negative ways. Moving forward, I’m hoping to take all of these lessons with me to make positive change.   

Do you have any advice for students considering doing an immersion trip?
I cannot recommend an immersion trip enough. I got the opportunity to learn about so many new things in a new environment. Furthermore, I had the chance to do so with an amazing group of people. I highly encourage you to check out the immersion program as it is a huge opportunity for growth, reflection, and meeting some fantastic folks.

Liliana Lomeli
Major: Undeclared Business
Graduation Year: 2022
Immersion Location: Costa Rica

What was the focus of your immersion?
Our immersion mainly focused on immigration and social justice issues.

What was your favorite part of the immersion?
My favorite part was meeting with guest speakers, especially Madeline, a 22 year old activist who is exiled from her country for standing up to her government and fighting for human rights. It was so amazing to meet with her and have her share her story and open up so much to a group of people she only recently met. It was surreal to hear the passion and pain in her voice while she was talking.

What did you take away from your immersion trip?
For me, the biggest takeaway is the importance of stepping back and just listening to those around you, and how much you can learn once you do that. This trip was really inspiring, and I’ll definitely carry all the stories I heard with me. I think what I’ll take away most is something Madeline said when we asked how we could be allies. She said: to make a change and support, we don’t necessarily have to do something grand, the best thing to do is to start by looking at ourselves and seeing what we dislike in the world and making sure we aren’t doing the things we dislike. 

Do you have any advice for students considering doing an immersion trip?
My advice for students considering doing an immersion trip would be to just do it, because you don't get many opportunities like this. To those going I'd say go all in and don't hold yourself back from getting to experience every single moment. Even if you're tired or it's been a long day, push yourself to stay present in every moment and every activity.  Also go in with no expectations and an open mind and heart.

Beshoy Eskarous
Major: Management Information Systems
Graduation Year: 2020
Immersion Location: Los Angeles

What was the focus of your immersion?
Our focus was to accompany immigrants, prisoners, ex-prisoners as well as gang members and homeless and to just listen to their stories.

What was your favorite part of the immersion?
There were a lot of highlights, but one that particularly stood out was during our tour of a Juvenile Detention Center, we met a guard there that was very passionate about his work with the girls there. He placed a huge importance on love and acceptance and how the facility itself was moving from taking punitive measures to more rehabilitative methods. 

What did you take away from your immersion trip?
I learned that issues of morality can be complex but to just sit and listen to someone’s story with an open ear and no judgement is very simple. 

Do you have any advice for students considering doing an immersion trip?
Just do it!! You won’t regret it! Go in with an open mind and no expectations and focus on just being present. 

If you are interested in going on an immersion trip, applications for spring break trips are now live. Visit Appalachia, the Arizona Border, Dominican Republic, or Ecuador. For more details, click here.