Since 2000 Keene High Interact has been traveling to El Salvador. We have done a number of projects in El Salvador including building houses, visiting orphanages or other service projects throughout the country.
The trip to El Salvador is hard for many students to put into words. Eight time veteran of the trip, Nate Kayho, summarize the trip very well with these two pieces of writing.
2-25-2006
Dear 2006 El Salvador Interactors
I’m somewhere over the ocean right now, the sunlight is hitting the plane sideways as it sets out of sight and I’m compelled to write you all a short note. As you all know, I’ve had the privilege of joining interactors as a student and now as a chaperone since the conception of the trip. I’m writing this because after this week with all of you, I find myself sitting on this airplane so strongly reminded of myself almost four years ago. It’s really amazing, how every year interact continues to find and produce compassionate and caring young people such as yourselves.
But the consequences of our experiences in this tiny country lead each one of us at the end of our high school career to question the standard paths of life. Somehow going to school everyday can feel a little less important after an experience like the one we’ve just shared. This experience can be so moving, so inspiring and so confusing that it can lead ones-self to question all the normal things of everyday life in Keene.
I’ve had many conversations with you all, both individually and in groups about life after high school. I would be kidding myself if I told you that my entire life hasn’t been shaped and molded by these trips – it continues to be.
A week before this trip, I had to complete a portfolio for the political science department as a requirement for my thesis – as part of the portfolio I was required to go to the admissions department at Earlham and find my admissions essay.
Besides the poor writing and grammatical un-impressiveness, it was so clearly defined in between the lines what was important to me. Although I wrote passionately about my experiences in El Salvador and how they had driven my life to be one of consequence – I had forgotten that young man of 18’s complete and utter confusion about where and what would happen in my life.
I really didn’t have any specific academic passions or strengths, and I hadn’t yet found any abilities or channels of which I could translate the passions which had grown out of my El Salvador experience. I was – it seems as confused about ‘what comes next’ as some of you might feel right now. And I think it’s important to realize that at this stage in life it is simply okay to feel that way, to be that way. I was just as unsure about my future as possible – and that led to me taking a year off to kind of slow the whole process down – by the time 8 months of that year had passed I was hungry for the college experience, and it has not disappointed. But it took time to be ready to jump in, and I can’t say enough about the necessity of being passionate about it. The big things in life are only worth doing if they are done with the strength of your full passion, full desire and full pleasure.
But, as I looked back at that 18 year-old’s essay, and I read over my entrance essays’ for graduate school – I noticed stark similarities in the way I expressed my passions on life. As it turns out, El Salvador has been the only consistency between my life in Keene and the five years since I’ve left.
I’m just trying to let you know that the confident young man going for a masters degree next year came from the same place you have. It was only four years ago when I was right there – and that takes me back to the beauty of Interact – I see so much of myself in you.
The context of your next actions in life is irrelevant – but to translate your caring for the world into action, into the everyday life you’ll lead after this experience, that is your challenge.
Two days ago all those fundraisers in Keene and all those hours spent building this week were translated into very real results as we left the worksite. I mean what could have been going through those families minds?
“These people worked to earn all this money, flew from thousands of miles to spend that money and give their blood, sweat and time simply to give us a home?”
I can’t even imagine what that would feel like to have a group of people provide me with such unrequited kindness. To them, in their lives – you must simply be their heroes.
And it may feel like it’s over, because as I write this here we are on our airplanes, but there is no reason to think that the rest of your lives can’t be any different. There is no reason to think that every moment of your life after this one can’t be filled with the same intense satisfaction.
I like to call it ‘living right.’ And, everyone should have their own definition of what ‘living right’ is. But right now I just want to make it as clear as possible – under my definition you’ve got it down.
My pride in my friendship with you all is immeasurable. I can’t thank you enough for the continued opportunity to share this incredible experience with you. It is after all - all because of you.
-Nate Kayhoe
I got back from my yearly El Salvador trip with Keene High Interact on Sunday, and I had this in my instant messenger profile for awhile. A lot of people commented on it, and I really enjoyed the comments - I’m hoping you’ll all re-post those comments here so we can all enjoy them.
This whole thing is painful - synonymous with drug addiction, it’s the release of instant gratification and the duty of a higher calling with unknown results. If I got on that plane tomorrow - I could build houses until I die and feel incredible every day of my life. If I sit here and do my homework - maybe I can build houses with words and ideas, hundreds a day, maybe I can make the walls come crashing down with the oratory from the podium, maybe I can create millions of new jobs. It’s still so painful, because maybe is well… who knows. I want my drugs back, I want my children and my houses and my dirt and smiles and my tears and my hot sun. I want my instant gratification back. I want to be a hero again.
-Nate Kayhoe
2007 Pictures:
2006 Pictures
