UnionAthletics.com continues the series on student-athletes who have had extraordinary experiences during their terms abroad. Former women's tennis player Lyndsay Wehrum was one of eight graduating students who received the Minerva Fellowship. She joined seven other students who travel to developing countries to assist the less fortunate. Lyndsay discusses her experiences and her compelling work with the children of Cambodia.
Please describe the Minerva Fellowship Program, and how you became involved.
The Minerva Fellows return to Union for the month of May to assist Professor Hal Friend in the Economics Department teach the Social Entrepreneurship class and share their experiences with the Union community. While in our respective countries we are to keep blogs (http://ublog.union.edu/wehruml/) in order for people to follow our experiences. I heard about the fellowship from Dean McEvoy when I returned from my term abroad in Central Europe and immediately knew it was what I wanted to do after graduation. I followed the blogs of the previous fellows throughout the year, submitted an application, got an interview, and was soon told I would be going to Cambodia.
Where are you spending your fellowship?
I am currently in Siem Reap, Cambodia teaching and volunteering at an NGO, The Global Child School. (www.theglobalchild.org).
What do you do during the fellowship?
I teach English six days a week at an NGO, The Global Child School. Outside of the classroom, I am with the students seven days a week doing extracurricular activities such as playing sports (we recently received over 30 lacrosse sticks, facilitated by former women's lacrosse player Elise Wakeland and the Federation of International Lacrosse Development), going on bike rides, and doing arts and crafts. I am also working on the public relations for the two social businesses the school owns, "Joe-To-Go," a combined café and boutique, and "La Petite Indochine," a single benefactor hotel.
Is it your first time overseas?
This is not my first time overseas as I did a Union term abroad my junior year to Germany, Romania, and Hungary.
What do you recommend for Union students who do terms abroad and fellowships abroad?
I would recommend any student studying abroad or on a fellowship to be as open to any and all experiences possible. You will undoubtedly be out of your comfort zone a few times, but those instances usually prove to be the most rewarding or memorable, so forget your inhibitions and go for it.
Have you met other students from other schools who are from New York/Northeast?
In this case, I have not. In fact, most of the students are from Australia or the South region of the United States.
What have you enjoyed the most about this experience?
The most enjoyable part of my experience has definitely been teaching and the bonds I have developed with my students. My students are former street working children from some of the poorest areas in Cambodia, and I not only get to teach and do weekly activities with them, but I also develop close friendships with them as well. I knew I had overcome the teacher - friend barrier when I was taking one of my students shopping for shoes and someone asked her if I was her teacher and she replied, 'No, this is my friend.'
Have you been able to keep up with sports on campus through Unionathletics.com?
I have discovered that in Cambodia, it can be difficult to keep up with news in general.
When do you plan to return to Union?
I will be returning back to Union May 1. I will join the other returning fellows and Professor Friend in the Economics Department to teach the Social Entrepreneurship class and partake in numerous discussions and presentations.
