By Esther Lu, staff writer

For junior Ryan Fiedler and others, helping people in other countries like those affected by the Haitian earthquake has been a life-changing experience.

“It’s eye opening to see a whole country who has nothing,” Ryan said.

In Haiti, Ryan and a group of other volunteers from his church stayed in a hotel that was nearly wrecked on one side during the final week of August.

But that didn’t stop them from lending a hand to the victims of the earthquake. They helped to construct schools and distribute food to the locals.

It was difficult for them since the land was destroyed.

“They had no garbage system and trash was lying all over the streets,” said Ryan.

Several other Cal High students have also ventured off to serve a foreign community.

Sophomore Devon Haley went to Mexico last spring break with her church and helped build houses for families.

When she had a tea party with some young local girls, she noticed how they could be content without technology.

“It really opened my eyes to our own little San Ramon bubble and how other people live (in Mexico),” Devon said.

While some students have chosen to venture abroad, others have decided to serve our  nation.

This past summer, sophomore Laura Simpson became involved with a service project on a Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

“The mission included repainting houses and playgrounds, fixing roofs, and doing sewage work,” said Laura.

As she spent time with the families there, she realized a lot of the people on the reservation lived differently from the average American household.

“They’re isolated out there in their own little community and not a lot of people help them,” Laura said. “Kids are set free to play outside. Some of them don’t even go to school.”

Religious organizations, charitable services and school clubs provide the opportunities for teens to travel outside of their comfort zones.

The main motive is for volunteers to aid others in need of rebuilding their towns, homes  and, essentially, their lives.

Career counselor Harvalee Grimm pointed out that  a “global view” can impact a teen’s perspective.

“I look of it as an expansion of character, of the mind, of awareness,” said Grimm. “I don’t think that it’s the number of experiences. I think it’s just the exposure to another culture.”

Students and teachers agree that these trips not only instill a sense of global community, but they also help to eliminate cultural and ethnic boundaries.

“These programs help to eliminate ethnic stereotypes,” said history teacher Rob Sloan. “Also, being able to broaden our understanding of other cultures, they cannot help but touch the lives of others too.”