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December 1, 2009

Samantha Thomas, a senior art major and psychology minor, recently spent six weeks interning in Costa Rica. Fulfilling her intercultural/internship requirement, Thomas chose Costa Rica because she wanted to use the Spanish she knew and she wanted to learn more. The trip, however, did much more, inspiring her post-graduation plans.

During the first three weeks Thomas interned in a special education school in Cuidad Quesada. There, she helped teachers with everyday tasks such as feeding students and planning and conducing art projects.

“I strongly believe the children taught me more than I taught them,” Thomas said. “They were born with struggles they will live with for the rest of their life. However, they are also some of the most determined children I will ever meet.”

During the last three weeks Thomas interned at an orphanage for mentally and physically abused teenage girls, talking and playing games with them and working on crafts.

“Basically all each of them wanted was a friend and someone who loved them during a difficult time in their life,” Thomas said. “Each of these children touched my heart. They have gone through so much at a young age that no one deserves to experience in a lifetime.”

At first, Thomas did not want to work with teenagers because “it is such a difficult age,” she said.

“However, after spending so much time with them,” Thomas said, “I realize it is such an important age that I look forward to working with much more. I want to help teenagers raise their self-confidence and help them realize how much they have going for them in life.”

The Roswell, Ga. native plans to attend a graduate Christian Counseling program that specializes in teenagers. At PC, Thomas is a Student Volunteer Services intern, a member of Honor Council and Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and a Stirling.