Emily Wood: Huskers' Trip Abroad Was Life-Changing

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Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a 5-part series chronicling 20 Nebraska student-athletes who visited the Dominican Republic on a trip abroad in May.

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

The most beautiful thing about a voluntary trip to a poor community in the Dominican Republic is the life-changing impact it had on junior guard Emily Wood, a Salina, Kan., native and member of the  Nebraska women's basketball team.

"Spending a week in one of the poorest communities of the Dominican Republic was nothing short of life-changing for me," Wood said. "Those families had few material possessions but were some of the happiest and most giving people I've ever met.

"I loved seeing the way the kids could create their own fun with things as simple as a stick, a tire or a milk jug," Wood told me. "It was special to spend a week with such positive and service-oriented Husker student-athletes. Their energy and spirit was contagious, and I learned something from each and every one of them."

True to Wood's character, "I'm so thankful to Nebraska Athletics for providing these kinds of opportunities that extend so far beyond sports," she said, acknowledging that the Huskers' all-inclusive culture finds unique ways to connect academics and athletics with life, giving all student-athletes opportunities to succeed in whatever they choose.

Wood was one of 20 student-athletes who made the memorable trip to the Dominican Republic a couple weeks ago. Here are four other positive viewpoints from that remarkable trip:

Coleman Tokar, Men's Gymnastics (Minneapolis, Minnesota):

"People we visited in the Dominican Republic were really nice and very giving. They reminded me of home in Minnesota. If you complimented them on something, they'd try to give something to you. We told them we were there to help, not get something in return. The community was warm, nice and genuine and very grateful for everything they had. It made me feel even more grateful for everything we have in the United States.

"The one thing that really hit me was when we first started the project of building the court. We were mostly by ourselves. A couple days later, I looked around and it wasn't just our group of people who were working. There were little kids trying to pick up a shovel and older men trying to level out the dirt. Women of all ages tried to help. That just doesn't happen in a third-world country. It's not part of their culture.

"At that point, I realized that we weren't just building a court. We were setting an example and showing women they can do some of the same things men do. It was incredible to see everyone working together. Those kids were so excited for us to get off the bus, so all I was thinking was getting this court ready for them. When things weren't going like we wanted them to go, we spent meaningful time with kids of all ages, boys and girls. It was crazy how well we connected to each other.

"Even though we didn't speak the same language, we built a great relationship together. We went from high-fiving them to carrying them on our shoulders. We'd teach them the sports we play, and they'd turn around and teach us the games and sports they play. I didn't think it would be that hard to leave and say goodbye, but it was, because of what we did together from the day we first got off the bus."

Jaylyn Odermann, Soccer (Gretna, Nebraska):

"My first impression after arriving in Las Pajas was being overwhelmed. I didn't speak a lick of Spanish and I was completely out of my element with the conditions and ways of the community. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to overcome language barriers and cultural differences.  That created the most impactful relationships with the locals.

"The short week we had opened my eyes to show me first-hand how blessed I am to have the life and the opportunities that I do. The most memorable image left in my mind from the trip is seeing a little boy with the look of absolute joy on his face from simply pushing a tire around with a stick, something I would never see back home. We are so privileged to have what we have, but the Dominican Republic showed me that in the end, happiness is what you make of it."

Calvin Freeman, Men's Golf (Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer, Nebraska):

"The trip in general is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. If I had to pick one memory, it would be how well we worked together as student-athletes. The conditions were very harsh, and we went without running water and running toilets, but nobody complained. Every person that went on the trip embraced the living conditions, which included sleeping in the same room with 24 other people.

"The ability of the group to work together the way we did can be directly attributed to the team atmosphere that everybody works in daily as members of our specific teams. The student-athletes that went on this trip have been members of teams since we were little kids, and the ability to solve problems and bond with each other was very easy for all of us. I'm happy to say that I made several lifetime friends on this trip, and I'll never forget the lessons I learned by normal means and by bizarre means. They were all meaningful."

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N-Sider Archives

Blog 1 of 5: Williams, Cockrell Open Minds and Share Views

Blog 2 of 5: Experience Humbles Globetrotter Briana Holman

Blog 3 of 5: Flynn Blazes National and International Trails

Blog 4 of 5: Wood Says Husker Trip Abroad Life-Changing