I was very impressed and moved by the article, "'Voi'age of a Lifetime" about a Marquette senior, Tim Kummer, who is raising money to build a library in Voi, Kenya. It is exciting and inspiring to hear that my fellow students are not confined to an enclosed box called Wisconsin Avenue, and instead, they are aware of the world around them.

If you are a student attending Marquette, you are a privileged individual. The opportunity to go to college is something that many of us take for granted, but the reality is that most people in the world do not enjoy the luxury of higher education. If you go on a service project and put yourself in an uncomfortable situation, like Kummer did, you are able to experience, not just see, the world from a different perspective.

I encourage everyone to put him or herself in this type of uncomfortable environment. Not only will you be able to help someone who has less, you will gain from the experience as well. After a service trip that takes you out of your normal environment and puts you in a less comfortable one, you will most likely emerge with a better appreciation for what you have. You might also return from this experience with a burning desire and passion to spread awareness about your experience. If this description sounds like something you want to be a part of, step outside of the box and experience life in a different way.

Erin Dempsey is a sophomore in the College of Business Administration.