Tatiana Rodriguez, a senior majoring in marketing, serves as president of FGCU’s Dominican Republic Outreach Program (DROP) as well as a University Ambassador and Honors Program Mentor. The following is based on an informational presentation she gave about DROP at the March 2 meeting of the FGCU Foundation Board of Directors.
Over the past 15 years, members of the Dominican Republic Outreach Program (DROP) have taken pride in emphasizing our commitment to developing global citizens who ignite social change. Our mission is to educate and empower underserved youth for a better tomorrow by promoting global citizenship and community engagement and fostering a sense of civic responsibility.
We do this primarily through our annual Alternative Spring Break Trip to the Dominican Republic, but also through our mentoring program at South Fort Myers High School. Over the years, our organization has volunteered more than 17,000 hours of service, while providing students with leadership opportunities and real-world organizing experiences. In three key ways, DROP embodies FGCU’s mission: to encourage civic responsibility, promote environmental sustainability and embrace diversity.
This year, 16 volunteers are spending their spring break in the Dominican Republic, serving 15 high-risk communities in collaboration with our community partner, Accion Callejera (also known as Street Action). We’ll touch the lives of more than 11,000 people during the week we’re there. In the past, we’ve planted fruit and vegetable gardens and created an educational mural; this year, we will build a playground using recyclable tires.
Throughout the year, our dedicated students raise donations, including school supplies, hygiene products, sports equipment and monetary gifts. Last year, we collected more than $6,000 in in-kind donations. All funds and supplies collected are then used to support underserved youth locally and abroad.
In addition to the annual Dominican Republic trip, DROP partners throughout the year with South Fort Myers High School to provide tutoring, mentoring and advising programs to students for whom English is their second language and to students at risk of not graduating. The mentoring program started in spring 2015 and has grown tremendously. Last semester, 17 FGCU students participated weekly and volunteered more than 150 hours.
The goal is to bring resources to students who need them but may not know how to get them or have access to these services. In contrast to the children we work with in the Dominican Republic, most at-risk students in the Southwest Florida community suffer from invisible risk factors such as behavioral, academic, language and homelessness issues. These factors are much more difficult to see initially. When DROP students work with these youth their eyes are opened, enabling them to better assist the at-risk students of our community.
As I prepared for the Dominican Republic trip and reflected on my upcoming graduation, I realized how much DROP has changed my life. Having the experience of traveling abroad gave me the courage to take on many other opportunities that marked my college experience. Without DROP, I would not have participated in the Lutgert College of Business Exchange Program in France, a three-week program focused on global leadership and business in Europe.
Due to my involvement in DROP and my commitment to civic engagement, the FGCU Honors Program provided a Study Abroad Scholarship for me to participate in the Growth International Volunteer Excursions (GIVE) Thailand and Laos Immersion Excursion for an entire month. This program placed me in the heart of local tribes in Southeast Asia, where I learned more about sustainable and educational programs.
As a result of all the experiences that have enhanced my college career, I recently received a job offer at an international company after I graduate from FGCU. As a future businesswoman, I want to integrate the idea of corporate social responsibility to emphasize the importance of service, environmental action and economic growth in business.
I believe my involvement on campus and in DROP helped me develop skills that I have been able to highlight on my resume, including critical thinking, effective communication, leadership, public speaking, time management and teamwork. All leading me to feel prepared and ready to take on the next step in my professional career.
DROP has helped others like me achieve similar success in their personal and professional lives. Over the years, five DROP members have been inducted into the FGCU Hall of Fame. Members have utilized skills and experiences obtained through the DROP program to establish careers with distinguished companies such as Gartner and Chico’s FAS, Inc. DROP has also inspired numerous alumni to focus on sustainable development and commit themselves to philanthropy and social entrepreneurship.
Through our mentoring program and our service trip, FGCU students have the opportunity to not only make a difference in our society today but to have a greater impact that will last a lifetime.
There are not enough words to express how much DROP has changed my life and made my college journey at FGCU remarkable. DROP serves as a foundation to help FGCU students succeed in their chosen career paths by defining their niche within their profession. We help students understand that their civic engagement has a true ripple effect and meaning to the generations to come.
Tu puedes ser el cambio! Educar para capacitar! You can be the change! Educate to Empower!