Page 17 - FIS World

FIS Operation Smile Team arrives in India (above); preparing for the operating room (below)
acquire skills that can be used to help others in such a dramatic way.”
“The students forgot everything about their own needs and the less-than-perfect hospital conditions, and just jumped into the experience,” added Upper School French teacher, Cheryl Zeigler. “It was all about the giving.”
Despite being physically and emotionally exhausted from the magnitude of the trip, students returned to campus following the mission completely energized by the experience. And although Paige will begin her university studies in the United States in August, her hope is that the group will keep the current wave of momentum to last well into the future. “This was just the start,” she said.
Those students remaining at FIS are now more committed than ever to growing the school’s service group and perhaps even creating a partnership with Operation Smile Mumbai, which would enable similar medical missions in the future. After all, the mission didn’t just change patients’ lives, it changed those for our students and faculty, too.
And that in itself is enough to put a smile on just about everyone’s face.
Ricky Donnelly FIS Sta Writer
February 2017 FIS World 15