marybeth.monaco.vavrik

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Hey y’all! I’m MaryBeth. I’m from a small town called Wallingford in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I have five siblings, three dogs, and two nieces!

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Welcome to my page for the class HUM-103 in which I have absorbed, processed, and reformed ideas to better understand the human condition. I have chosen the particularly poignant theme of identity, specifically with the framing questions: who are you; who claims you? These answers are relative, reactionary, and dependent upon one another.

I was inspired by my own multi-faceted identity that sometimes conflicted and left me confused. I wanted to gain more clarity on this topic through exploring how others’ identities impact not only the choices they make, but their control over them.

In my final research paper (also linked elsewhere), I explore this theme as I analyze the adverse effects of short-term mission trips on impoverished communities of color. A person’s identity plays largely into why they choose to engage in this form of charity, what they end up taking away, and how they continue to enact change in the world. Their identity, paradoxically, can hold them back from making a genuine impact on people around the world. Who claims these people, and how does that impact how they execute their altruistic goals?

The Shortcomings and Unintended Consequences of Short-Term Mission Trips: Evolving from Neocolonialism

Thank you for taking the time to peruse the material I’ve created and revised over the semester. From right to left on the menu are my definitions of important terms of the course, newer works, and revised content. All pictures are mine unless otherwise noted.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to all the professors and faculty members involved in Humes and their unwavering support and flexibility. Their kindness and humility fueled discussions and allowed for an open space for free-flowing dialogue.

I’d like to thank everyone in the Humanities program as well. This community was my first experience with Davidson College and gave me the family, friends, and support I’ve cherished throughout my first-year experience. The Humanities program will always be a part of my time at Davidson, and the people will always hold a piece of my heart.

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