Summer Journeys: Sam Richard ’25, A Different Way of Life

Last summer, Sam Richard’25 spent 10 days in Costa Rica engaging in service work and taking in its beauty.

“I’d never left the country before, so it was really cool to get to be a part of an almost completely different way of life,” recalls Sam.

Sam visited three different locations within the country: Turrialba and Fortuna–both areas shaped by volcanoes–and the small coastal village of Sámara. Sam and her peers connected with Asociación CREAR in Sámara, an organization that provides supplemental educational, recreational, and career opportunities for youth with limited resources. Their programs focus on academic and artistic education, environmental consciousness, health, and socio-cultural development.

“We worked at several different schools teaching kids English, cleaning flower gardens, working on repaving projects, and repairing things around the schools,” says Sam. “We also put in new drainage systems.”

And while the work was physical and demanding, Sam found time to explore Costa Rica and participate in the many recreational activities the country is known for, from an overnight whitewater rafting trip and surfing lessons to rainforest hikes and wildlife identification.

“I met a lot of amazing people during my time in Costa Rica and saw a lot of very cool wildlife— Toucans, macaws, cows, horses, bats, plants, flowers,” says Sam. “Despite taking me very much outside my comfort zone, it was an extremely rewarding trip.”

Sam’s travel was funded in part by a William W. Hatfield ’32 Grant. Established in 2010, this endowed fund was made possible through the generosity of Guy Hatfield ’65, Ross Hatfield, and the ongoing support of William W. Hatfield’s family. The grant celebrates the ideals of Horace Dutton Taft—service above self—and is given annually to one or more students whose commitment to volunteerism brings to life the message behind Taft’s motto: Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret—Not to be served but to serve.