Samantha Apodaca, photo taken in Thailand
Border Partners would like to introduce you to our new administrative assistant – Samantha Apodaca. As a recent university graduate, her studies included two semesters abroad, in two different areas of the world. Her extensive volunteer work includes assisting at an orphanage and a hospital for mentally disabled children and teaching English to Buddhist monks. As it happens, she lives just two blocks from our office in Deming and was looking for a job with a nonprofit organization.
Samantha brings us computer skills, and her hobby is photography. She knows social media and has ideas for how we can improve. We feel very lucky to have her working here. And, we’ve asked Samantha to share her initial and ongoing impressions with us. Read on for her first installment and watch for more to come.
Samantha’s First Message
Hello! My name is Samantha and I am now working for Border Partners as the new Administrative Assistant. To introduce myself I want to tell you all a bit about my background and past, as well as my future goals and dreams.
I graduated from New Mexico State University in December of 2017 and received a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Journalism. Anthropology became my passion as soon as I attended my first introductory class and decided it was the career I wanted to pursue. That drive led me to study in both Italy and Thailand. I was rewarded with valuable experiences that brought international issues to my attention, specifically those concerning Thailand’s Indigenous peoples and systematic oppression.
Travelling allowed me to delve deeper into my own identity. I learned that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others that face social injustices, poverty, and/or lack human rights.
When I learned of this position with Border Partners I felt the same excitement as when I left the US for adventures abroad. Their goal to ‘help others help themselves’ intrigued my inner Anthropologist, as it is crucial to never dominate a culture or society (even if it comes in means of aid) but rather to understand their needs and learn how to best contribute.
The outstanding work Border Partners does in Palomas is largely due to the wonderful and reliable Mexican staff. Learning of their stories, tribulations and accomplishments, intrigued the Journalist in me. Reporting what Border Partners does, who Border Partners helps, and why Border Partners continues to stay active in Palomas is crucial to supplying a better understanding of the needs of border communities.
Providing clean water, food for school lunches, nutritional education, home and community gardens, exercise classes, sports centers, playground equipment are just some examples of how Border Partners has changed lives… and that is something I want to be a part of. Don’t you?
Samantha
P.S. This is the first of many blog posts I will be sharing here on our website. Please leave comments! I would love to hear your feedback and/or personal experiences with Border Partners!