We are all just humans trying to make the best of this life and serve each other in the process. – Megan Rapp, ’07 BICer
2007 BIC graduate Megan Rapp delivered the annual BIC Homecoming lecture on Friday, Oct. 31 to a room full of BIC students, many clad in Halloween costumes.
Rapp has worked for Teach for America, the United Nations, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She currently leads the Africa team for USAID and works to develop credit guarantees to help fund development in Africa.
Despite her many adventures beyond Baylor, Rapp chose to speak about one particular experience.
“I decided in the spirit of BIC I would tell a story,” she said.
She told the story of a day spent in Africa–one that started in Dar Es Salaam and ended in Zanzibar.
Rapp was in Africa on business and hoped to spend a relaxing weekend on the beaches of Zanzibar. She spoke no Swahili but was determined to arrive at her weekend destination.
After various problems related to the language barrier and the limited availability of transportation, Rapp found herself in Zanzibar, but her luggage was in Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Rapp said she cried in the Zanzibar airport and left for her hotel with only the promise that her luggage would arrive that afternoon.
The taxi drive to her Zanzibar hotel brought another problem—a taxi driver who spoke little English and did not know the location of her destination, the Sea Cliff hotel.
When Rapp asked the driver where he was taking her, he responded with, “Yes, yes,” and a thumbs up. The driver eventually found his way to the hotel, with the help of directions from a friend.
Once at the hotel, Rapp decided she deserved some coffee and managed to appreciate the beauty around her despite her less-than-ideal circumstances.
“The sunrise had happened, and the sky was beautiful,” she said.
Her day continued, filled with the discovery of a gothic church, the kindness of strangers, and the arrival of her luggage.
However, not all of Rapp’s travels abroad had such happy endings. One particular trip to Haiti ended in disaster.
Rapp was in Haiti when the earthquake hit on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 4:46 p.m. She rattled off the date and time without hesitation. She said it’s a moment she will not forget.
“It was the absolute worst ever day ever,” she said.
Rapp had just left a meeting and was in the parking lot when tragedy struck. One of her coworkers was still in the building. He never came out.
She is fluent in Haitian Creole, so she was able to help Dr. Louise Ivers treat the injured.
Rapp ended the lecture with an encouraging word to the BIC freshman.
“Think of [BIC] as a year-and-a-half program,” she said.
Just make it to around January or February of your sophomore year, and then it will all be okay, she said.
She also gave some advice to all students:
- Be ok with failures.
- Go for every opportunity.
- Go above and beyond your job description.
- Know your weaknesses.
- Be humble and recognize when you need help.
- Be grateful in all situations.
(Author: Kara Blomquist)