This summer, we spent time volunteering at L’Arche Tahoma Hope in Tacoma, Washington, a community where people with disabilities live and work together. This experience changed the way we view language, learning that sometimes, facial expressions, posture, and body language say more than any words spoken. 

Working with others who communicated differently taught us to slow down, pay close attention, and stay fully present in each moment. Even a small reaction, like a smile or a shift in tone, could affect someone deeply, and we became more aware of how our own energy and attitude impacted others.

Patience and focus became an emphasis. Some days were challenging, but we realized that understanding someone doesn’t come instantly; it takes time, effort, and genuine care. Often, when we have conversations with others, we can struggle to pay attention, we sometimes zone out. This immersion, however, kept us 100% engaged in our conversations so that we could understand the people at L’Arche on a deeper level. 

Outside of the daily interactions, we also worked on the L’Arche farm, where we put in a lot of physical labor. Whether it was weeding, planting, or harvesting, the work was tough but rewarding. We truly left the farm better than we found it, with many new plants sprouting and the farm cleaned up. 

Those with disabilities who lived at L’Arche were called “core members.” They are the heart and soul of this community, which is why they are deemed core members. A core member named Drew especially connected with us, and we worked and talked with him every day. 

One day, both of us were tasked to mow the lawn. Todd – a non-core member at the farm – gave us this job. He told us that if we had any questions, we should ask Drew. We brushed Todd off at the time because we thought that Drew’s help would just slow us down with this apparently simple task.

We were wrong – the task was much more difficult than it seemed. Because the  mowers were old and worn down, they were hard to operate. They would stop working all the time, and we had to start them up again. Drew asked if he could help us out. He showed us how to work the old mowers properly, and we mowed for about an hour. We got through a good amount of the farm, and the work would not have been possible without Drew’s help and knowledge of the equipment. 

We had completely underestimated Drew’s ability to help us with the task, simply because he communicated in a different manner than we did. This experience taught us that even if someone conveys their ideas differently, that doesn’t make their experience or insights any less insightful or important.

The combination of hard, hands-on tasks and the deep emotional connection with others helped us grow in responsibility, empathy, and self-awareness. That summer taught us that strength isn’t just physical, but also about being kind, grounded, and open to learning from others, no matter how different they may seem. 

All underclassmen should consider going to L’Arche. The immersion is a life changing experience that creates new bonds, new perspectives, and deep personal growth.