There’s a question that has haunted me for as long as I can remember. It first emerged during my elementary school days, posed by my loving parents around the dining‐room table. When I started college, the question that followed me was this time asked by well‐intentioned friends checking in. And now, as I move through this extraordinary (but bizarre) service journey, it corners me at every turn: “What did you learn today?” “What have you learned so far?” “What will you get out of this?”

Are you familiar with the question? Do you hate it as much as I do?

Alright, you probably don’t, and you probably (rightfully) think I’m being a little dramatic. That said, whenever someone asks me this, I often settle for a vague “a lot.” My mind races through memories from the year so far like learning how to shell a crab, changing a tire, using Epic Systems, becoming a VERY defensive driver, and more. While these experiences are significant, they don’t fully capture how profoundly this year has reshaped my outlook on life. After much consideration, I think the simplest way to describe my biggest takeaway is the word perspective.

For most of my life, I embraced perfectionism and introversion. Young me thought that failing a test, posting the slowest time in a relay, grazing a mailbox with my car or any trivial misstep directly diminished my worth. It also felt safer to withdraw from social interactions than to face the anxiety of awkwardness. During college though, my experiences began to challenge these core beliefs. I now understand that these traits were merely limitations born of a lack of perspective.

At Mercy Medical Center, I engage with around 400 patients each month. That’s more than the number of people in my high-school or college graduating class. It’s a privilege to learn a little about each of their lives. They share stories of discrimination, addiction, and hardship. All these stories are intertwined with unwavering faith, resilience, and triumph.

One such story came from a mother who told me about her two-decade struggle with drug addiction. She explained that whenever she managed to get clean, family and friends would (unintentionally) push her back into old habits. She shared that one of her greatest desires has always been a simple mirror and a private bathroom to get ready in each morning. Yet due to her addiction, systemic racism, Baltimore’s housing crisis, and countless other systemic barriers, she has been unable to attain this dream. Reflecting on her story, and the stories of so many other patients, suddenly puts countless aspects of my own life into perspective.

First, I must acknowledge my significant privilege. A truth that grows clearer each day. More importantly, these stories have shown me how trivial my own perceived imperfections really are. Perfectionism kept me in a perpetual bad mood, chasing impossible standards I set for myself. I wasted so much energy obsessing over insignificant disappointments rather than being present in the moment. Letting go of perfectionism has freed me to devote that energy outwards and offer more joy to others.

Much of my introversion, too, was rooted in perfectionism. I didn’t want to be seen as inadequate, uncomfortable, or anything negative. By releasing that need for perfection, I’ve discovered genuine joy and meaning in human interaction. Engaging with Baltimore’s community at Mercy Medical Center has sustained me through the hardest days here. Although I’m still awkward at times, I know that without these connections I’d be contributing and receiving far less good in the world. I’m changed by the hands and stories of others. The more I embrace them, the better neighbor I become in this shared world.

I’m so thankful to the MVC community for bringing me to Baltimore, where the ideas I formed in college have become tangible realities in my life. Seeing another corner of the earth has shown me that there’s a piece of home and community everywhere. Words will never quite do this experience justice, but for now, this is the best I can articulate what I’ve learned. Thank you for giving me the chance to share it.

Sending lots of love, joy, and mercy,

Jerica Mueller: Baltimore, Maryland