It was something out of a movie. Something that I never thought that I would witness. Hundreds of people lined the streets of Lambeye, Senegal to greet us. There was one boy in particular who stared at us like he had never seen anything that looked like us before. I walked up to him and said “Hello” and he replied “Na nga def” (Non-ga-deaf), meaning hello in his native tongue, wolof. ‘My name is Max” I tell him. He points at my eyes. At first I was startled, I had known that they would have different customs than us but I was not sure what he meant. He then motioned towards his own eyes and I knew what he wanted. I removed my sunglasses and handed them off to him. I didn't think anything of it at first, as I could replace them when I arrived home and they would mean much more to him. Only later did I see that this was the beginning of a friendship that would grow stronger as I spent more time in the village.

The trip was run through a non for profit organization at my school called Students for Senegal, which I have been part of since freshman year. The leader, and founder of the club is a chemistry teacher at my school, Amary Seck. Mr Seck, as we call him, grew up in the village of Lembeye with the dream to someday aspire to more. He worked hard in school and made it to the United States and became a chemistry teacher.

In the village, there is a plot of land not much bigger than an American Football field. I saw this plot of land with nothing on it, but I had seen the plans for the learning center earlier. I knew what would go where and I began to see it in my head. For the first time I realized that people had the ability to change lives. Where there was now a plot of dirt would some day be a garden, a kitchen, a women's center, library, computer lab, and so much more that will change these people's lives forever. Here I learned that I could one day make something that could reach out and not just change the lives of one person but a community or a population of people.

One of the greatest things man can do is create something out of nothing. Two people taking initiative to invoke friendship where one was quietly lacking before. One man bringing himself up from the depths of poverty to inspire hope in a community, or a center for education, music, and spreading ideas where before there was a plot of dirt. Going into college I hope to memories where there were none before, learn things far beyond my present grasp, and reach a potential that I didn't see as imaginable before.

I step off of our bus and onto the orange clay of Lambaye, Senegal. There are only a few houses and market stands, but hundreds of villagers line the street to meet our Students for Senegal club. A boy, in a traditional muslim cap, stares at me as if we already know each other. I walk into the crowd and when I reach him, say “Na nga def” (Non-ga-deaf), meaning hello in his native tongue, Wolof. “Hi,” he replies, in English. “My name is Max,” I say. He points to himself and says “Falov.” He then wraps his arm around me as if were old friends. I want to remain open to Senegalese customs, so I go with it.

Together we walk through the streets. He points out his family’s house, his school, and introduces me to many friends who take a liking to my mirrored sunglasses, try them on, and walk around. Each time, Falov fetches the glasses, and puts them back on my head. Mr. Seck, our group leader, told us that the villagers might be infatuated with some of our clothing and, if we felt like it, we could give some away. Before I leave, I put my glasses on Falov’s head and tell him “for you.” Only later, did I see that this gesture sealed a friendship that would have a lasting impact on me. It became the first of many examples on this trip of something important coming from seemingly nothing.

Mr. Seck manifested many such examples in his life. He grew up in Lambaye with the dream to someday live in the US and be able to give back to his community. He worked hard in school, immigrated to the United States, enrolled in university and even got a job as a taxi driver to pay for it. The smile on his face, as we walk Lambaye, shows how much this dream carried him through those years. Then we come upon an empty plot about the size of a football field and his smile gets even bigger.

This is the site of the new learning center for which our group had been fundraising for seven years. I never thought an empty stretch of dirt could make someone so happy, but I see in his eyes a garden, a kitchen, a women's center, a library, a computer lab, and much more that will change these excited villagers’ lives. I realize just how much can come from so little when you have the eyes to see it.

The night before I leave Lambaye, we play a soccer game against Falov and the local teenagers - and they clobber us. After, Falov comes up to me. I prepare for him to rub his win in my face, but instead he hands me a small object made of wires and bottle caps: a toy car fashioned by hand. The car is fully mechanical with a driver, a steering mechanism, wire axles, and bottle cap wheels. “For you,” he says. “I made it.” I am in disbelief, not only at the toy’s complexity, but at Falov’s generosity. He must see this reaction on my face and asks “are you happy?” I respond “Yes, Falov, it is amazing.” I now feel bad as I have nothing left to give him. I ask “are you happy?” He says “I am happy that you are here.”

Falov’s car now sits on my desk at home in the U.S. reminding me that happiness can come from the simplest means. Even though Falov lives in what westerners would call extreme poverty, he found a way to build an ingenious toy and a friendship. I plan to put Falov’s car on every future desk at which I work - at home, my first job, and beyond - to remind me that the difference between nothing and something is simply having the eyes to see the possibilities.

(Admitted to Bucknell five-year Dual Degree Engineering and Management program - 10% admission rate)