08/07/2026
Sometimes, you have to travel a very long way to see something that was already inside you.
This summer, CBU psychology student Rachel Johnson traveled more than 9,000 miles from Memphis to Thailand, where she worked as a nanny and had the opportunity to help teach English to students at a business college.
She went expecting to serve.
She came home with a new perspective on vocation.
In Thailand, Rachel discovered how much she enjoyed communicating across language and cultural differences, encouraging students as they learned, and building connections with people whose experiences were very different from her own.
It also helped her see something important about her future.
Rachel has interests in psychology, education, writing, social media, disability advocacy, caregiving, international experiences, and communication. For a long time, she wondered how all of those interests could possibly fit together.
Her experience in Thailand helped her realize that perhaps they don't have to fit into one traditional job title.
Instead, there may be a thread connecting them.
For Rachel, that thread is people.
This is one of the things we hope a Lasallian education makes possible: giving students the knowledge and skills to pursue a career, but also the curiosity and courage to discover their vocation.
Rachel's story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most important opportunities begin with two simple words:
Just say yes. 💙🌏
We’re proud of Rachel and grateful for the perspective she is bringing back to the CBU community.
