Spring break may be known for a time when college students revel in their freedom, flocking to crowded beaches or hot vacation spots.

But for two Niles High School graduates currently attending Grand Valley University, their spring break promises to bring them a new world perspective.

College sophomores Erica Gordon and Courtney Fleeker-Holmes will travel to Costa Rica in March as part of a medical missions trip with the organization International Service Learning and its division of Well Child International.

Fleeker-Holmes and Gordon will join a group of 13 other women, medical professionals and a translator in providing medical care to women and children.

“We’ll be setting up, like, medical triage — basically makeshift clinics — wherever we can, helping the locals with no access to health care,” Gordon said.

Both Gordon and Fleeker-Holmes are interested in pursuing careers in physical therapy.

Gordon is also studying medical science and Fleeker-Holmes is studying Spanish as a minor, something she is considering double-majoring in.

“Since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to be bilingual,” Fleeker-Holmes said. “I’ve been trying to work on my Spanish. We have a translator at all times but the more I can use my Spanish, it’s going to help me a whole lot.”

For both the trip presents a unique opportunity.

Neither has ever left the country before.

“(I am) just interested in health care, interested in helping others,” Gordon said.

She learned about the trip through a health care professional career day at Grand Valley and attended the International Service Learning workshop.

Immediately, Gordon said, she knew she wanted to take part.

And afterward, Fleeker-Holmes said, Gordon told her about the trip.

“Erica is the one who invited me,” she said. “She went to the workshop because I couldn’t make it to that one and she told me all about it.

“I’m really excited to experience a new culture,” she said. “I’ve never been out of the country so I’ve never experienced any kind of non-American culture.”

Both girls are preparing for the trip, getting the necessary vaccinations and packing for the nine-day trip. Their flight leaves Saturday, March 5 and they’ll be back in class March 14.

“I never thought about doing a missions trip or anything like that,” Gordon said. “I thought they were all religion-based.”

After attending the workshop, she said she knew “this is something I want to do before I die.”

People and organizations in the U.S donate all of the medical supplies being used for the trip.

“That’s kind of the beauty of everything,” Gordon said. “Everything is donated. Time, supplies — everything.”

Though for both girls the trip presents the possibility of a life changing experience, Gordon said she just wants to make a difference to the women and children she and the rest of the group wants to help.

“I just want to offer them a life changing experience, really,” she said.

“I just think the experience as a whole will just help me as a person to become a better person,” Fleeker-Holmes said. “The thing for me is, yeah, I’m going on a spring break trip and yeah, I get to go to another country. But I’m going to help somebody and if I weren’t going, they wouldn’t get that kind of care. I just want to help other people.”

And they’re both counting down the days.

“It’s really exciting,” Gordon said. “I can’t wait. It’s hard to focus on school right now.”