Student Spotlight: Shakira Morales

Shakira (Shak) is a first-year student from Lancaster, PA, but don’t let her name or status as the youngest fool you. Shak doesn’t dance. She is the type of person that captures your attention when she speaks up. Many times Shak is the voice of reason within the group.

Shakira has become the group’s hair braider. Shak really enjoys braiding hair, but usually has to ask people if she can braid for them at home. Within the Parks & People group, others come to Shakira frequently and ask for a new do. When Monica rapped for Ray’s birthday, Shak helped Monica build up her rapper (A$AP) personality through her sweet braids.

Moving from the business and the urban life of Cape Town into the hot deserted Karoo was challenging for Shakira.  She said, “I feel like I really came out of my comfort zone in Parks and People.” Shak was one of the brave souls who participated in the South African red heartabeast poop spitting contest in the Karoo.

Shakira really likes large animals, especially the cow. Her favorite animal in South Africa was the elephants at the Lalibela Game Reserve. She doesn’t so much love eating animals that taste how they smell…like lamb. Our meals have been quite meaty and have included more types of meat than the typical American diet.

While at The Haven, Shakira and Ray took up the opportunity to go canoeing in the lagoon together. Both had canoed before, and while nobody fell in, both were quite ready to be out of the water when they came back to the shore.  For Shak, canoeing was one of her funniest memories even though she thought they were about to go overboard the whole time.

For Shakira, it’s meaningful that in our last week, everybody is still willing to give a helping hand. The group has got along quite well throughout the experience. I can also testify, there have been no major arguments or breakdowns.

Shak feels like one memory that will always stick with her is the vast differences of how Africa is portratyed in the United States and how the people and the culture really are. In particular, Shakira noted how visible the impact of Apartheid is in South African Society.

Shak decided to come on Parks & People 2016 because she is interested in the environment, plants, and animals. Since this trip encompasses all three interests, Shak decided the opportunity would be worth it, and it was.