By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
 
Amanda Stratton is in Dublin, Ireland this summer because she wanted an overseas experience.
 
She's gotten that… and more.
 
Stratton is experiencing a life-changing opportunity to literally change the lives of people with Parkinson's and help combat the neurological disease.
 
"I believe the biggest aspect of this trip that I will reflect on down the road is the empathy I've learned from the people I work with," said Stratton. "I thought I was a very empathetic person, but seeing how hard this organization works and how much they care has truly changed my perspective on what it means to love."
 
Stratton is currently interning with a company called Move4Parkinson's, an organization that cares deeply about improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson's - a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement.
 
"This charity works to inspire and empower PwP's (people with Parkinson's) to take control of their self-management and well-being by providing a creative and fun outlet where they can still do activities they love," said Stratton. "Move4Parkinson's offers Irish set-dancing classes, creative dance classes and choral classes. The main goal of these programs is to create a community where PwP's can gain confidence, share experiences and support each other." 

The organization is very important to everyone involved, from the people with Parkinson's to people like Stratton working hard to ensure meaningful programming.
 
"Parkinson's Disease is often overlooked when it comes to chronic diseases," she said. "However, it is very prevalent in society as more and more individuals are getting diagnosed all over the world."
 
Parkinson's is actually the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer's Disease.
 
"PwP's often lose their voice and their confidence, causing them to withdraw away from society and into their homes," said Stratton. "There aren't many resources for PWP's in Ireland, making it hard for them to learn about their disease and achieve an acceptable quality of life. By providing this program, PwP's are able to regain their confidence and reenter the community."
 
Stratton's journey to Dublin started with a desire to travel abroad. Last summer, she heard about the Iacocca International Internship Program offered by Lehigh, and she jumped at the opportunity.
 
"The program is supported by Lee Iacocca and allows students to travel abroad and intern at a company during the summer," said Stratton. "I applied for Dublin and after being accepted, I started working with a second program called Global Experiences. This company worked to find me an internship placement and after interviewing with Move4Parkinson's, I secured the position."
 
The internship has allowed Stratton to grow in several aspects, including finding her way in a different country.
 
"I was getting lost at every turn during my first week, especially during my commute, but I actually enjoyed it," she said. "I was able to see so much and stumble upon some amazing side streets and areas that I might have never found."
 
This is Stratton's second time in Europe; the first was only a few months ago when she traveled to Le Havre, France with the Lehigh soccer team during spring break.
 
This time around, Stratton is traveling with approximately 30 other students from around the country.
 
"I arrived in Ireland not knowing anyone, but I have since made a lot of new friends within my program," she said. "All the students come from different universities and are interning at different companies in the area. The community of students has been able to support each other and share the experience of working in Ireland."
 
Stratton has truly embraced the independence.
 
"I cherish those moments of just being in the city surrounded by people I don't know," she said. "The shops and streets are different in Ireland, especially the fact that cars drive on the left side of the road, but I adjusted very quickly. I really love the times that I'm alone and can just think and take in the beauty of Ireland. It has made me reflect and get to know myself better. At the same time, I have immersed myself into the local culture, which has opened my eyes to different ways of living."
 
Stratton's day-to-day activities with Move4Parkinson's vary. Her primary role is finding funding for the nonprofit organization, but she's not locked in an office all day. 

"I am able to attend the dance classes, which is the best part of my week," said Stratton. "I absolutely love to dance with the PWP's. I'm actually a very poor dancer, so they're always teaching me the moves and leading me in the sets. Watching the classes, you can tell how much fun they have and how much they love being with each other in this community that Move4Parkinson's has created."

 
Stratton's ability to work with others, like she's doing in Ireland, is a characteristic that Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus sees on the soccer field.
 
"Amanda's maturity is beyond her years and allows her to have a tremendous level of emotional intelligence towards others," he said. "It's what makes her such an invaluable member of our program."
 
While staying active through the dance classes, Stratton has also kept up with her soccer training in advance of the upcoming season.
 
"I work at two different locations throughout the week and each has a soccer field right outside, which is very convenient," she said. "After work, I put on my cleats and do my fitness workouts. It's nice having a routine because it gives me something to look forward to after work and it makes it easier to balance everything."
 
Stratton has certainly become engrained into the local culture, which includes soccer.
 
"I play pick-up soccer every week with a group of local men and women," she said. "I love that soccer is such a big sport in Ireland and Europe. It makes training for this upcoming season easier since the people here are always eager to play."
 
Stratton has been moved by the people she's working with, both the people with Parkinson's and her coworkers who care so deeply for the cause.
 
"I will remember the people that I lived with, worked with, the people with Parkinson's and the locals," she said. "I have learned about their culture and their stories - especially the PwP's." 

The takeaways from the trip are endless, lessons that will have lasting effects on Stratton - not only in the immediacy, but also in the long term.
 
"Amanda's total involvement with Move4Parkinson's is giving her the big-picture perspective of an organization that she can utilize in her future career," said Lambinus. "It is exactly the purpose of an internship, and even more rewarding that it's taking place in another country."
 
"I will continue to reflect back on all that being in a different country has taught me," said Stratton. "I believe the raw appreciation and excitement of being in a different country has helped me gain the confidence to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
 
"I will look back on this experience and think about how much I learned about myself and how it catalyzed my life moving forward."
 
Stratton recognizes how the experience is helping herself personally, but this summer for her is all about helping others and taking part in something bigger than herself.
 
"I am so lucky to be surrounded by individuals who have such a passion for helping others," said Stratton. "I will be able to take those experiences, perspectives and relationships back to the U.S. after I leave Ireland.
 
"Everyone I've talked to has told me how much this organization has changed their lives," she continued. "It's amazing to see these people happy, full of life and taking control of their disease. It's so rewarding to see this and to know that I'm making even the slightest impact in the Move4Parkinson's cause."

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