Class of 2029: Gabriela Trueba shares how a mission trip changed her life

Freshman Gabriela Trueba went on two mission trips to the Dominican Republic when she was in high school. The experience impacted her entire outlook on life.

Trueba went on the trips through Blue Missions — a non-profit organization co-founded by FIU alumnus Daniel Rodriguez BBA ’11. The organization is dedicated to ensuring clean water access for communities throughout Latin America.

Trueba joined a group of volunteers — many from her high school, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy — as she spent a total of 14 days working on two projects to help people in rural communities in the Dominican Republic. She assisted in connecting a community to running water and in building a bathroom much like an outhouse.

She hiked up a mountain and helped dig trenches, lay down pipe for the water source and install a faucet for the local community.

“It was a workout trekking up that mountain,” Trueba recalls. “But it was worth every moment. Once we’re all done, they turn the faucet on, and the water spouts out and the children are celebrating, and you see them come get water.”

One little boy’s gratitude made a particular impression on Trueba.

“There was this little boy who just stayed with us during the entire time we were there working,” she says. “The last day, he brought us gifts of snacks and violetas (violet-scented perfume). We didn’t want to take anything away from him, we gave him the gifts back. But just seeing how grateful he was for us helping him out, it was so beautiful.”

“The whole experience helped me realize that I’m blessed with so much,” Trueba says. “It taught me to give back. It warmed my heart and opened my heart.”

Trueba is a hospitality management major who started at FIU this fall.

Besides the mission trips, she served at her school by being involved in the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy’s sports medicine program. The program, much like a club, trains students to support student-athletes. Students in the group help athletes do stretches, give them massages and ice injuries properly. Trueba also took a variety AP classes and was part of a dual enrollment program at her school through St. Thomas University. As part of the dual enrollment program, she took English, theology and honors U.S. history classes for college credit.

FIU family

“FIU was always in the back of my mind,” Trueba says of her college choice.

After all, she’s got the university in her DNA. Her mom, dad and sisters are all FIU alumni, and her brother is now a current graduate student. 

Trueba's best friend is the daughter of Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Béjar. When Trueba was thinking through her college options, Béjar invited Trueba to tour FIU.

After experiencing Béjar's tour and the campus, Trueba chose to become a Panther. “I loved it," Trueba says. "The campus is so beautiful. Students can work on campus, too, which gives us good opportunities to get experience and still be here at FIU for our classes.”

As a hospitality major, she will also be required to complete a certain number of hours working in the industry to graduate. She’s excited about the prospect — and grateful for the requirement. “It’s so important to get real-world experience,” she says. "I'm looking forward to it."

Trueba is interested in pursuing the beverage management industry and potentially working for a business like Bacardi.

Service at FIU

As Trueba starts her journey at the university, she says giving back is still top of mind.

“I would love to get involved in service at FIU,” she says. “The philanthropy side of sorority life really speaks to me. I’m excited for recruitment.”

Trueba comes from a line of Panthers involved in Greek life. Her dad helped found a fraternity on campus and both of her sisters were deeply involved in sororities throughout their time at FIU. 

“I’m stepping into big shoes,” she says. “My family loves FIU. It’s going to be great to have that shared experience of being Panthers with everyone in my family.”

And, it’s going to be just as rewarding to serve.