Patience is a virtue. Isn’t that something that our parents are always preaching to us in our young years?

Well, sophomore Caroline Reamer was able to learn that first-hand. This past year Reamer spent 10 days on a mission trip in Jamaica.

Reamer belongs to Oakpointe Church and is part of their youth group called 707. Reamer and the youth group traveled to Jamaica to work and run a vacation bible school for some of the young children on the island.

“It was cool meeting and hanging out with the kids,” said Reamer.

They also participated in “beach evangelization” , which involved holding talks about God and Jesus on the beach. They also visited a home for mentally challenged adults and children.

“I learned how to be really patient,” said Reamer. “It was hard to control that many kids,” said Reamer.

After only spending 10 days with the kids and working on the island, Reamer definitely plans on going back to do more service. She would like to go to Zambia next summer with her youth group.

At Mercy, the sophomore is a two-year varsity member of the swim and dive team. She swims distance freestyle and individual medley (an event that involves all four of the main strokes).

“Being on the swim team has taught me how to really work hard,” said Reamer.

Being a Mercy Marlin runs in her blood. Although she was previously home-schooled for seven years, Reamer decided to come to Mercy for her high school education. Her sister, Emily, who graduated in 2010, was also on the swim team. She hopes to follow in her sister’s footsteps and become a state qualifying swimmer.

“I love hanging out with the swim team. They’re my closest friends in the school,” Reamer said.