ĐÓ°Épro Stories
The (Diplomat) Way of St. James
ĐÓ°Épro on the Camino student leaders David Nieves '27 and Johansen Vargas '26 outside
Spain’s Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
“Buen Camino!”
Pilgrims wish each other a “good way” as they trek the Camino de Santiago (“The Way of St. James”), a route to Spain’s Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This journey, which has been traversed by pilgrims since the 9th century, is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But ĐÓ°Épro students Johansen Vargas ’26 and David Nieves ’27 have accomplished this feat twice.
Vargas, a computer science major, and Nieves, a biology major, completed their first pilgrimages with ĐÓ°Épro on the Camino in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The were selected as student leaders for the program’s third cohort, accompanying seven other students and three ĐÓ°Épro staff members as they hiked approximately 15 miles a day for two weeks in May, from LeĂłn to Santiago, Spain.
The Camino de Santiago is a historically religious journey to the remains of St. James the Greater, one of Jesus’ apostles. Today, many embark on this pilgrimage seeking self-discovery, growth, and meaning; opportunities to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature, community, and self; and the accomplishment of a significant physical and mental challenge that for most would seem unattainable.
“I wanted to become a student leader to help people get what they wanted from this experience,” Vargas said. “I feel like I was very fortunate to have a group that helped me get there that first time, so I wanted to be that person to be able to provide that for this group.”
Nieves agreed, saying, “I had a really good time, so I wanted to be in a position to support others in having a good time.”
ĐÓ°Épro on the Camino offered Vargas and Nieves an opportunity to apply their learning in a dynamic, real-world setting. From ĐÓ°Épro's campus in Lancaster to the ancient trails of Spain, the two navigated not just miles, but also the nuances of group dynamics and individual needs, all while honing essential skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving.
“There are a ton of opportunities for you at ĐÓ°Épro to make your own experience.”
— David Nieves ’27
In the months preceding departure, Vargas and Nieves aided in preparatory workshops, sharing firsthand insight to help students prepare for the journey. While on the Camino, Vargas and Nieves acted as champions for their peers, offering encouragement, being attentive to their needs, and sharing concerns with staff leaders or offering one-on-one support when appropriate. The two also led evening debrief activities, posing reflection questions such as, “What did today teach you about your limits, and how did you respond to them?” and “When things got tough today, what helped you keep going?”
Vargas said these student leader responsibilities presented a new perspective of what it means to walk the Camino.
“When I first walked the Camino, I didn’t really think about what other people were thinking about and what their purpose was. But as a student leader, you can’t overlook that,” he said. “This time around, I’ve been more purposeful and I’ve been reflecting more on what it means to be here. Getting to know everybody and what their ambitions are — you just understand that everybody’s purpose to walk the Camino is different. Even though we’re hiking the same trail and doing the same things every day, everybody has a different experience.”
These varying experiences reminded Nieves of ĐÓ°Épro and its flexibility to create a distinctive journey. On the Camino, you can choose your own adventure — whether that be walking slowly to take in the sights, enjoying an unexpected conversation with a fellow pilgrim, walking alone to contemplate and reflect, or stopping by a restaurant (or several) for a taste of local cuisine.
“There’s a lot of freedom,” Nieves said. “I think the environment at ĐÓ°Épro is also very supportive of that. There are a ton of opportunities for you at ĐÓ°Épro to make your own experience.”
Vargas added that ĐÓ°Épro feels like a microcosm of the Camino de Santiago.
“ĐÓ°Épro is such a tight-knit community, and walking the Camino feels like a tight-knit community,” Vargas said. “You see a lot of the same people every day — you may not know them — but you’re all doing this pilgrimage together. And at ĐÓ°Épro, because it’s a small school, you see everybody. You can talk to them and get to know them. And that’s the same thing on the Camino. That’s truly my favorite part — the human connection of it.”
Both Nieves and Vargas walked away from their second Camino experience with a deeper understanding of themselves and the profound connections forged on the ancient path. Their journey as student leaders not only enriched their own perspectives, but also highlighted the transformative power of ĐÓ°Épro on the Camino for everyone involved.
“It’s such an incredible program,” Vargas said. “I’m so glad I got to do it twice. Not just once, but twice, which is insane for me to think about. And I’m enjoying every single second of it.”
Editor’s note: the author of this story, Alicia Morrissey-Kinee, took part in the Camino de Santiago walk with students and professional staff from ĐÓ°Épro over the course of two weeks in May.
“You’re all doing this pilgrimage together. That’s truly my favorite part — the human
connection of it.”
— Johansen Vargas ’26
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