Sebastian Gualy said he felt called to serve last summer. The Southwestern University junior went on a medical mission trip to India with a family friend to serve the sick and dying. Gualy, a junior biology major at Southwestern, volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity, an organization founded by Mother Teresa.

During his 16-day mission trip last May, Gualy worked in two locations – mornings at Prem Dan, a nursing home, and afternoons at an intensive care unit called Kalighat.

At Prem Dan, Gualy would help elderly patients with daily activities, such as eating, bathing and light aerobics. While in the ICU, he worked with patients who were near the end of their lives due to diseases or tragic accidents.

"It exposed us to a whole other side where people were struggling and needed love at the end of their life," he said. "We had the opportunity to show them (that love) and it was really special to be with people who knew they were dying but had never really experienced that love before."

Now back to his daily routine with classes, multiple student organizations and lacrosse practice, Gualy said one of the lessons he learned from the entire experience is "the universal language of love."

One such situation sticks out for Gualy.

"I was in Prem Dan working in the nursing home and this elderly man needed to shave," he said. "So I was shaving his face and the temperature was close to 120 degrees. I was drenched in sweat at the time, but I was in the position to serve him. In the middle of me shaving him, I was wiping the sweat from my eyes. He saw this and took his robe and wiped away the sweat from my face. He loved me back."

Gualy has plans to go to medical school following his graduation from Southwestern. He has a desire to go into surgery and pediatrics along with another sub-specialty.

"It super specialized and I know I have a lot of school ahead," he added. "It's something I am excited about and eager to pursue. One thing as a doctor that I would love to do is to take another medical missionary tour and help those in need."