Karie Butler: Solo Flight
On her third mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Barrington High School student Karie Butler joined the Orphanage Outreach program that she had learned about online. After graduating a semester early to spend more time in the Dominican Republic, Karie packed her bags, and took her first solo flight to a foreign country. She had only been away from home for a week at a time and accompanied by someone she knew before this trip.
This time, Karie would be completely on her own, threatened by malaria, violent strikes, and possible poisoning from unsanitary water. Her mother, though hesitant, realized how much this 6-week trip meant to Karie, and allowed her to go. “I felt like it was time to learn more about who I am in the world, not having the people who shape me around me,” Karie said.
Through the challenges, Karie taught English to the children in the orphanage. Her classes ranged anywhere from zero to 15 students. “Because they had dirt roads, the days that it rained, no one would come to class,” she said. Children there often drop out of school due to economic reasons, and return after a few years which diversifies the ages of the students from 4th to 12th graders. “A few of the girls were my age,” she said. “It was difficult to get them to treat me like I actually had something to teach them rather than being one of their girlfriends.”
The class was an optional course after daily public school classes. While some teachers had hot, cramped classrooms with no windows, Karie was fortunate to teach on a patio in the hotel-turned-orphanage. Most of the orphanage was made up of children whose parents could no longer afford to keep them at home. At the store across the street where Karie often went to buy a bottle of water, the store owner would fill her hands with candy to show appreciation for all that she was doing. The woman was just one of the many thankful parents that Karie encountered.
By age seven, many of the Dominican children are forced into work and are expected to become adults at a young age. “Giving the kids one-on-one attention and just playing games with them makes them feel like they are truly special,” said Karie. She gave them a sense of independence – a solo flight of their own. Even after a full, normal school day, the children were eager to learn.
Karie was inspired by the Dominican cultural ideology. “A huge part of their culture is just ‘to be’. Don’t worry about what you have to do next week, what college you’ll be going to, or what job you’re going to have. They taught me how to be present in the moment and enjoy what I’m doing right now.”
Going into the trip, Karie had a strong sense of her future. She had a dream of going into the field of education to become a teacher. After the trip, however, she is now uncertain. “I love the international aspect,” she said. “But I don’t enjoy having to keep the kids in control. They should be able to express themselves how they want.” On her next solo flight as a future freshman at the University of Missouri, Karie is considering going into nursing and traveling to third-world countries to aid those in need of medical care. “This way, I can interact with children and have the flexibility to travel to many places where there are needs.”
Karie realizes that anyone can take a step toward progress anywhere in the world. “Anybody could do it, there’s nothing really special about me,” she said. “It was just something that interests me.” She finds it interesting to see how other people live, which is exactly why she wants to travel internationally. “Who would’ve thought things could be so completely different a five-hour flight away.”
What makes Karie most special is the true vision she wishes to see the world accomplish. “I don’t think any one person can make that much of a difference in the world. Not one person can change a town or change an orphanage, but the little differences you make in one child’s life seems to be enough.”
Her student, Pedro, looked up at Karie with his big, brown eyes on her last day of teaching in the Dominican Republic. He was the youngest in his class, the most rowdy, the friendliest, and the most respected. He wore the same outfit to class each day, most of the time with stains left from days before because of the lack of resources to even wash his clothes. Where the other children needed to be handed a new pencil each day, Pedro came fully prepared with all his supplies along with a motivation to learn that even Karie was unable to conceive. He is just one of the many children Karie encountered. “That’s what made everything worth it,” Karie said.
Here are some words that others shared about Karie Butler
David Butler
I am Karie’s brother. Karie is brave. To do what she did this spring in the Dominican Rebublic must have been really scary, but she didn’t seem scared at all. Karie is giving. She is always willing to give up something for other people, and she always seems completely content with what she has. One thing that I have always admired about her is that I can’t remember the last time that she complained about anything.
Kevin Butler
I’m Karie’s dad. Karie is kind, practical, and diligent. She gets things done without delay, fuss, or drama. I’ve never heard her put someone down or use profanity. It seems to me that girls her age are often drawn to being superstar athletes, high-achieving scholars, pampered princesses, or rebels. I think she’s steered away from those, although she did have a great gymnastics meet when first arriving at BHS, she did get straight As her last semester, and I kid her about shopping at Deer Park Mall. She rebels against perfection by wearing socks that don’t match. I think she may be uncomfortable with any kind of notoriety, or even being labeled as an unsung hero. She most values a word of appreciation from a friend or someone she’s helped.
Lauren Butler
I find it funny that I would look up to my little sister, but the dedication to service and bravery she showed going on a trip to the Dominican Republic inspires me. Even when we were young and I was too scared to go down a big slide, she went first and set the example for her older sister!
Karie enjoys meeting new people. She can make me smile or laugh during any conversation. Even if she’s having a hard time, she maintains hope and her care for the people around her. She initiates crazy spontaneous things like a cake-frosting fight or dancing in the rain. She is concerned for the well-being of those close to her and even people she doesn’t know. It pained her to know the pain her new friends at the orphanage dealt with, but she also understood that their lives were full of joy as well. She showed love, not pity, and I could tell she really wants the best for their lives.
Karie gives me a lot of encouragement by the way she lives her life. She is a humble servant, an easy-going girl who brings life to me and others. I am proud to call her my sister.
Robin Butler
My daughter, Karie, has always been active, independent, practical, and at the same time, gentle and tender-hearted. She was always moving as a child and learned best by doing. If homework or something else was causing stress, a few cartwheels or handstands would help her blow off steam. Although she tried lots of sports, she loved gymnastics. She has an independent, tough side to her.
She is disciplined and willing to work hard, but really needs to care about the point of the work. When preparing for her internship in the Dominican Republic, she was happy to do the extra work necessary to teach herself Spanish and obtain her certification for teaching English as a Second Language, all on her own and in addition to her regular school work.
She also is loyal, loving and kind. She was one of those kids with dozens of dolls and stuffed animals. Each one had a name, and at night, had to be tucked gently into its own special bed to sleep. I believe her choosing to be vegetarian comes in part from a desire to not harm anything. And that tenderness makes her a popular babysitter in the neighborhood.
It has been so rewarding to see Karie stay true to who she is and to follow her own path and passions. When she first wanted to go on a trip to the Dominican Republic, she was able to express her personal reasons for wanting to go. And despite not meeting the age requirement for that trip, she convinced the leaders to accept her. She did the same thing with her internship at Orphanage Outreach.
I’m delighted to see her honored with this recognition. It is one of the reasons we love Barrington – the value the community places on diverse achievements, interests and talents. Our move here was motivated in part by the opportunities our children would have, and this helps confirm that choice has been good.
Kristin Kovacevich
I’ve known Karie since she was an incoming freshman, four years ago. I met her and 14 other girls the same day at Willow Creek Community Church. They were an overwhelming sea of energy, excitement and silliness. I’ve had the privilege of watching Karie grow up and become her own person. She loves to have fun and brings energy to a group. She questions the how’s and why’s of life and strives forward for answers. She’s brave. I believe a great part of that trip was Karie looking for her own special story away from family and friends. She worked hard to get there and grew up a little bit more on that trip.
Bina and Hashim Rizvi
We have known Karie and the Butler family for almost six years since we moved to Barrington. Karie started babysitting our eldest son when he was about nine months. She now babysits for all three of our children. Karie was in junior high school when we first met her, so we have watched her grow into a mature and responsible young lady. Karie loves working with and being around children, which is clear from the effort she puts into babysitting our children and her overseas volunteer work. Karie doesn’t simply watch over the kids when she babysits, she plays, interacts, and communicates with the children at their level. It is clear that our children have developed a bond with Karie. Just the other day, our oldest child, Imran, told Karie, “I love you, Karie.” We wish Karie all the best in college and are confident that she will find success in everything she does. There will be three little kids in her neighborhood who will miss her!
Trinity Scurto
Karie was involved at Willow Creek Community Church in high school where I am the high school ministry leader for the Barrington High School area. Karie loves people well, laughs hard, and cares deeply. She desires to better the world and her heart breaks for those in need and she does what she can and feels called to in order to make this world a better place for people to live.
Jennifer Wink
Karie has been my best friend since 6th grade. We met at a friend’s birthday party. We never had a class together until freshman year English, and that was our only class ever together and we’re still best friends! Karie and I get along so well, it’s like we were meant to be best friends. She makes me laugh in any situation, and is always up for challenges. Whenever I want to do something outrageous, Karie is the one I call to join me. Her ideas are always great, except for the time we made s’mores in her fireplace. We smoked up the entire house because someone forgot to open the chimney flue. I can be myself around Karie because she is never judgmental and acts the same way as me. Karie is the best.