As young people, we have so many responsibilities and duties to fulfill. I truly believe that studying abroad and becoming a well-rounded, cultured person while you are still young is extremely important. While it isn't in the cards for everyone to travel for one reason or another, just being open-minded to other cultures can have a similar effect.

In the late winter of 2015, I had the privilege to travel to Costa Rica for two weeks. The time I spent away was something I will never forget; it became so apparent how lucky we are in the United States to have what we do. The people I met in Latin America are so happy with the little that they have. It truly opened my eyes to unknown territory and that we all must be thankful for what we have. Below are the five reasons why I think it is exceptionally key to travel and experiment with other cultures at a young age.

1. Traveling helps you encounter compassion

At 16 years old, I was extremely naive traveling abroad. Yes, I was with my school and many of my friends but I wasn't prepared for what the trip would entail. I was very much expecting Latin America to look like the United States, I was so wrong. Costa Rica is definitely a second world country and you can tell from the second you see the streets. Don’t get me wrong, I loved every second of my trip but the environment around me was not at all what I had imagined. There were dogs everywhere, small dilapidated shacks and ditches filled with black water. I was lucky enough to stay with a host family for the first week of my excursion. After getting to know my host parents, it became obvious that they had worked hard for what they had. It made me really step back and realize that not every place is like the U.S. Each country culturally varies in many ways. Life isn’t fair to everyone, and to those people: keep fighting.

2. You make connections with people around the world

As I mentioned before I was able to stay with a host family. They were an older couple with many grown kids which has made it hard to keep in contact. That being said, friends of mine who were also on the trip have been able to keep in touch with their, younger, more tech-savvy host siblings. This past year, two girls from other countries came to my school as foreign exchange students. One of them lived with a good friend of mine, and I got to know her. While she will being going back to her home country this summer, I have no doubt that we will keep in touch.

3.Traveling changes how you connect with others

It amazes me that even just one trip to another country can bring so many people together. Not only did I become close with classmates who went on the trip with me, but other people in my life as well. As I began getting to know people who are attending the same college as I, I found a few others who had also been to Costa Rica and we shared our experiences with each other. They understood what it was like to not know how to feel about the surrounding environment, or how difficult it was to get over the language barrier. There was an overall understanding that it wasn't just a culture shock for me but for others, too.

4. It pushes you to take on new challenges and take whatever is thrown at you

I’ll be the first to admit that Spanish wasn't my best subject -- while I love the language, it didn't come naturally. So, being put into a situation where no one around you speaks English, you have to work to get your message across. It isn't easy. My host family spoke very quickly and used slang I hadn't ever heard before. Language wasn't the only challenge, the weather was drastically different as we went to different areas of the country. Sometimes it was sunny and 75, and other times it was 50 and pouring rain. As a tourist you just have to go with it, you can’t change Mother Nature. Another thing I didn't even think about before leaving was the water. Because not all areas have the same regulations on water as the United States, it can make you very sick. It was something I took for granted before this experience, I couldn't get up in the middle of the night for a glass of water even if I wanted to. All in all, you just take each thing as it comes and make the best of it. Who knows? Even the worst luck can lead to the best reminiscing.

5. Nothing in life is ever a guarantee, while you are healthy and able take chances and make a difference

If you ever get the chance to travel, domestically or abroad, I urge you to take it. Travel is an experience like no other: you meet new people; learn innovative ideas; and create a lifetime of memories. No one knows where they will be in five years, or even tomorrow, so take a leap of faith. You never know who it could impact or how it could even change your life.

While I will be a college freshman this fall, I don’t intend to study abroad until either my sophomore or junior year. As I am interested in learning Arabic, I hope to have the chance to use the language around the world. Whether it is a passion for culture or an international business job, traveling will get you places. A journey begins with a single step, I challenge you to take it.