We live in a world where we accept comfort and never seem to leave it.

A world in which most of our days look the same - the same people, the same language, the same perspectives, and the same experiences.

While there is nothing wrong with being satisfied in a comfortable world, I think that one of the most courageous and influential things that a person can do is to leave such comfort and experience a new perspective on life, whether it be through traveling, missionary work, or conversations.

One of the most eye-opening experiences for me has been leaving my comfort zone and engaging in different cultures and places.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was able to serve on a mission trip to Nicaragua with students from my high school who I was not necessarily close friends with. However, that did not stop me from making the most of every moment and getting to know them better.

While I was gaining new friends amongst people I had grown up with my whole life, I was also forming relationships with Nicaraguans who we served alongside.

Even though there were multiple barriers that could have prohibited us from interacting, such as language and cultural ideals, that did not stop us.

I was able to converse with them in Spanish, thereby learning more about their everyday lives and the difficulties that they face on a daily basis that are seemingly unbeknown to us.

Through such conversations and interactions, I not only left my comfort zone but gained a new perspective on life.

It made me feel very fortunate for all that I had waiting for me back home and even more fortunate for the new relationships I had made in Nicaragua, with both the Nicaraguans as well as people from my own town who I used to only talk to once in a blue moon.

Through this experience of leaving my comfort zone, I became more motivated to continue doing so each and every day.

Leaving your comfort zone is truly like putting on a pair of glasses. Although you were able to see fine before, after you leave your comfort zone, you begin to see the world more clearly.

I urge you to take small steps towards metaphorically, putting on a new pair of glasses and gaining a new perspective on our perfectly diverse world.