Gandhi famously said, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." But what if instead of constantly trying to change the world, you enable it to change you?

The world is full of imperfections and issues that seem impossible to solve. War, crime, hatred, racism, inequality, genocide, famine, and corruption strangle the deeply flawed world we live in.

In their own complex and devastating way, these things have changed us all.

Even though our generation was young, each of us has a vivid memory of the tragedies of 9/11. For me, I was up past my bedtime while my parents watched the smoke smother the Twin Towers on the news. I remember thinking they were merely watching a movie because I couldn't fathom something so malicious occurring in real life.

We have all grown up surrounded by the brutalities of war and the beckoning for peace.

Although traveling abroad has been filled with immense excitement and awe, there is still an underlying sense of unease. Terrorism has become a part of everyone's daily vocabulary. Threats and attacks have limited where we can travel and where we desire to travel.

The world has opened our eyes to its harshness but it has also provided us with its boundless beauty.

It has caused us to try harder to improve ourselves and others. We witness injustice and are provoked to do what is right again. Our compassion for people in their moments of triumph and disaster has greatly increased. We know what it is like to live in fear but not be crippled by it.

The world has shown us its redeeming qualities. We have stumbled upon views that have taken our breath away. We've visited new places that changed our mindset forever through unique cultures and rich history. We've climbed mountains, cliffs, glaciers, volcanoes, and stairs to gain a new perspective. The world has challenged us to be independent at times but also brought us together. We've been exposed to universal smiles and kindness. We've observed incredible sunsets that led to sunrises, made wishes on shooting stars, and been embraced by the orange glow of the Harvest moon.

Being lost in this hectic world has led us to the places we were destined to discover and the person we were meant to become.

In the end, we leave a piece of ourselves behind wherever we go. With each piece we lose, we gain a new one back. The collection of pieces from the world molds us into who we are in this current moment. Both the faults and grace of the world have changed us...hopefully for the better.