During the summer of 2015, I was blessed with the experience of visiting Costa Rica. I was there for two weeks, traveling across the country with a group of fellow students. I made friends that I still talk to, even though we live across America from one another.

Costa Rica is a beautiful place. No matter where we went, there was always something amazing to be found there.

We spent a few days in the Veragua Rainforest and to be completely honest with you, it was one of the best things I've ever done in my life. We did some projects to help the researchers there and it made me feel so helpful and like I was actually making a difference in the way the animals we were helping were living their lives.

I don't know how else to describe the trip besides life changing. It truly and honestly made me feel like I was making a difference in the world, and thats what I strive for.

I met so many amazing people who lived there and knew so much about the culture and the environment. I learned so much through actually experiencing the way a different culture lives.

While we were there, we had a chance to live with a local family and to really include ourselves in the way the families live. When you go to foreign countries, there is always an interest in the food and how it differs from food back home. Being able to have a home cooked meal was amazing.

Costa Rica is one country I've visited that I can't really compare another too. It is the only country that I have been to in South America so far, and I feel like once I visit others it will make a difference.

But just being able to see the wildlife and environment that was completely different from where I grew up was an amazing experience to me. Being able to see something like this with a group of people that are your own age, and witnessing all of their reactions as well, is, quite-frankly, awesome.

I was blessed with being able to visit so many countries at such a young age, but I can honestly say that if I were given the opportunity to go back to any country, it would be Costa Rica.

I loved it there and could never be more thankful of being able to visit such a wonderful place.