From pursuing higher education to getting a full-time job, we are constantly bombarded with questions and decisions about who we are and what we want to do with our lives. If there's one reminder I got while spending my spring break on an immersion trip in Kentucky, it's this.

A man works for a National Park, hiking the trails every day to maintain them for other hikers. A woman works at a food pantry and knows the name of every senior citizen that walks through the line on senior day. A woman works for her Church, in a community that she lived in her entire life, so that she can be a part of an effort to improve the lives of her neighbors. A man spends much of his life building and managing construction of fast food restaurants, just to retire and turn his construction efforts to building houses and ramps for those in need.

There's one huge commonality between all of these people: they love what they do. Helping others in some way brings them happiness in a community where 39% of the population is under the poverty line. Spending my spring break in Whitley City, Kentucky became more than a service trip, and I left with more than I arrived with. Both the wonderful people in my immersion group and the people of Whitley City reminded me how important it is to do what you love, but, more importantly, how important it is to really get to know the people around you.

"Do what you love" has always been reinforced for me, but seeing how important that mentality is in this new community was incredibly powerful. Especially at a time when I still don't know exactly what I want to do with my life and my school is pushing me towards finding an internship. Through building the foundation of a house, hiking through Kentucky, and carrying food to cars at the food pantry, I found a sort of peace. I realized I do still want to be a writer, but I also want to do something as impactful as this, to find an organization to get involved in throughout my life, and to participate in the life of my own community. That is what makes me happy. Sharing experiences and stories with other people. Serving alongside a community. This trip reminded me of that. Don't forget to live in the moment. Share that moment with people you care about. Love what you do.