During high school, I was really able to explore my interest in human rights issues and volunteer opportunities. Through learning all about problems that plagued the world, both here in America and in different countries, I gained a huge passion to want to help others and dive into "the unknown". Realistically, I know no matter how much I get educated by these saddening situations of others, I'd never know until I try to live/serve alongside them (or close). After a few doing a couple local mission trips in the U.S., I began planning my next steps into trying to apply for my church's mission trip in Costa Rica for a little over a week (spoiler alert: I got in!)

I was immensely busy at the time of interviews and honestly, I am still astounded I even got accepted into the trip (I had a good reference/reputation/"word of mouth" around me); to this day I believe my going it the work of fate and God because there aren't enough words to describe how much I appreciated that time. There were so many obvious reasons to why a person could love the opportunity to serve and I was there for all of it: the experience outside of the country you know, the implicit reward, practice of language, building of relationships, love for others, just for the memories, and so much more! I was very blessed to say I was able to experience all such named, and although the build-up had given me a lot of stress, the experience itself sold itself as the worthy award to make it all worth it.

Repeating the point of my rather stressful beginnings to planning out this trip, I could easily say this was majority due to this time being before my summer trip, among the regular school stress. Anticipation, of course, was a big part of what kept me on edge but a lot of what kept me going. I think a lot of us in the hardest moments of achieving a fulfilling event in our lives go through a time of deep thought and regret; that is exactly why I think with summer giving most of us more free time, it's the ideal period of time to do so!

Although we have a lot of opportunities for jobs, internships, and just simply living, why not try incorporating a little of all those aspects through volunteering and service? On the Costa Rica trip, I was able to make connections with those who I met there, talking a lot about the healthcare industry, utilized my Spanish and them utilizing their English, engaged my self spiritually and socially, reflected a lot, and generally had a good time. We got closer to God and ourselves and better got to know each other: we cried, we laughed, and we certainly had some Costa Rican snacks! Imagine a vacation with even more purpose other than relaxing: that was my view of an international trip. Not in the way to lower the standard of