When I was 16 year old, my life changed forever.

I was in Africa on a community service trip with some of the best friends I’ll ever had. I won’t lie to you, I was nervous to leave my family.

“To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It's not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.” - Taylor Swift

I never knew how much this trip would change me forever. I cried my eyes out all the way there, and cried my eyes all the way back, but for much different reasons. In Africa, I went to a small school, and got the chance to read to a group of young children. I was reminded of my brother.

I read them Green Eggs and Ham, my personal favorite book. I knew tell they liked it, because they were smiling up at me the whole time. I couldn’t believe they were fans of Justin Bieber too (but no way as much as I am!)

There in that little African village, I discovered that some people weren’t as lucky as I was. Sure I deal with problems. My mom wants me to get better grades, my dad works too much, my brother doesn’t fill up my car when he takes it out, and boys STINK. For everything I deal with, I still leave in the greatest country in the world.

Being in Africa, I realized the world is much bigger than my quaint New Jersey town. It is in my opinion that everyone should go Africa and experience what I did. I guarantee it will change you forever, like it did me.