This past year transcended far beyond the traditional sense of an academic experience, with studying abroad in Tucumán, Argentina and then Interning in Quito, Ecuador.

I have met incredible scientists who have educated me about the world I am interested in, activists who have taught me to stand up for what I believe in, linguists who have taught me the beauty of being able to communicate with someone in their vernacular, artists who have inspired me by vision, and vagabonds who have taught me that the Earth is everyone’s shared home.

Every person I have met has taught me a new world view and because of them, I am a wiser world citizen and a more confident me.

It is true what people say, the places you see are amazing, but it is the people that you meet that make the true difference.

From living in The Andes, backpacking Patagonia for a couple of weeks, boating to Uruguay, standing on the Equator, studying an active volcano in the Amazon jungle and hiking it, seeing rainbow mountains, Machu Picchu, and even crossing into Brasil through bus on a whim…I would have never imagined all that I have learned through these crazy adventures, but more importantly through the people I have met.

Now time to go back to the USA and finish off my last year of undergraduate before pursuing bigger things. I am beyond grateful for everything life has brought me and for the people who have brought me life.