There are several things I've always wanted to do: I've always wanted to travel to a country I've never been to before, I've always wanted to travel in a way that wasn't a vacation, I've always wanted to try some sort of Spanish immersion program, and I've always wanted to do a Senior Project. Through our project, Las Chapinas, I was able to check off all of these boxes.
I really can't say enough about our time in Guatemala and our work with Hogar Temporal. I feel like my eyes have truly been opened; what I got out of this trip, more than anything, was perspective and a worldly awareness. I've never learned so much - in an academic and personal sense - in so little time before. Everyday now, I take a little bit of time to remember to be grateful for everything I have. I'm more determined than ever to give back. While I learned that working with small children isn't really the thing for me, I do know now that I really love tutoring kids and young women. Knowledge is power, and education is so important. I've always enjoyed tutoring at AGAPE, and I loved the day that I got to teach an English lesson at the shelter. I can really see myself signing up for Teach for America or the Peace Corps after college because of the wonderful experiences I had while doing this project.
I'm incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to complete this project. I know some people, at Lovett and in my own home, were nervous about sending me to a foreign country for such a long period of time, but it was so worth it. I've done what I had originally set out to do because of it; this trip made me a better global citizen, one much more involved and invested in the global community.
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