Pura Vida

My senior service learning trip to Costa Rica was an amazing experience for me personally. In Costa Rica I participated in adventurous activities that I thought I was never capable of doing.I learned so much about myself on this trip and I was truly amazing with the emotional transformation that I had. My road to Costa Rica wasn't a very nice one, I had to over come so many obstacles. First my parents were very unsettled with letting me leave the country without a guardian, which lead to a late decision. My parents finally decided that I could go but they sure made it hard for me. I had one requirement and that was that I had to fund raise my student contribution all on my own.And as if that wasn't an obstacle in itself I had less that two months to do it.And on top of that I had all these fears that I had to overcome. I mean I had a true test of my heart. In my heart I really wanted to go on this trip but in my mind I could only think about the negative. So I had a lot of stuff going on within myself before we even left for Costa Rica.But when I got to Costa Rica everything was worth it, all of the tears I shed, every sleepless night I had, every strand of grey hair, it was all worth it. It was so worth the amazing smiles of the children at the orphanage, it was worth it give them something that don't experience everyday, it was worth it to give them the attention that they not only needed but deserved. This trip was not only life changing it was heart changing every single experience I had truly touched the bottom of my heart. I mean to have I child that has been neglected by his parents trust you is truly mind boggling to me.To have a little boy kiss me on the cheek and say thank you is something that I will keep with me forever because I think that, that one moment might have changed my life. I wish every upcoming senior class all the luck in the world with their service learning trip because if their trip is only half of what mine was then they will be shaped into some of the worlds most amazing people. So I pass the torch to the class of 2010. May the Costa Rican Gods be with you. lol
Pura Vida
Isia Williamson