Pre-Departure

It’s that time! As I begin to pack my bags for the Dominican Republic I can’t help but feel a little nervous leaving the only home I’ve ever known. It’s bittersweet. But to say I’m excited is an understatement. I believe every person’s life has a calling and in the time I’ve taken to prepare for this trip, I have somewhat figured out what my specific calling is, to basically help people and impact their lives in a positive way. I knew I made the right decision when I decided to do study abroad with CIEE.

This summer I chose to Promote Children’s Rights and Education in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I specifically chose this program because I loved the location and the fact that it involved children. My hope for this trip is to impact a child's life. The growth and development of a child is important and I want to teach them things that I had to learn as I grew up that will benefit them. My family, friends and a few teachers from school tell me that what I’m doing and what I want to continue doing is amazing. Nowadays, many people sit back and just let these consistent issues stay issues instead of wanting to be hands-on and change them. They consider me someone who wants to change the world or at least make a step into doing so. I constantly hear that they are proud of me and it honestly makes me feel so good and gives me the reassurance that I can do something great in our world.

In the few months, we had to prepare for this trip, I thought about how I would adjust to living in a different country. I’m not gonna lie, it is nerve-wracking, but as it started to hit me that I was really going, I couldn’t contain my excitement. There is only so much you can prepare for and now I’m ready to be surprised. Traveling far away from home to dive myself into a different language and culture is as frightening as it is captivating.