Forestry might not be my calling, but this trip
definitely made me realize the beauty of the rainforests and their
biodiversity. Painting also might not be my thing, but it gave me a chance to
try to help people in a completely different walk of life. I did learn, though,
that I lOVE traveling. I love meeting new people and learning about a new
culture. Costa Rica is one country, but it opened my eyes to the world.
The one aspect that caught my attention,
however, was something that Adam asked on the second day of painting. “Do you
think that an extra layer of paint is going to help these kids?” and when I thought
about it, my answer was “no.” An extra layer of paint is not going to make sure
the kids stay in school nor is it going to ensure they will be successful. This
is my only regret about the trip. I feel pretty good about the community
service we completed by painting the school, but at the same time, I feel as
though there is something we could have done that would’ve been more
significant. Something that would leave lasting change. Who knows, maybe some
of us or even one of us will go back someday and do just that.
Junior Project. Those are the two words that planted
the idea of traveling to Costa Rica into my head. It may have started off as a
school project, but it became something more. I met many amazing people, some
Ticos, some Americans. I learned a lot about the rainforests, about Costa Rica,
and even about myself. Pura Vida. Those are the two words that will end this
essay and begin a new chapter in my life.
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