As a kid I wasn’t exactly meek, but I lacked the confidence in myself to project my true identity. Once I started the transition to adulthood, it became clear to me that I couldn’t get anywhere in life without believing in myself. Because if I didn’t, who else would?

Programs through Rustic Pathways presented an opportunity for me to gain what I needed while helping others receive what they needed. Here, I found a purpose. One I hope to pursue everyday in my life. I believe that transformative travel is the only reason I have even a slight idea of what I want to keep pushing towards everyday. I believe that my true fulfillment lies in the fulfillment of others. To realize this, I had to put myself into my “un-comfort” zone. I am all the better for it.

I was scared. After all, the start to any adventure can be scary, not to mention one that begins on the other side of the world. First, I had to realize my privilege and all that comes with it. I am not defensive when it comes to this. I realize that I am in a rather solid and comfortable place, I will face less challenges in my entire life than some encounter every day. That’s ok. What I needed to recognize is that I am in a unique position to use my privilege to help others. I am of able body and able mind to commit to helping others all the while bettering myself.

First I sought this out in Peru. With my group, I traveled to the village of Huilloc Alto to assist in the construction of a school. At first, you don’t quite grasp what being 15,000 feet above sea level does to your body when you are not used to it. I was rudely awakened to find that taking three steps had me winded beyond belief. But it didn’t matter. I was there for a purpose that I was committed to seeing it through.

On this project I pushed myself harder than I ever had before, harder than I believed I could. In exchange for my service, I was welcomed into the village by some of the most amazing people I have ever met. They welcomed strangers into their homes with a kindness and a love I can only hope to replicate. My service in Peru taught me to persevere with a strength I had no idea I possessed. A kind of confidence that would last me for years to come.

My next adventure brought me to the Dominican Republic. Having previously traveled with Rustic Pathways, I assumed that I knew exactly what I would take away from this trip. I believed that I knew what to expect and that I knew how to handle it. But I was wrong.

This project brought with it new personal challenges. Both physical and mental. I was once again ejected from my comfort zone and into a place of true growth. I needed it. A completely different project in a completely different place. And once again I was able to push myself further than I ever thought possible.

During my last trip I was a senior in high school, expected to be able to decide my future with little life experience. That’s a hard thing to ask of a seventeen year old. My time with Rustic Pathways allowed me to gain a new perspective on my life.

Yes I am still unsure about where life will take me, but I have learned enough about myself to put myself into a career where I can work towards the service of others. And I know that I can handle any twists and turns that are thrown at me, with a smile on my face. Without these projects I would have never known what I was capable of. I would have never met the real me.

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Learn more about Rustic Pathways programs in Peru and the Dominican Republic, or view more Alumni Stories here.