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Alumni Spotlight: Molly Williams

Program:
VISIONS: Peru High School Service Program

Photos

group photo in mountains woman with three small children woman sitting on rock in mountains

Molly is a 16-year-old lover of adventures, from finding new experiences at home in Michigan to embarking on international service trips.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose VISIONS because I liked the way they presented themselves: NOT as a teen tour.

I wanted an authentic experience and an opportunity to see a country as more than a tourist. VISIONS is very focused on respect for the culture of the native people, no matter the location.

I liked that I knew I would be able to give back to the country through service while also getting a taste of the culture, food, and natural beauty that makes Peru special.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

VISIONS helped every step of the way. Tuition cost covers all meals, in-country transportation, lodging, park passes and more.

The only thing we were responsible for was buying flight tickets, which were organized by VISIONS' travel agent. They even gave us the contact information of other participants that would be on the same flights so we could meet up at the airport.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would encourage anyone going on this trip to remember to appreciate the little moments. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement of seeing Machu Picchu or exploring the streets, but the memories that mean the most to me are the ones that were seemingly insignificant at the time.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

A typical day (excluding the weekend trip to Machu Picchu) included waking up early for a breakfast cooked by you or your peers, then the group split for service until mid-afternoon. The rest of the day was spent on short hikes or attending workshops, with great evening activities too.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Going into this trip, my biggest fear was that I wouldn't like the other teens in the group, or wouldn't have anyone to talk to. The second we all met at the Lima airport I realized I shouldn't have worried.

It was the most interesting mix of people I have ever had the privilege of getting to know. Despite totally different ages and backgrounds, our conversations were always interesting and having so many different people and new friends made every adventure much more special.

Would you recommend this trip to a friend?

I would absolutely recommend traveling with VISIONS to a friend. Everything was so well organized and I couldn't have had a better experience.