Global Leadership Adventures- Tanzania: Heart and Soul

This summer, I went to Tanzania with the program Global Leadership Adventures. I had never been out of the country before, and I was definitely very nervous. After the many hours of travelling to get there, about 20 other students and I arrived at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. Right away, the staff was welcoming and they were so excited to see us. Throughout my time there, my experience was so unique because everyday it felt like I learned something about myself. I felt so grateful and I was so happy every minute I was in Tanzania. Seeing the little children's faces light up when we walked into the classroom to teach them, and seeing how excited they would get when we taught them new words, was the most beautiful sight and feeling. I learned how much I really loved what I was doing, and what path I wanted to head down in my future. For the participants that are going to travel with Global Leadership Adventures, they should know that it is okay to be nervous, but that the staff that work for the organization are going to make you feel at home. There was not a day the whole time I was there I felt uncomfortable in the presence of any staff member. They made me feel like I was apart of this huge second family. The trip impacted my life in so many positive ways. When I came home, I had an overwhelming sense of thankfulness and happiness. The people in Tanzania taught my what happiness is, and it is not having a bunch of things and you should never be upset when you don't get what you want. They taught me that happiness is surrounding yourself with people that are positive, loving, and grateful. It also impacted my life so much because it made me realize the type of profession I want to be in my future. Next year, wherever I decide to go to college, I will be majoring in international studies so I can continue to learn about different cultures and travel the world. My main tip would be push yourself. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, because if I had not pushed myself out of mine, my life would not have been forever changed.