Emma’s Three Month Volunteer Work Trip to South America

Wow, 2020 was a tough year! It was a year that challenged the entire world to adapt quickly to an ever changing environment. This last year has also been a year of losses. My grandpa passed away due to COVID-19 with travel restrictions preventing us from being with him. I also lost a very close friend, Jaden, in a tragic accident.

As a Class of 2020 High School graduate, I spent the last few months of my senior year in a virtual learning environment. We held a graduation ceremony with no extended family or friends present. Although non traditional and sad for my family and me, it wasn’t unique to my family or high school.

My big college experience, albeit at a fantastic school in a beautiful state, was anything but traditional as well. The U.S. felt like a “foreign” country to me having grown up overseas in support of our military and, because COVID-19 was still prevalent, our classes were mainly held in a virtual setting. While this quickly became the norm for everyone who carried on and made the most of it, the constant feeling of being out of place, the separation from other students and the community, and the overall isolation really affected my mental health. I felt more alone than ever and missed my family tremendously, so much so that I decided to return to Spain for my second semester where I continued my classes virtually at home, surrounded by family.

I am returning to my college studies next year, but in the meantime, I have decided now is a good time to 'pay it forward'. The events in the last 18 months have made me reflect on so many things in life, including no matter how tough things seem in my life, others are living the same struggles around the world and some even worse off with the constant, everyday struggles endured in countries less fortunate than ours.

I truly began to recognize the troubled world around us with the passing of Jaden. She lived life with purpose and volunteering was a passion of hers. The LiveLikeJaden movement has made me realize I NEED a pause in my life, to put my troubles aside and serve those in need. That said, I will be volunteering for a month each in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru teaching English and volunteering in hospital and rehab environments to assist children with disabilities. Afterwards , I’ll return to Spain and continue working to replenish my bank account in an effort to volunteer in Africa - specifically, Uganda - a country Jaden was passionate about spending time in to help!

Ultimately, I am asking for donations to help me bring this service trip to fruition. Any amount you are able to donate, big or small, is greatly appreciated! I will continue to keep everyone updated on my efforts and our progress. Life is short, but life is sweet! Let’s try and share the sweetness. #LiveLikeJaden #LLJ