Hace Quince Años...

Fifteen years ago my service learning began as did my personal transformation. I was lost, lonely, confused, and wanted to know why.  What was the point?  What was life for?  How could I possibly have so much, everything, more than everything, but still not be happy?  How was everyone else happier than me?  


I never really liked Spanish in school.  In fact, I remember begging and trying my powers of persuasion on both parents to get them to let me drop the class.  You know, if the first says no, go to the second one, that sort of thing.  Luckily, they both stood their ground.


I distinctly remember, being 16 years old, a sophomore in high school, and a cool teacher and college student coming to talk about this Amigos program.  She was so strong, confident, mature, funny, happy.  This college student appeared to be who I had wanted to be all these years.  So, like any other 16 year-old I went home and asked my mom to sign a form.  About 4 months later, I asked her to drive me to boston form my first official Amigos De Las Americas training.  She responds, "Why are we going to Boston?"
Aghast, I replied, "Don't you remember, I'm going to live in a barn in Mexico for the summer, you singed the form?!?" 


And so the journey began...