Youth Voices: End of a Chapter

The last week and three days. It's a shocking feeling that this chapter of my life is coming to a close. All the stories and all the smiles that happened in Costa Rica, will be a memory or a photo in my gallery. Bitter sweet. I enjoyed my time here, the people I met and the things I learned but it is time for a new chapter. My Costa Rican chapter isn't the only one that's closing, my college one is also. Two weeks after I come back to the States I will be a college graduate!! Two life changing experiences are ending at the same time, crazy to say out loud. Experiencing this is crazy, but it is my reality! I am beyond grateful and blessed to be able to experience everything that I have so far in my 21 years of life.

Before coming to Costa Rica, I felt too old, unqualified, uneducated, and overall out of place. But being here made me see everyone is at different stages at IICA, most of the interns here are 25+, with only some being below that, I am still one of the youngest however lol. But they are still in school or pursuing different careers. Seeing others doing great and fulfilling the same doubt and questions that I have ensured me that you might see what a person is driving but you are all on the same road of life.

Being part of the World Food Prize also made me feel out of place because I am the oldest in the 2024 group and the only one finishing college, while everyone else is still in college, in high school, or just starting college. It made me feel like I was taking opportunities from others. But that is not the case at all...[CONTINUE READING]