Traveling is quite possibly the only way one can discover the true abundance of opportunities that the world has to offer. No wonder why so many college-aged kids choose to go abroad for a semester or for shorter faculty-led trips. Some students don’t even travel with their schools at all, rather creating an individualized immersive experience for their own needs.

Regardless, travel is incredibly beneficial for developing minds and expanding one’s identity. Due to its nature that fosters independence, travelers become in touch with parts of themselves they had never known before and return to their home countries a changed person.

Volcán Poás

In February 2016, I traveled to Costa Rica with my high school biology class for almost two weeks. These two weeks peaked my interest in travel and my love for the environment. For such a small country, Costa Rica has a huge impact on "going green." One of the most noticeable changes for an American in the beautiful Central American country was the bathroom practices. In every public restroom that I went to, there were reminders to turn off the lights and to make sure that the water was not running to conserve energy and water. Though it may sound weird, they even have different routines for toilet paper! The “tee-pee” goes in the trash when you're done using it to keep the septic system cleaner and preventing any natural waste from getting stuck in the system.

It took a few days to get used to these things, but the changes were so easy to make that it inspired me to start practicing more environmentally friendly traditions in the United States. Recycling has become a daily habit for me and I encourage all of my friends to save their bottles for me to return at their expense. Every little change counts.

La Fortuna Waterfall

Traveling along the hilly-countryside and the tropical beaches also awoke the love of nature that I have had since I was a kid. My grandma taught me all of the different types of birds that we have in upstate New York. When I played outside in the woods in my backyard, I was able to pick out the different calls that rang all around me. Finding deer and bunny tracks were quite normal, but finding fox or raccoon tracks was like hitting the jackpot. Somewhere along my tumultuous teens, I became more enamored with the idea of moving to the concrete jungle: New York City. Like most teen girls, I wanted to find love amongst the tall buildings and an infinite number of coffee shops.

This was a dream of mine, all until I went to Costa Rica, when I was brought back to my roots.

View from Café y Macadamia

I had never experienced so much green. Not even in my childhood room that I had picked an awful mint-green for, not in the pines that filled the coniferous forests in New York, and not in the miles of farm fields I drove by on my way to my high school. We hiked in rainforests that were complete with toucans, red macaws, and all. They were quite possibly the most magical places that I have ever explored. I thought of my grandma and how she would have loved to hear the almost frog-like sound of the toucan call. I thought of the pines and how their height could not compare to the ancient rainforests’ massive trees. I was brought back to my youth, and suddenly I was hooked on getting outdoors.

Pacific Coast sunset on one of our last nights

When I traveled to Costa Rica with my high school for almost two weeks, I was brought to a state of happiness that I hadn’t had since childhood. My experience in Costa Rica was one that I will carry with me forever. It arguably changed my view of environmentalism in the United States, made me appreciate the opportunities that I have had, and started my passion for being in the outdoors. Without this experience, I may have never discovered my love for hiking, backpacking or travel.

Since exploring Costa Rica, I have many more plans to travel. After reading my life-changing experience, I ask you: where will you go?