Stepping back onto American soil after my time in South America, I realized almost immediately that I returned as a changed person. More than anything, the travel bug has officially bitten me. Prior to this trip, the world outside the United States felt abstract, but now, my eyes have been opened to the pure wonder of global exploration. I find myself constantly looking forward to the future, eager for the day when I have the time and financial independence to immerse myself in even more cultures and witness different ways of life across the globe.
This journey also profoundly shifted my worldview and reshaped my perspective on my own country. It is easy to look at the United States and focus entirely on its flaws, but seeing the daily realities in South America firsthand gave me a deep, newfound sense of gratitude for what we have. Learning about Peru’s immense political instability, where government corruption runs rampant from top to bottom and leadership shifts almost annually, made me realize how difficult it is for a society to progress under those conditions. Because of this, my daily outlook on our own government operations has fundamentally changed; I have a much greater appreciation for our public systems and the infrastructure that does work correctly and reliably.
On a cultural level, I loved experiencing the different rhythms of daily life, like how communities in South America start their days later and stay out socializing well into the night. It made me appreciate a less rigid, more vibrant approach to time. My transformation has even rippled out to my family. Seeing how much I grew from this experience has made them incredibly excited for me, and it has actually inspired them to want to stamp their own passports and travel outside the country too. Ultimately, this trip didn’t just change how I view the world—it changed how I view my future.