After graduating from high school, it was clear to me that I would take a gap year. My time abroad in Indonesia had left me hungry to see more of the world, learn new languages, and experience other cultures. Peru was one of those countries that—though I can't quite explain why—had been on my mental map for a long time.

Through my student exchange organization, I met many people who had stayed in Latin America. And as much as I loved Asia, hearing their stories made me jealous—I wanted to see and experience those things too. So, my destination was set.

There are many organizations that, for a fee, will place you in volunteer work abroad. But paying to work didn’t sit right with me. I began searching for alternatives. Eventually, it was my mother who pointed me toward a group of missionary nuns in our hometown. I contacted them—and yes, they had a convent in Peru.

Together with a friend from school, I worked all summer (in a call center—an experience in itself) to save up for the plane ticket. By the end of summer, we were ready to embark on our first journey to the American continent: to work on a mission with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart.