For most of my life I have been seen by others, that don’t really know me, as a quiet person. This causes people to think that I am not an outgoing person. But around family and friends I am very talkative and social. This past summer I had an opportunity to step outside of my comfort area by going to Santiago, Chile.


I had mentioned it to my Dad thinking that he would probably just say no but to my surprise he thought it was a good idea. This excited me and I was thinking that we would go as a family but my dad surprised me again saying that he had talked to some of his friends down there and they would be happy to have me. So on July 1 I left San Diego for Santiago by myself to stay with a family that I had never met. I was kind of nervous before I got there but after a few days I felt comfortable with the family. I went to school with one of their kids and became very good friends with the kids there. It was the best experience of my life.