Throughout my life I have been fortunate enough to gain exposure to cultures such as those of France, Mexico, and China but never have I been immerged into a poverty-stricken environment like the one we’ll be visiting, and thinking about doing so greatly excites me. I do feel blessed to have had the luxuries of USC and my home growing up, but I believe that it will not be until I live in an under-resourced community that I will actually develop a different perspective and truly learn to appreciate the privilege of living in California instead of taking it for granted. All individuals in well-off communities should grasp opportunities like this but I know that many are too afraid of the culture shock or are too sheltered to feel the need to gain this exposure. I am just the opposite; I feel that this trip is the perfect opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone. Unlike my other traveling experiences, I want to be more than just a tourist and instead, contribute from what I’ve learned in school and the real world to instigate more sustainability in the Honduras community. Of course, I know that I will inevitably still be a “tourist” because along with contributing, I will definitely be gaining. This trip will allow me to grow, expand my vision, and gain new insight on the world, all of which are bonuses to what I’m initially seeking: the rewarding and humbling experience of contributing.