Life is too short to be fearful

In two more months I’ll be taking a deep breath, smiling big, and putting my right foot forward as I step on an 11 hour plane ride by myself to fly to Ghana, Africa as I embark on an adventure of a lifetime.  It seems so surreal, yet with every day I keep getting more and more eager and excited for the experience to begin. This week, I recieved the shots required for traveling to Ghana, and I think that made it a little bit more real for me! I’ve never traveled anywhere by myself, but this is something I am really excited to do. Lately, I’ve really been focused on trying to try new things and feel strongly that life is too short to be fearful. I think it’s really important that everyone tries to stretch themselves out of their comfort zones and try achieving things he/she hasn’t tried before, or thought were impossible. It’s such a great feeling overcoming a fear, or better yet, achieving a life long goal.

Going to Africa has truly been a dream of mine. I always thought of doing it, but never knew if it was possible, when I’d go, or where to begin. After seeing so many of my friends visit different parts of Africa and return with such amazing stories, it was hard not to be as inspired as  I was. It took a few months of research, but I was able to find a volunteer organization I feel really confident in. I couldn’t be more excited to have an opportunity to work with children of Ghana. I want to see what life is like for them, where they live, what routines they have, where they come from, and explore with them the different emotions they feel living in an orphanage. The children of Africa have been posted in ads, pictures in commercials, and now I’ll have the chance for three weeks to sit and talk to them face to face. I’ll get the chance to hear their stories, learn their music, learn about thier lives- and I can’t wait.