It has been amazing to write to all of you!
Traveling abroad to Chile, I think, has been one of the most important things I have ever done in my life, which I am sure is a feeling shared by many people who have had the opportunity to travel. However, I simply must emphasize for those who feel and felt (myself included) that travel is simply impossible due to the life circumstances they may be facing, that the the Gilman Scholarship is an amazing and genuinely helpful way to fund your travel dreams while also being able gather credits for your undergraduate college degree.
I believe now, more than ever, that you should take any chance you can to travel, especially to places that you have been told to simply avoid out of fear or that things would just be too different to acclimate to. I learned that differences are good. They are things you can grow from! You can become a more whole person from your experiences, and that is going to lead you to becoming someone that people feel they can confide in. It makes you a better friend, and it makes you a person who is able to see the whole picture when making decisions that can make a difference with the whole world.
My experience when it comes to traveling is probably not like most people. I am a very shy, anxious person.
