Five years ago I went on a life-changing trip to Kenya. We went on this service trip with a big group of friends and people we didn't know, sponsored by the nonprofit organization ME to WE. When we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, the thing I instantly thought was this city looks very modern.  However, outside the city, we encountered mud houses, suffering and unhealthy people, and unclean drinking water. I was pretty young at this time and had never thought about how lucky I was to live where I live and have the conveniences I have. We traveled to a camp in a rural part of the country. Something  I remember was employees of the camp saying, “In the morning there will be someone to put wood in your furnace to heat the water.”  My first reaction was: “They burn wood to heat up the water?” I was too young to understand that at home, we had water that heated up when we wanted, but here, they needed to heat it themselves. Throughout our lives, we all use water, food, electricity, and daily necessities that we likely take for granted. Now imagine if the water you used day to day wasn't clean, having regular, convenient food was rare, and you didn't have the necessities you used daily. Because of this trip, I realized some of the things I take for granted, some people don't have access to. 

On the trip, we helped to build a school so that children could have access to more education so that eventually they would have more access to some of the advantages I already have. After realizing all the amazing things that I had access to that some people didn't, I wanted to do something about it. To take the initiative about the problem at hand, I decided to make a Go Fund Me, so that ME to WE could build more schools. I ended up raising over 3,000 dollars that went directly to this effort. 

Something else I have been more considerate about is when I use water. Now if I am doing dishes or brushing my teeth, I always make sure to turn off the water. Additionally, I always think about whether I need something or just want something. Sometimes I might want something or think I need something but I stop to think, “Do I need this?” If my answer is no, then I think about it for a week, and if I decide I still want it I will spend my money on it. There are also situations where I need something. For example, I know that I don't have to travel to Kenya again to help those with food insecurity. People living near me in Fairfield County have similar needs.  I will say throughout the 4 years that it has been since I was in Kenya I have grown a larger appreciation for the things I have, and as I said it always causes me to ask myself, “Do I need this or do I want this?” I think that experience helped me become a better person and it helped me realize to be grateful for what I have and how lucky I am to have things others do not.