My experience in On the River: Experiencing the Brazilian Amazon was a hands-on way to learn about the Amazon and the people who live there. I traveled along the river, explored the rainforest, and saw a lot of different plants and animals. I also learned about how local communities depend on the environment and how their daily lives are connected to the river. I had the chance to observe wildlife up close and better understand how diverse and complex the ecosystem is.

This experience helped me understand how important the Amazon is, not just for Brazil but for the whole world. I saw how issues like deforestation and climate change are affecting the area, which made everything feel more real than just learning about it in class. It also showed me how these problems can impact both nature and people at the same time.

It also changed how I think about being a Global Citizen Scholar. I realized it means being aware of global issues, respecting different cultures, and thinking about how my actions can have an impact. Overall, this experience made me more interested in protecting the environment and understanding different ways of life, and it encouraged me to stay more informed about global environmental challenges.