When I am a grandma sitting on my back stairs drinking horse-bark rootbeer, I’ll think back fondly to this time and all of the wonderful moments shared. Warmest thank you to all those who made it possible especially my family and close friends. To my always supportive mom and pops, that you for teaching me to live life to its fullest. Thank you for instilling in me a love of… Read More

Putting into words how grateful I am for these past three months is a nearly impossible task. There are so many people I would like to thank for my time spent here in Central America. It seems fitting to start with Jason Sarouhan, my gap year counselor at The Center for Interim Programs. I remember calling you between classes last semester, feeling so lost about what I wanted to do… Read More

Packing the big orange backback I was to live out of for the next three months, I had no idea what was in store for me. I had no idea that the ten people I was about to meet at the airport were soon to become my family, that we would learn so much from each other, that the adventures we were about to embark on would be some of… Read More

Wow! The past three months have gone by in a flash. Four different countries, multiple cities, four plane rides, eleven amazing beautiful faces, and about fivty two gallo pintos later, we have finally reached the end. It is a bitter sweet day here on the stunning island of Roatan, Honduras. I owe so much of this amazing experience to my amazing group. Over the past few months you all have… Read More

This past semester has been nothing short of amazing. Everything from our arrival in Nicaragua where the group began to know one another, to working with the turtles in Costa Rica, exploring and trekking through Guatemala, and scuba in Roatan were every thing I expected and plenty more with a family that has grown so close together. I want to take this time to thank some magnificent people who made… Read More

This entire trip has been filled with fun and exciting memories that I will forever carry throughout my life and of course, this wouldn’t have been possible if it were not for the people in my life that helped me get here. I would like to take the time to give thanks and show appreciation to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today. For starters, I… Read More

  As I have embarked on this journey for the last 3 months, I think about the people who have got me to where I am right now.   I want to thank the Carpe Mundi program director Hansell Bourden, and the whole Carpe headquarters for adding me as part of the Carpe Diem family. I want to personally say thank you to Hansell for being such a huge support.… Read More

When I first was leaving for Carpe, I was kind of numb.  I couldn’t comprehend what I was about to do, or the impact it would have on me.  Once I got on the trip, it hit me how enormous it would be, but even then, I couldn’t imagine.  I’ve made new friendships, seen whole new worlds and ideas, and reforged myself.  It’s been such an amazing opportunity to have… Read More

Thank you mom! Your constant support of me is without fail.  You push me to push myself, but you’re still always there for me.  You make me feel like the luckiest son in the world. If it wasn’t for you I would of never had the strength or courage to embark on this journey.  You motivate me and I can’t help but brag to everyone about how freakin sweet of… Read More

Before I came on this trip, the world seemed like a pretty huge place.  There was so much to see, so much to do, and so much to wrap my head around.  My worldview was a patchwork of blank unknowns.  Coming on this trip, with its incredibly diverse schedule, seemed like it would help to fill in the white spaces on my map.  And seeing and doing the things we… Read More

Look out world, the kids are in charge! After weeks of researching, discussing and planning, we finally got to see our efforts pay off this past week during free travel. These days of student-directed travel have been several weeks in the making, and well worth the time we put into it. We made ourselves a busy itinerary. After waving goodbye to our contacts at G22, we caught a bus from… Read More