Over the course of the last few weeks, I have experienced multiple adventures walking both up and down various hills and mountains throughout Greece. Now, those of you who know me know that I do not like cardio. At all. You might get me to do a fast walk, but climbing and running? Nah. I started preparing for just this kind of situation some six months back by losing a significant amount of weight and getting in better shape. I’ve been happy to find that while these treks can be strenuous  and challenging, they were not impossible. Six months ago, I would have looked at these mountains and flat out told myself I couldn’t do it. I would have said it was impossible and I would have given up before I had even started. But ya know what? I’m not that person anymore. Through the motivation and support of new friends I’ve made (as well as the mandatory aspect of some...

Sometimes the things in life that bring us the most joy, are the simplest ones — the things we fail to acknowledge in the craziness of our nonstop, daily schedules. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This past week, I think I came a little closer to finding myself. While study abroad programs often provide incredible opportunities for learning and traveling, the real experience isn’t found inside of a book or on a sunny beach or even at a historical site visit. The true study abroad experience is found beyond the classroom, in the heart of the often difficult realities that exist around us as we carry on with our daily lives. CYA’s encouragement of students to partake in volunteer work while studying abroad provides individuals with these real-world encounters, which often involve the devotion...