Matti Guillette

         I was lucky enough to travel to Costa Rica to intern for an organization called Natures and Oceans of America. I traveled to different regions of Costa Rica and studied Sea Turtles, Marine Ecology, and Rainforest Ecology. During the six weeks that I spent in Costa Rica, I volunteered at Sea Turtle projects and participated in night patrols on the beach. I studied the rainforest (in the rainforest.) I volunteered on a permaculture farm owned by an indigenous family and taught science classes at the local Elementary school. Planning and executing a lesson in another language was certainly one of the most challenging projects that I was given during my internship. Going into LINK, I had an open mind and I was so excited for the memories that I was about to make. This open mindedness guided me though the difficult process of becoming accustomed to a culture that is different from your own. The most important skills that I learned in Costa Rica is to be comfortable with solitude and to be courageous enough to try new things with an open heart. I expected to be around more students and to have the ability to socialize. But unfortunately, I only saw people my own age once during my internship. Without the ability to communicate the way that I wanted to on top of not having anyone in my age group was incredible lonely. Being in another country that you're not familiar with can be isolating. I came out of Link with a better understanding of myself and I was so much more comfortable being alone. This trip completely shaped the way that I see my future. Even though this experience was challenging, it was riveting to experience something outside of myself. I wasn't doing this solely for my own personal growth, but to help something even bigger in the process. My passion for the ocean and for exploration has only grown stronger and I can't wait to see where the future takes me. My LINK internship absolutely changed my life.