Week 2 of our LiA was the most insightful for my self-growth and also showed me most what it means to be in a team. The beginning of the week started with our usual check-ins where we all gathered and talked about the work we were planning. We got to meet our organization that we would be working with for the remainder of the trip and I was elated to hear about their mission for empowering the community through investment from foreigners---something that I strongly advocate for. I also got to see how everyday working people took time out of their work, family, and life to dedicate to their commuity. It grew my faith into the work that public service can achieve and how I can contribute to something larger than myself. 

The second, and most impactful part of the week for me, was when we embarked on our trip to Guatupe for the leadership camp. On Day 1 of the camp, we talked about identity and I learned about everyone´s personal stories and how they see themselves. I am usually someone who is very vocal, energetic, and passionate (sometimes too the point of annoyance) which usually means I struggle to realize why everyone is not the same. Hearing the stories of Ali´s passion for freedom or seeing Jani and Marco´s family mean so much to them showed me how similar we actually are. It showed how we all desire the freedom to live how we choose and how we just want to spend time with our friends and family whom we love. The way we go about it may differ and make us unique, though this is where I found the importance of embracing those differences, rather than avoiding them. 

Day 2 of Guatupe was the most important for me personally, and it was because of encountering La Piedra de El Peñol. The famed rock was a personal challenge for me after being diagnosed with a medical condition thats made my everyday life much harder. Climbing, excercising, and just walking has sometimes become very hard. I was very nervous the night before, and even left the campfire early because I struggled to take my mind off the climb. This 30 minute climb may not mean a lot to another 20 year old college student---for me it meant everything. It meant preserving my life and the rock signified the challenge of having my condition in my life´s purpose. I thought, "If I can´t even climb this rock, then how am I gonna march with the people?" It sounds trite and corny, but I believe that we often equate physical and mental health as intertwined. The day came and as I started my climb on the rock, the dizzying symptoms came full force. Then unexpectedly, the laughter of Marco or the banter between me, Ella, and Hannah occupied my headspace. The anxiety and symptoms started to disspiate quickly the more I entrenched myself in the laughter and conversation. Marco continued to make remarks about the height of the rock to instill fear into the acrophobics, Hannah and Ella. As I laughed and reached to the top, I realized how far I had made it. More than self-accomplishment, I felt gratitude to my team and friends. Without them, I realized the anxiety would have eaten me away. Like most things in life, nothing can be done alone. You will always need others and they come to your assistance when you expect it the least. I owe a big thank you to all of the team for helping me make my own climb and reaching the top.