Tell us about something that has fundamentally transformed the way you think.

Growing up I understood community service to mean giving something—clothes, food, or money—to those without. With a desire to help others, at age 15, I went on a summer service trip to Chile to build a community center. The structure we were building would become a space where children and adults could gain basic literacy, simple business arithmetic and marketable skills. It also would help spur economic activity as an arena for selling crafts.

Beyond the construction site, through living and working with the villagers, I forged a bond with their community. Over cuy (guinea pig) we discussed the possibility of education opening doors and how new skills could build a different future. The more we talked, the more clearly they could envision change. And, the clearer they could see the future, the more hopeful they became.

By my trip’s end, my understanding of community service had fundamentally changed. I realized that the ultimate gift for anyone in need is hope. Without it, a community center is just concrete and steel. This mission of spreading hope is a driving motivator in my life today as I look to transition to a career in the nonprofit world.