I'm really excited to be participating in the Global Student Embassy trip to Ecuador this June! This program takes students from the US down to Ecuador to work with high school students there. While we are there, we will work with them on projects they have initiated in their community, such as reforestation, recycling, water scarcity, organic agriculture, and climate change. I'll be going with about 20 other kids from my high school, and we'll be there for 12 days.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn about environmental issues, to work with the Ecuadorian students and to improve my Spanish skills. I'll be taking Spanish at school this semester to help prepare me for the experience.

I'm going to be looking for a part-time job as soon as I turn 15 on Jan. 22nd, so I can pay for half of the trip myself. At the same time, I would appreciate any help toward raising the entire amount.