One of my greatest accomplishments

Many times when you decide to take on a challenge, you have people telling you that you can't do it or that the possibilities are very slim...and I think that because of this we get scared and then we don't take the risk of doing it.

One time this happened to me was last spring break when I decided I wanted to go to Guatemela with a group of my friends only 3 weeks in advance, with an expired passport, and a $0.00 account balance.

This event in my life is proof to me that ANYTHING I set my mind to, I can do with a little creativity and luck.

How did I do it?

Well, the Guatemala triumph, as I like to call it...

All started when my friend invited me and a group of others to stay at his house in Guatemala City, Guatemala, where we would be assured of room and board for the trip at least. My first reaction was to reject the idea because I am not one of those fortunate people who can travel any time I please. With a single mom and most of my college education being paid by the government, going on a trip to another country for only a week was a joke. But then I thought about it...

If I worked a certain amount of time and managed to recruit some funds from several aunts and uncles...this whole trip idea might be a faint possibility. But then there was the passport situation. Since I am not a U.S. citizen I would have to travel to Houston in order to renew my passport, and not only that, but I would also have to make an appointment which usually took 3 months to get approved. 

Here is where that little bit of luck played a part...my mom called the embassy nonstop for several days (because she too had been needing to get her passport renewed) and to make a long story short we got an appointment for the next week. I remember sitting in the Houston mall with my mom and my passport permit thinking I have 2 weeks...there is no way I can find the money that quickly. My mom laughed happily, feeling so sure that I would never be able to do it and venture myself into an unknown country with a reputation for danger. 

I did the math over and over again and there was that small possibility still biting at my stomach with anxiety. I even thought about going door to door, asking for a dollar. (50 doors per day for 2 weeks makes $707).

So, I closed my eyes and plunged into the adventure...my aunts and uncles all pitched in about $100-$300 dollars each, even my mom helped. I worked extra hours and in the end of the 2 weeks I was sitting on an airport chair next to my friends waiting to be called on board. 

From this experience I learned A LOT. Now, when I face a challenge I try not to let the FEAR intimidate me. I learned that if you want something bad enough...destiny will conspire in our favor.

o destino conspira a nosso favor