Hello, my name is Melinda. I am 19 years old, I study criminal justice as a sophomore in college, and I belong to many volunteer organizations. I have always had a passion for working to better my community and help improve the lives of those around me. I have volunteered in many organizations in the past (including search and rescue, my local food bank, Mason County Resources, and more). But this spring will be my biggest challenge yet. This spring I will proudly travel with Rustic Pathways as a volunteer, a life time learner and an open minded individual. I will be taking a study and service semester in Asia, where I will be making a difference in our global community. This program consists of volunteering in orphanages and schools. We will be tutoring students in english, empowering young men and women with an education that will set the platform to better their future. We will also work on community health programs consisting of clean water initiatives. And to top it off, we will be traveling to multiple rural villages and assisting in projects that best suit their needs. We will study the root of written language and some of the biggest religions including Hinduism and Buddhism, and for 3 months we will live along side locals, learning about their culture and life style. I look forward to becoming a globally influenced individual, with both a lot to learn as well as much to offer. I am blessed to have such an amazing opportunity to grow as a person and make a dynamic difference in the world, and I thank you for your generous donations no matter how small, as you help me reach my dream of making the world a better place.