I am young (merely 18 years old), and particularly unexperienced. My sophomore year in high school, I decided to go out on a limb and spend my savings on an exchange trip to Germany, where we also visited Switzerland and France. (This savings also included money that I received from friends and family, and I would not have been able to make it to Germany without the help from all who donated!)This was, hands down, the best and most eye opening experience I have had so far in my short life. I can honestly say my views upon the world changed drastically in those 3 weeks that I spent living with a host family and studying German culture. You may be wondering why should you consider donating to me, considering I have already traveled further than most people my age. My main goal for the future, is to gain knowledge to help people around me. One thing I care a great amount about, is the environment. The breathtaking nature that engulfs our world. Taking care of the earth is something that is extremely important to me, and I would hope, is important to most people who inhabit it. As a part of my educational journey, I would like to do a research internship for biology, to help me to determine what is right for me and my education. Even if I would not continue with biology as my major, this trip would still be a wonderful experience for me, considering my love for the environment! A second journey that would greatly help my education would be a study abroad opportunity through my college (UW La Crosse) to study abroad for a year in Germany, where I would also have the opportunity to travel elsewhere throughout Europe. This would help me greatly with my German speaking skills, considering I would like to minor in Germany. This might also help me to decide if I would like to take one step further with my language, and consider a major that would be intertwined with international studies. Since I had traveled to Germany my sophomore year in high school, I knew that traveling would become an important part of who I was as an individual, and as a part of how I could give back to the world. I believe that these two trips would help me greatly to create myself, but to help me to give back to those who have helped me. Maybe even on a larger scale, help those truly in need somewhere in the world. Thank you for your time and consideration!