LAB: It's time to rise up

Scratch that this is not a moment, it's the movement

Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went?

Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand

- Hamilton, Lin Manuel

Hotel Balcony

Butterfly Garden

Catarata La Fortuna

Swimming in La Fortuna

Downstream From La Fortuna

The river was full of trout @Paul, I could almost catch one with my bare hands. I love rivers.

Red Ginger? I'm not sure

Can you help me out? @Ray @Kim

A Giant Leaf

Google Images told me this was a "tree".

Lake Arenal

Arena means sand btw.

Ziplining

Ziplining was invented in Costa Rica by Donald Perry, a graduate student at California State University, Northridge. He was a biologist that wanted to get around the forest canopy at night without running into dangerous animals.

Rest Stop

We traveled from Fortuna to Quepos which is on the west coast. I tried a coconut no bake bar; it tasted really good, but it took a long time to chew.

Three Toed Sloth

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is the second most visited park in Costa Rica. We saw a few sloths along the way 🦥.

Swimming in the cove

It started pouring rain. I think it was the first time I've swam in the ocean with rain. I laid back and let the water fall. It was purifying 😌.

Iguana

He was chill.

American Alligator

The five kilometers closest to the ocean are full of different types of alligators and Caymans. 

Tarcoles River?

I actually don't know what river we were on, but this one showed a lot of crocodile tours on google maps.

Macaw

12 Steps to wash your hands

Of course, I have to end the trip with a picture of a bathroom sign. I thought this one was funny because I imagined trying to follow along with all these steps while washing my hands 😂😂. Apparently, I'm supposed to leave the water running while I dry my hands.

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As I wrap up this trip, I've been reflecting on experiences I had during my childhood. 

In 7th or 8th grade, I got a flyer at school about a study abroad trip to Costa Rica or something like that. I was really excited about the idea of traveling somewhere, although to be honest, I don't think I had a clue what country I was going to or where it was. Rightly so, my mom told me I couldn't go. Or perhaps she said "maybe" and hoped I would forget about the trip at some point.

Spring of my senior year of high school, I was told I couldn't be valedictorian because I hadn't taken three years of Spanish. Can you find the irony?

Most people have had similar experiences: times when we were told no, excluded, or not taken seriously. Those moments are important because they create goalposts in our minds; milestones that need to be reached. I've hit a few of those milestones this year. As I look to the future, I've set new goals and aspirations to work towards. I can't wait to get started and see what the future holds.