I was asked the question, what did my trip to Ethiopia with the
Cunningham’s do to my life? Well I am going to keep this short and simple, because I don’t want to keep you here all day. Four words can sum up my whole trip, it changed my life. Let me give you a quick description of me BEFORE I went to Africa. Since I am very blunt, I am going to be completely honest with you. I was a spoiled 18 year old that only cared about becoming rich. Typically, I would only work with
community service organizations because it looked better on my resume and made me look good. I didn’t have a great relationship with my family because I thought that no matter what anyone else said, I was always right. I was the typical, stuck up and disrespectful teenager.

Now we will go over what I turned into AFTER my trip to Africa. First, I saw some things that I never imagined existed and I can’t even describe in words in this reflection. I was so caught up in my life in America, it was pretty much a bubble and I didn’t see anything outside of its four walls. All of these heart-wrenching
experiences took a toll on me emotionally. Most people don’t think I am emotional whatsoever because I am the typical guy (6’1. 185 pounds. Love sports. Not allowed to cry without getting made fun of.) To be honest, I probably cried more than any other person there. I even cried more than the girls. The other thing that I loved there was the love, that was spread by everyone. I always over analyze situations and therefore I am very depressed every so often. So in America, I was emotionally exhausted with all the drama that was happening, but when I was in Ethiopia, none of that existed. I was only there for two weeks, and I made some of the best friends I have ever had. I wasn’t their race, from their country, and we didn’t even speak the same language, yet they treated me like I was their brother. My friends would always give me hugs, want to hold my hand, want me to read with them, or play sports with them. It was the sweetest thing I have ever witnessed. I miss so many of my friends that I met throughout my trip, and I am going back to Ethiopia, it isn’t an option.

Now that I’m back in America, everyone including myself can notice a drastic change in me. My whole life has changed. Starting with my personal characteristics, I am much more genuine, emotional, respectful, and no longer the typical teenager. My relationship with my family is much better and they don’t even think I am the same person as I was before my trip. They keep asking, “What happened to my son?” Next, my career choices have changed completely. I no longer care about making the most money possible. Now, I care what is best for my family and plus I want to keep donating money to Project Mercy. Even several months after the trip is over, I am still brainstorming ideas on how we can raise more money for my friends in Africa.
But the most important change to me is my overall happiness. I have never been so happy in my entire life. Even when I start to get in a depressed mood, I just look back at my memories in Ethiopia and my pictures. I am still on withdrawal from our trip; I at least look at my pictures at least twice a week. Even though it is kind of cliché to say this, it sums up my entire trip, it changed my life. Thank you so much to the Cunningham’s for all their hard work and their belief in me. I love them so much; they are now part of my family. None of this would be possible without them, and I am so grateful that they believed in me and brought me to Project Mercy. The Cunningham’s and Ethiopia changed my life.