A decade ago, I found myself not falling, but instead rising to love. I met beautiful new friends that instantly made me feel as if I had found my home. It was the most exciting, exhilarating, and magical experience I have encountered thus far. I was inspired to make a pledge to ensure an education to every child raised in this village, and not long after did I realize that my purpose here would extend far greater than that. The journey that I have been on since 2006 has been a requisite for personal growth beyond my greatest expectations. I have come to know that any change one seeks to see, must be embodied within ourselves first. It has been the greatest challenge and most rewarding experience to work on my inner development alongside my friends in Sierra Leone.