HAVE you ever had an opportunity to cross your path that you simply couldn’t pass up or you second guessed yourself about submitting an application because you thought you would never have a chance at being selected  as a participant?   Well I have and the ODDS were forever in my favor!  I was selected through thousands of applicants to attend Project Belize in July 2013 through my awesome Firm, www.pwc.com.   Of course, I had that one mentor/co-worker that helped push me along the way to encourage me that this would be a perfect opportunity for me.  I did doubt myself that this wasn’t for me, or I wouldn’t know what to do once I got over there.  But, all I could think about in the end was the fact that I was going to travel across the world to make a difference in a child’s life, and I did just that.

So what is Project Belize you may ask?  Well, 400 PwC Staff travel to Belize over a 2 week span to teach financial literacy, life skills, leadership and career planning to Belizean youth to help prepare them for their future.

So… are you ready to embark on my journey with me? 

This was my first time traveling out of the US.  My Journey to Belize begins…

 Yay!!  My first stamp in my passport 🙂

  Here we go!

  This was home for the next 4 days!

   Streets of Belize

This is my school!  Meet Queens Square.

  This is my classroom.  No AC and lots of heat from outside kept me company for the duration of my stay. 

  But, we stayed hydrated with these cool water pouches!  Meet Intern Dave, another instructor in the classroom.

  Meet my AWESOME kids! 

Throughout the course of 3 days, the youth learned how to budget, build a business plan and the importance of being a leader. 

So what has this journey shown me?  What is my story that I bring back to share with each of you?  Why is it a chance of a lifetime?…

Separated by distance, but know we will always be connected

Taking  a walk in someone else’s shoes for the first time

Constant reminder of #hope #change  #Belize #onceinalifetime #finlit #pwc #impact  #beingthedifference  #projectbelize2013

How you can impact others in just a few short days

Experiencing a piece of home for the first time ( a co-worker made pecan cookies, this was the first time, they have ever had a pecan)

Hugs of kindness

A kind gester from a stranger brings so much joy to their lives with just a piece of chewing gum

These kids were teaching me the whole time I was there

I didn’t realize the impact that these kids had on me until my flight home.  I was flipping through my phone and was looking at all the pictures I had taken over the course of my stay.  When I was no longer surrounded by the abundance of hugs and the echos of them calling me “Miss”, I felt a tear roll down my cheek.  They have made a home in my heart.  I think about these kids every day and I know that PwC and I definitely made a difference in their lives.

 The most ironic part of my journey was meeting these two sisters with the same last name as me.  Some would call it chance, others call it coincidence , but I call it FATE!

So my ask of you is this… the next time you are hesitate about chasing your dreams,  think about the outcome!  Sometimes, all you need to do is take a chance in life for an opportunity of a lifetime!

Do you have a chance of a lifetime story to share?  I would love to hear all about it!