“The best journeys are not measured by the places you visit, but by the people who become part of your story.”
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries and experience different cultures, communities, and ways of life. Every journey leaves something behind: a lesson, a friendship, a memory, or sometimes a completely different perspective on the world.
In March 2025, I had the privilege of joining a group of 17 students and faculty members from Ursuline College on a 12-day service-learning journey to Nepal. It was my first time visiting the country, and while I was excited to explore a new destination, I quickly realized that this experience would not be defined by the places we visited.
It would be defined by the people we met.
Through my work with United Planet, I had spent years helping share stories of volunteer experiences around the world. I understood the logistics, the planning, and the mission behind these journeys. But being on the ground reminded me that no article, photo, or video can fully capture the feeling of being present in a community and forming genuine human connections.
This journey was not about what we could give.
It was about what we could learn from each other.
Finding Connection Through Art
One of the most meaningful parts of our time in Nepal was working with children and youth through art therapy activities.
At first, I wondered how we would connect. We came from different countries, spoke different languages, and had completely different life experiences. But within minutes, those differences started to disappear.
Art became our common language.
A paintbrush, a bracelet, a drawing, or a simple game was enough to create a connection. We did not need perfect words. We did not need long conversations. Sometimes a smile, a laugh, or a child proudly showing us their artwork said everything.
There is something powerful about creativity. It allows people to express emotions that are sometimes difficult to communicate. For children who have experienced hardship, art can create a safe space where they feel seen, valued, and free to express themselves.
During our time in Nepal, we worked with children from vulnerable communities, including a residential school for children whose mothers are incarcerated and a safe center supporting survivors of abuse. While we could not change their circumstances in a few days, we could create moments of joy, confidence, and connection.
And sometimes, those moments matter more than we realize.
A child proudly showing you a drawing.
A group of students laughing together.
A bracelet carefully made and gifted to someone new.
These small moments reminded me that human connection does not require grand gestures. Sometimes, simply being present is enough.
The Lesson of Service: We Receive More Than We Give
One of the biggest misconceptions about volunteering is that it is a one-way exchange. We often think about what we are giving: our time, our skills, or our resources.
But the most meaningful experiences are always reciprocal.
The students from Ursuline College arrived in Nepal ready to serve, but they also left with a deeper understanding of themselves, their assumptions, and their relationship with the world.
Watching them throughout the journey was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. In the beginning, some were unsure about stepping into an unfamiliar environment. By the end, they had built friendships, gained confidence, and developed a stronger appreciation for the power of human connection.
Service-learning is different from simply volunteering because it combines action with reflection. It encourages people to not only ask, “How can I help?” but also, “What can I learn?”
And Nepal had many lessons to offer.
Holi: When Everyone Became the Same Color
One of the most unforgettable moments of the trip was celebrating Holi, the festival of colors.
After spending days working together, learning together, and building relationships with the children, we gathered for a celebration filled with music, laughter, dancing, and endless clouds of colorful powder.
Within moments, everyone was transformed.
The students from the United States, the children in Nepal, the volunteers, and the local community were all covered in bright colors. The things that usually separate us, our nationality, our background, our language, and our identity, suddenly felt much less important.
Everyone was simply present.
There was something deeply symbolic about that moment. Holi is a celebration of joy and renewal, but for me, it also represented everything this journey had been about.
Connection.
Acceptance.
Humanity.
For a few hours, we were not visitors and hosts. We were simply people sharing laughter and creating memories together.
It was impossible not to feel the beauty of that.
Finding Space to Reflect in Chitwan
After our time of service in Kathmandu, we traveled to Chitwan National Park for the final part of our journey.
The change was dramatic. The energy of the city was replaced by peaceful landscapes, rivers, forests, and the sounds of nature.
We explored the park by canoe, went on a jungle safari, and were fortunate enough to see incredible wildlife, including rhinos, monkeys, birds, and other animals that call Chitwan home.
But what I remember most was not only what we saw.
It was the opportunity to slow down.
After an emotionally intense week, Chitwan gave us time to reflect on everything we had experienced. We talked about the moments that stayed with us, the connections we had made, and how the journey had changed our perspectives.
Travel often moves at a fast pace. We rush from one place to another, trying to experience as much as possible.
But sometimes the most important moments happen when we stop.
When we sit quietly.
When we allow ourselves to process.
What Nepal Taught Me
Looking back, I realize that the most meaningful parts of Nepal were not the destinations, the activities, or even the experiences themselves.
They were the connections.
The children who reminded us how powerful creativity can be.
The students who stepped outside their comfort zones and discovered new parts of themselves.
The moments of laughter that crossed cultural and language barriers.
The colors of Holi that reminded us how much we all have in common.
Nepal taught me that connection does not require perfection. It does not require speaking the same language, coming from the same background, or sharing the same experiences.
It simply requires openness.
We often travel thinking we are going somewhere to make an impact. But the journeys that stay with us are usually the ones where we realize we were impacted just as much.
Nepal gave me memories, friendships, and lessons that I will carry with me for a long time.
And perhaps the greatest lesson is this:
The world becomes a little smaller every time we take the time to truly see each other.
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