During my sophomore year of my undergraduate career, the spring of 2017, at Michigan State University, I hopped on a plane to begin a semester-long study abroad experience called the Program on Sustainability in Costa Rica through the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities. This program gives students the opportunity to work with local community partners and experience living and working with ticos, or natural-born citizens of Costa Rica. Along the way, we studied Costa Rican history, learned Spanish with native speakers, and explored one of the most beautiful and unique places on Earth. The last two months of the program consisted of moving into the communities where the program's partners were located, conducting community-based participatory activities and research.