Hello! My name is Emily, and I'm a senior in high school. My school is unique because we have a bunch of international exchange students who attend school with us every year. I love getting to know them and learn about how our cultures are different and the same!

Community service stinks! I can't believe we have to waste our time helping other people!

I think it's great to help people!

Another thing I like about my high school is that every student has to complete community service hours to graduate. I enjoy helping my community, but most of the student, including my friends, are upset by the graduation requirement and try to avoid the work.

I'm so sad that my classmates don't appreciate how important community service is!

You're a senior, Emily. It's up to you to take charge and fix this so that you can leave this school better than you found it.

It is the end of my senior year, and I need to decide if I want to let my classmate's negativity go or do something about it. I decide to talk with my Spanish teacher about my concerns.

It's something I've always done. Everyone in Uruguay volunteers in some way. You should come visit and see!

Maybe I will!

I also start talking to my international friends, since they also seem to value community service. I wanted to know what motivated them to participate and help others.

You want to go to South America BY YOURSELF? Are you crazy? You still have one month left of high school!

I know, mom, but I've talked to my teachers about it and they said we can work out the credits. This is really important to me!

After talking with my mom for a long time, she finally understood that I am passionate about improving my friends' attitude towards helping others. I buy my plane ticket and pack my bags.

I hope this isn't crazy!

I am so nervous and excited to arrive. I had made a choice to try to improve something I was really passionate about, and that makes me excited and feel good about my choice.

I spend the rest of the month going to school in Montevideo, Uruguay....

Sleeping in the home of one of my exchange student friends....