Student Spotlight: Living in the Moment
Jul 11, 2026 | by Anna Morsella (rising 7th grader)
Living in the Moment
By Anna Morsella
Costa Rica has taught me a lot about the people around me, but I never thought that it would teach me so much about myself.
I have always been a perfectionist. Whenever I draw something, I don’t see how great the drawing is; I only see the mistakes I made. When I write an essay and then look back at it, only the flaws are visible to me. It’s the same with trips; I only think of the moments I messed up. However, from this trip, I've learned to appreciate the positive experiences. Such as when I saw monkeys for the first time or when I realized that one can make a friend in the matter of one minute.
On this trip, I learned so much about my friends, both the old and the new ones. The students at Casa De Las Estrellas welcomed our class with enthusiasm and eagerness, as if they had known us their entire lives and that nothing was better than seeing our faces every day. I made so many friends there, people I will forever hold in my heart, never to forget them.
Once, while I was sitting by myself at the school overnight, reading a book and not wanting to join what everyone else was doing, a girl came over to check on me instead of hanging out with the others. This action might, yes, be small, but it was no less meaningful. Everyone we met was caring and generous. The school director even gave up her house for us to live in!
When meeting new friends, I notice traits I recognize in myself and my classmates, such as the girl with a sassy but kind personality or the one who always tries to help when there is a problem. I've only known the kids at Casa De Las Estrellas for one week, but it feels like I’ve known them my whole life.
Throughout the trip, I was surrounded by amazing people who set an example of positivity and lightness for me to follow, helping me realize that being perfect is not everything. In a golden eggshell, what I learned on this trip is to always stay positive and to live in the present.