My name is David Morrison, I’m 19 years old and I grew up in a small tourist trap called Hershey, Pennsylvania, or as locals sometimes call it, the Chocolate Bubble. Other than the obvious Hershey’s chocolate reference, we call it that because the town is known to be untapped by the world around us; not much can penetrate our comfortable, upper-middle class suburbia. Nonetheless, I’ve come to love this place, but I always find myself often wondering what the world is like beyond the white picket fences and lawn gnomes. I’ve always felt that visiting interesting places for a week or two doesn’t cut it when trying to understand and fully appreciate a place for what it is.
During high school I got the opportunity to go on an exchange year to Germany and had the greatest time of my life. But I always thought it still seemed similar to the comfortable lifestyle I grew up in. When I came across the Global Citizen Year program I was already considering traveling a second time but right after high school seemed way too soon. I had college lined up and was already set on my direction, but I knew I would always regret it if I didn’t jump on this opportunity.
Quite honestly, I don’t know what to expect this year but I’m sure I will come home with a few good stories from my Brazilian shenanigans, discover a new global perspective, and find I can make a difference in the community wherever I live. I’ll always hold the Chocolate Bubble dear to my heart but I can’t wait for what’s to come.
