Reflecting back on the process of growing up, there are always some events that are associated with a certain age. Even though these ‘rites of passages’ do exist in any given society, there are many opportunities that one might pass by because they feel their age does not correspond. Well, even with those expectations there are individuals, like Nikki Brar and Amit Chahal who decide to not just think outside the box, but decide to make the leap forward and step right outside the box.

Both Nikki and Amit, students at SOSS in Oliver BC, are participates of a 2 week long journey in Nicaragua with Volunteer Abroad. Both students stated that it is socially accepted to be travelling at such a young age as many of their friends have travelled out of the country, but yet agreed that volunteering was still something new.

Nikki has been involved in volunteering for many years with youth groups such as Youth Cares and the Oliver Ambassador Program and this journey marks the opening of a new field. “ I’ve been doing so many community level programs and now I want to see what is out in the world- I want to see the difference I can make on a global level,” she says during an interview we had pre departure.

Not only did Nikki sign herself up to take part in Volunteer Aboard, but convinced her friend Amit to do the same. It didn’t take much for this basketball player to say yes. “ I wanted to try something different and want to see the world,” he says. Amit and Nikki both agreed that it wasn’t easy for his peers to accept he was travelling to volunteer, but with his determination and unique strive towards self development, he was able to stand strong behind his own goals. Not only that, but both Nikki and Amit agreed that the family support they received was incredible. “My parents were proud that I wanted to volunteer on such a level, “ says Amit. With both Nikki and Amit’s determination and strong commitment of fundraising, both are off to Nicaragua from July 13,2012 to July 28th, 2012 and will be volunteering at a clinic.

There you have it, yet another example of how you can never be to young to not only dream the biggest of dreams, but to make them come true.