"A classroom is great, but a city market is real." For scholarship winner Molly, language isn’t just a subject, it’s a way to find a piece of herself in every corner of the globe. Inspired by her freshman Spanish teacher, she’s heading to Costa Rica this summer to trade her desk for a new way of life. Read Molly’s energetic essay on why cultural immersion is the ultimate gateway to understanding ourselves and the world.

"I don’t just want to be able to communicate, I want to connect." After a missed opportunity to connect with a young camper, Graham Melvin realized that language is more than just a school subject- it's a lifeline. Read Graham’s moving essay on why he’s heading to Costa Rica this summer to turn language barriers into bridges of empathy and understanding.