In 2019, I broke up with my girlfriend, sold my car, gave away most of my clothes and set out for South America with a backpack.

I’m back in New York for now, but I haven’t really stopped traveling since. It changed my life.

The idea of traveling internationally started when I worked as a personal trainer in Texas, after getting out of the Navy.

I liked the human aspect of training: Clients talk with you the whole time, and you get close. One of my clients was from Chile, and he told me, “Hey, you’ve got to go out and see the world while you can.” So, I took his advice.

My first trip was a four-month journey through South America, cut short by COVID-19. As soon as I could, I started traveling again — first to Mexico, and after saving some money, through Europe and Asia. That trip was where I encountered Western people teaching English, and I came home with a new direction.

I earned my certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and went to Guatemala in early 2024. It was supposed to be a short trip to get teaching experience. But I stayed almost 18 months, finding a new girlfriend and a new life.

The school where I worked is incredible. It gives kids facing poverty, crime, drugs and hunger a safe space and opportunities. I feel fortunate that they welcomed me into their community. I’m most proud of a workshop I created where kids dealing with tough issues can share their feelings while participating in fitness activities.

Guatemala feels like home now. I’m studying nursing with the hope that I can get back there and do more for those students.

I’ve struggled at times in my life, and people gave me the space to grow into the person I’m supposed to be. I’m trying to help provide that space for these kids.

I’ve learned a lot through traveling, and one of those lessons is gratitude. So many people in the world have really hard lives, every day. I don’t wake up in a bad mood, because I know how lucky I am.

Jonah Curtin is a clinical assistant at UVM Health - Elizabethtown Community Hospital. He has been with us for about three years.