Every now and then, we witness a full-circle moment that reminds us why we do what we do. For us at Global Leadership Adventures, that moment comes when a former student returns—not just with stories to tell, but with a deep desire to give back and help shape the next generation of global leaders.
This summer, we’re thrilled to welcome back Christiana Welsh—not as a student, but as a Mentor on our Global Health Initiative program in the Dominican Republic. Her journey is one of purpose, inspiration, and the lasting impact of one life-changing GLA experience.
A Journey Begins: Costa Rica, 2018
In June of 2018, a high school student named Christiana boarded a plane to Uvita, Costa Rica. Like many GLA students, she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But she was eager—to learn, to serve, and to push herself outside her comfort zone.
She had enrolled in GLA’s Costa Rica: Surf & Sports Service Adventure (now known as Costa Rica: Surf, Sports & Sustainability), a program that would go on to become a major turning point in her life.
“That trip was my first experience with community-led international volunteering,” Christiana reflects. “It wasn’t just about helping—it was about learning, listening, and being part of something built with the community, not just for it.”
That perspective, so core to GLA’s mission, stayed with her long after the program ended. More than memories, her time in Costa Rica gave her direction.
“That program was the reason I decided to pursue a degree in social work,” she shares. “It opened my eyes to the kind of work I wanted to do—work grounded in empathy, equity, and global citizenship.”
Fast forward to today, and Christiana is stepping into a new role—this time, as a staff member. As a Mentor, she’ll support and guide students through their own life-changing experience.
“It feels surreal to come full circle,” she says. “Now I have the chance to be the support system for students the way my mentors were for me. I only hope I can offer them the same guidance, encouragement, and space to grow.”
She still remembers her own mentors—Jen and Patrick—whose compassionate leadership helped her feel seen, empowered, and challenged in all the right ways. Today, she hopes to pay it forward by fostering that same environment for her students.
“As a student, you’re soaking everything in. As a mentor, it’s about helping others grow—creating a space where they feel safe to lead, to question, and to connect.”
For Christiana, this opportunity isn’t just a summer job. It’s a continuation of a path she’s been walking ever since that first GLA trip. Her academic pursuits, passion for community-based service, and dedication to ethical global engagement are deeply aligned with GLA’s mission.
“GLA truly lives out the values I care about: thoughtful, sustainable service. Empowering young leaders. Centering communities. I hope this is just the beginning of a longer journey with GLA.”
And what does she hope to pass on to her students this summer?
“The value of inclusion. The importance of being present. And the understanding that meaningful change doesn’t always come from grand gestures—it comes from the small, lasting impacts we leave in the spaces we’re invited into.”
Christiana knows the power of a GLA program because she lived it. And now, she’s returning to help others discover their own purpose and potential through service, leadership, and global citizenship.
“If I could go back and talk to my past self before that first GLA trip, I’d tell her to take a deep breath. To soak it all in. Because it goes by faster than you think—and it just might change your life.”
Welcome back, Christiana. We’re so proud to have you on the team. 💙
Christiana will be leading students this summer as a Mentor this year on our Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative program!
Or if you would like to explore the program that started Christiana on her travel journey, check out Costa Rica: Surf, Sports & Sustainability.
