Bridge Year Costa Rica – Spring 2026

Since coming to Costa Rica, the group and I have shared various memorable moments, of which the majority of the time we spent laughing, taking photos, playing Just Dance (even going to zumba)—recently though, the group taught me an activity, a hobby, a unique way to decompress: running.

Now, I’m not a track star nor do I plan to be, but they incorporated an activity into my daily routine that I have since then greatly appreciated.

During the start, I found it hard, like most things, but I knew failure was not an option because deep down I truly enjoyed it. Still, I found myself terrible at pacing, finding flow, maintaining endurance, etcetera. Worst of all, the physical pain—the air flowing into your lungs, aching muscles, the voice in your head telling you to stop. However, I continued.

In December, the group and I created a groupchat: mile-a-day

The requirements were easy: run at least a mile a day, take a photo, and send it into the groupchat as proof. Especially given our vacation time, this was a creative way to keep ourselves busy while staying in touch daily. We even incorporated running together—like all things worthwhile, some days were harder than some but we all continued with the challenge.

Since picking up this hobby, running is a great snapshot of my daily life in Costa Rica. Not because I spend time running, but because running became a reflection of my journey in Costa Rica; in many ways, it mirrored my experience adjusting to a new country, culture, language, and responsibilities. Nothing came easily, and there were moments when I felt out of place, unsure, and exhausted. Yet, I continued running.

It’s the feeling afterwards that makes it worth it. It’s the moment of reflection, when I look back on my run and realize that it wasn’t so hard afterall, that I could’ve gone the extra mile—that next time, I’ll try harder. It’s also that realization of encouragement: that my friends are cheering me on as we commit to the challenge together. These sudden moments of realization capture what my time in Costa Rica has looked like; my “progress” wasn’t measured by “speed” or “ease”, but by consistency and willingness to show up. Some days were harder than others, but each “mile” reinforced the idea that growth happens step-by-step.

Most importantly, it was our strive to continue. Our interest and curiosity to find out what was next. The exact feeling when I’m exhausted and ready to give up, is what taught me and my group important lessons: patience, resilience, and trust. Success, maturity, and growth isn’t easy—it doesn’t happen overnight, and it surely doesn’t happen after a few runs; success, maturity, and growth is about continuing forward, embracing the struggle, and realizing that even the hardest moments shape who you truly are becoming.

The best part though? The photos! Those photos aren’t about looking accomplished; they’re proof that we showed up. Proof that we tried. Proof that we kept going. The struggle, the progress, the people beside me, and the joy that comes after pushing through something difficult. Running ends, but the photos remain, reminding me that every mile mattered, and so did every moment along the way.