There have been very few events throughout my life that I feel have had such an impact or inspiration on me that I know will change my view of the world and they will affect me forever. One such event occurred when I traveled to Portugal, my parents' homeland. From this 2007 excursion I learned the importance of family, especially distant ones. It gave me a totally different perspective on the world and how big and extensive one's family can really be; even across cultures and continents. I felt so lucky to learn this lesson at a young age and appreciate the ideals I grew up with as a child. The family I have in Portugal has always been there; however, their faces are aged and stained by the passage of many years and difficult times. Some newcomers to the family have started to become part of the modern Portuguese workforce. One of my cousins ​​was studying to be a veterinarian and another was working as a nurse at the local hospital in Montalegre (or “Happy Mountain”). Living in the United States as a child, born to a Portuguese family, I always longed to see the faces of those I knew must be close to me, but had no idea where or if they existed. It's been four years since I first set foot on Portuguese soil in July, and the experiences I've had there have been nothing short of exhilarating. Food, culture and people were at the center of my special trip. I traveled with my family through the countryside and the province of Tras Os Montes (or “Behind the Mountains”), joyfully greeting all the people we met, knowing that this was the “old country” (as my father calls it ) ).One of the best things about going… middle of paper… I need support and love you unconditionally “no matter what”. Who wouldn't want to be part of a family? The main element of a family is cohesion and, even more, the special bond that everyone shares. When I heard about Mass Academy and went to Shadow Day, I realized there was a special bond between everyone who attended the school. The MAMS students treated each other as they would a brother or sister. Teachers were as supportive to a student as a parent. They all had this special bond. This is something I admire and hope to be a part of. It's a learning environment and support system like this that can help a student eager to make a difference in the world reach their true potential. The ever-present love of family and friends is what keeps people together, and in this unity and strength as a community we are able to achieve what was once impossible..