Written by Global Gap Fellow Mari Contreras
August 21st, 2026
Historically, written introductions have never been my strong suit.
In tenth grade, I took an introductory course which covered the premises of historical
British writing ranging from the works of Emily Bronte to Liz Lochhead. Although both
seemed highly unrelated, I was assigned a 10-page argumentative paper about any topic
of my choosing, and I decided to write about sex.
To specify, I wrote about the essentiality of comprehensive sexual education within
kindergarten through college-aged groups.
When writing that paper, I began twenty-four hours before the first draft was due and
nearly half of that time was spent agonizing over the introduction. I cycled through hours
of brainstorming, typing, backspacing, starting over—you name it.
Oddly enough, three years later I found myself in practically the same situation.
Under similar pressure, I spent July and August drafting detailed introductions,
translating them into Spanish, copying them into blank email templates, and sending
them off to more than a hundred organizations in search of my first volunteering
placement.
Luckily, about fifteen wrote back expressing interest. Coincidentally, one was CASA
Programa en Salud Comunitaria, an organization dedicated to promoting sexual and
reproductive health through education, contraceptive distribution, and HIV testing.
The weeks that followed became a blur of preparation (a madness any gapper knows
well). I opened a no-foreign-fee debit card, rushed through appointments to secure a
year’s supply of contact lenses, sorted out international phone plans, and drafted cover
letters alongside stacks of required paperwork—all while trying to maintain the cadence
of my everyday life.
During my final week at home, I tried to slow down and absorb the atmosphere of
everything I’ve ever known: my parents laughing in the kitchen before work, the
early-morning mist rising over the tobacco field across the street, the familiar—and veryy
annoying—creak of the front door, the peace sign my best friend flashes every time she
sees me, and the comforting sound of my sister bursting through the door, calling out to
see who’s home.
Now, sitting at the airport gate, those goodbyes and the loss of familiarity weigh on me. I
know this marks the close of a beautiful chapter: graduating high school, receiving this
fellowship, and leaving behind childhood friendships. Yet, if my past has taught me
anything, it’s that the hardest introductions often lead to the best beginnings. I may still
struggle with how to begin, but I know the introduction to San Miguel de Allende will be
well worth every second spent figuring it out.