Although it is a small organization and its mission is in some ways simple, Seeds of Hope is a truly wonderful organization. It feels like a family. The students grow up in the program, so students know each other and the program director really well, and he knows their families, too. Several graduates of the program come back to volunteer and spend time at the organization, which just tells me what this organization means to its students. When I arrived, the students were so patient with me and my Spanish and eagerly welcomed me. And I felt like once I got to know the students that I was contributing to the organization in a meaningful way; that I was not just a tourist. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know the students and building relationships with them. By the time I left, I felt like I was truly a part of the Seeds community.