A Sabbatical is something you do with intention.
After making the decision to take time off from work, there were a lot of choices I needed to make about what that would look like, but before I could structure it logistically, I had to get clear on a few things.
First, why was this the right next move for me, and second, what did I want to get from the experience?
Tackling the first question was tougher than I was emotionally prepared for. I was still struggling with deep seeded insecurities about my worthiness so I pushed that question aside to keep from taking the easy way out and staying. Instead I focused on answering the second: What did I want to gain from this experience? This one turned out to be a better, more hopeful starting point. It allowed me to side step my feelings of self-doubt and instead lean into the exciting possibilities.
I submitted my letter of resignation in early March. I wanted to make my decision concrete as soon as possible and my staff aware of where things stood for the coming school year. I knew it would be a challenge to extricate myself from the countless ways in which I’d embedded my reach across campus, so the extra time to process my departure would be valuable transition time for them, and for me. I spend the immediate time after managing the fall out: teammates mourning an anticipated loss, people trying to talk me out of my decision, friends celebrating putting myself first, and tempting job offers. It wasn’t until the end of March, once I’d broken the news to my students, that I started to feel like I could focus on plans for the future.
Aboard an 8-hour transatlantic flight to Spain with more than 40 teenagers and chaperones sleeping in the rows behind me, I finally had time to let my mind wander in the silence.
What am I searching for?
Peace. Roots. Love. A life that prioritizes my needs.
Okay. How do I get there?
I’m still very much in the mindset of taking care of others needs first – as was made clear by the past month deprioritizing my planning in favor of taking care of the community around me, and the way I’m spending the next 10 days of MY spring break helping create an unforgettable experience for the teenagers in my care. If I want those things: Peace, roots, love, and a life that prioritizes my needs, I need to make a change. I need to approach life differently.
So, what did I want to get from the experience? A new mindset.
The last 5 years did a number on my sympathetic nervous system. The fall out from the COVID-19 pandemic kept my body in fight or flight for years, managing crisis after crisis without reprieve, and left my delicate balance of hormones in disarray even after the never-ending crises leveled out. To reset my body, I spent 2 years working with a duo of a therapist and psychiatrist to bring my mood back to baseline, and worked with my team and admin on-site to restructure the counseling department’s workload to lean into our individual talents and interests. It paid off. The last year in my role was finally manageable, but that didn’t negate years of built up second-hand trauma.
I was in a better place by March 2025, ready to do more intentional work on myself, but that didn’t mean I was ready to create the life I wanted – not yet. So my time off needed to be structured to teach my body what my mind already knew: life doesn’t need to revolve around what I can do for other people; life should be enjoyed as it’s lived, not just after you’ve accomplished a goal.
We landed in Madrid on a Friday afternoon. As the tour bus rolled down Calle de Alcala, passing familiar monuments and streets, I was suddenly 22 again: a First Gen Latina on her first solo trip abroad, with hope in her eyes and a dream in her heart of what life could be. As we rounded Plaza Cibeles to head down Paseo del Prado, it felt like coming home again to a place where I had once been allowed to dream big. We were set to start our tour at el Museo del Prado, and all I could think of were the countless times I’d spend exploring the halls of that historic museum; one exposition at a time, slowly and intentionally, during the six months I’d lived in Madrid. I missed that girl and I needed to get her back.
The 10 days we spent on the ground in Spain brought me back to the person I’d lost in the pursuit of the fabled American Dream. I’d gotten lost in the hustle culture that permeates the States like a plague dressed up as a luxury experience. But now that I’d seen it for what it was, I was ready to do something about it.
When I first moved to Spain in 2014, the culture shock crept in slowly before eventually slapping me in the face. I won’t bore you with the details but suffice to say that the Spanish are serious about their siesta practice and I learned the hard way that you either get on board or you starve until shops open up again after 4pm, if they open up at all. Being back there this time, I was prepared and reminded of the cultural value behind siesta – staying present, listening to your body, and taking care of yourself. That’s something I’d forgotten in the years since I moved back to the States and I wanted that back.
Travel is a beautiful way to expand your mind. It’s also a perfect way to force yourself to be present. That’s what I needed, and by the time we landed at SFO again at the end of our trip, I had a plan. I was going to spend time – at least a couple of months – in a country (or countries) that practiced the ways of life that made me feel more present, more connected, and more valued just for being me.
Mexico City was at the top of my list immediately. Not only is el DF one of the top gastronomic cities in the world, but it also feels like an extension of my soul. So far, it’s my favorite city in the world – rich in history, culture, and cariño. Getting to spend at least a month there would be a dream come true. From there, the rest of my itinerary planned itself.
Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu set the stage for my spiritual journey; Mexico City would be its heart; and Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido, the celebration and peaceful setting for reflection.
Next time, I’ll tackle the importance of the details – the where and the why – and later, I’ll share my favorite experiences in each location to jump start your next visit to Latin America.
¡Hasta Pronto!
Storytelling con Marissa 
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