Riding the high of my Costa Rica trip, I eagerly joined another group tour - this time to the Dominican Republic. As with any trip, it had its highs and lows. On the bright side, I met two incredible people, Nick and Jessie, who would go on to become good friends. The hotels were top-notch, and the ocean was warm and inviting. Unfortunately, the trip as a whole didn’t quite live up to expectations, largely due to group tensions. There were some petty dynamics, and one person in particular created a toxic atmosphere.

When it came time to edit the footage, I found myself stuck. Creating the film for Costa Rica had been effortless because I had such an amazing time. Capturing memorable moments felt natural, and expressing the significance of those moments came easily. This time, however, the magic just wasn’t there. There weren’t many standout moments to record, and I struggled to find a meaningful narrative in what I had captured.