By the time we finally landed, three people had sobbed loudly, two lost their breakfasts. Not one of us said a word until the plane came to a stop.

There were yak traffic-jams, forests of flowers and children playing with tires around yak-dung fires. At night the sky opened, a ceiling punctured by the brightest stars I had ever seen.

Have you ever found yourself asking the question "I wonder if there is something more out there for me?" The dream that I had, that few understood, has taken me to the far ends of the Earth and has evolved into a non-profit organization that is truly changing people's lives.

This week not only marks the 58th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's first ascent of Everest, but the 50th anniversary of the Khumjung School, the first of many educational institutions Hillary built for the Sherpa people.