But it's a goal one La Crescent teacher is chasing, one American student, African student and plane ticket at a time.

La Crescent high school teacher Mary-Kate Martin has been teaching English for two years.

But sit in her class for just a few minutes and you'll quickly realize her passion to change students' lives reaches beyond the state border even beyond the U.S. border, all the way to Africa.

Martin has a foot in two worlds and as she works to make a difference here and abroad, she's building a bridge for American and African students alike.

Martin became a teacher for one reason.

"I'm in teaching because I literally want to change the world," said Martin.

But it was years before this Wisconsin native ever had her own classroom at La Crescenthigh school that her pursuit began.

"I first went to Swazi in 2008 on a mission trip with some other college kids," said Martin.

It was a random choice to go to Swaziland, Africa, 9,000 miles from home but it would set the course for her future.

"We went there for two months and worked at a school and an orphanage and care points and cared for the kids there and that's where I met a girl named Tanele. She was 12 years old at the time and had a terrible life. She lived with a stepmother who abused her physically and then sold her to other men," said Martin.

The stories Martin heard and the faces she saw during her trip were more than enough to capture her heart.

"Came back, finished