Last week, the senior class of 2012 went on Outward Bound in the mountains of North Carolina. After a lengthy bus ride, we arrived at our destination. Like everyone else, my backpack was filled with supplies we were going to need to survive the week ahead of us. Unlike some others, my pack was a bit heavier because I was carrying an extra bag of food and the group’s extra water for the day. I had the feeling that this was going to be a very long week.
Nonetheless, I knew I was prepared to do this activity because I had done it numerous times before. My expectations for this trip were limited: I expected to eat bad food, sleep on the ground, and have people nagging the whole time. Although this was accurate, it doesn’t really represent the important parts of my experience.
My experience was more than just hiking, eating bad food, and sleeping on the ground; it was more than “bonding”. I got the sense that we all grew as a community throughout the week. After this trip, my classmates might look at me as being more helpful and reliable; I see myself as more effective. This experience could help me with my schoolwork and grow closer to my classmates.
