Estefania Loeza - 12/30/09
I went to Utah and the colorado river. I backpacking and river rafting
My Out Ward Bound trip taught me so much about my self. Solo made me think so much, about everything. I appreciate life, family and friends so much more. I feel so lucky to have done this. This part of the trip is scary to think about. It can get boring but I think it depends on how you look at it. On my solo I sang to my self most of the time. I thought about my whole life and I realized how lucky I was, my life may not be perfect but I love it anyways. I used to be scared to show my feelings so I would keep everything inside me. Now I don’t I’m not afraid to show my feelings or share my opinion. Nothing is perfect but it doesn’t have to be because you can always find something good in anything. I also used to be scared for the future. I worried about whether if I was going to fail in life or not. Now I’m not, just as long as I don’t give up I will always find a way to succeed. I also thought about my friends in solo. I borrowed a bandana from one of my best friends and it smelled like her. At night it was so scary I just closed my eyes and pretended I was with the other girls in my tent. Another thing I did was write a lot in my journal. I’m so happy they gave me that journal.
People ask me that if I could go back would I still have done it? I tell them yes I would have done it all over again without a doubt, even my mistakes because I learned from them. I don’t regret anything in this trip. I appreciate nature so much more. I want to be physically healthy and strong. I want to do something like this before I die for sure. I just feel like I can do anything. When you jump off cliffs that are thirty feet high into the river, you feel like you want to challenge your self into doing something hard. This trip definitely prepared me for my life. I know it wont be easy but I can look back and think about this trip and know I can do it.
The first two days felt like weeks. Time went by so slow it was ridiculous. I often asked my self “Why are you doing this?” Now I know why I did this. I did this because I proved my self I could do anything I set my mind to. I learned that even if I was tired or scared I could do it. I feel invincible. Time started to go by so much faster after the first week. I’m sure it was because I felt so much comfortable with my group. They made it easier because when you where tired or home sick they would cheer you up and make you feel better.
Going to Utah with complete strangers was scary to think about. But in the end I met a new family that I learned to love even if we got irritated with each other. When you’ve been hiking all day and the only thing you want to do when you get back is eat and rest. Normally that didn’t happen which was very irritating because the cooking crew would take super long or the instructors had activities for us. At the beginning of the trip I honestly didn’t want to be there. This new family made it all better. I truly miss them all. My hiking group was the greatest and I’m so happy I met all of them. My group was amazing. If I could choose my group I would have chosen the same one, to me it was perfect. I made so many friends and we were always there for each other. I still talk to them but mostly one of the girls. We became very close. Me and her send text messages and one time she told me I impacted her life. This made me feel so good inside. I just love to help people and make them happy. Thinking about this whole trip brings tears into my eyes because it was such a wonderful experience. This really made me into a better person.
Backpacking was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I never thought to see myself hiking while carrying a sixty pounds backpack. It wasn’t easy but at the end of the day I felt accomplished and proud of my group and myself. There was a time when we had a fifteen minute brake and I just started crying because my knees where hurting and it was over whelming. The leader of the day was a football player and obviously he had more physical endurance. I felt bad because he thought it was his fault I was crying and it wasn’t only because of him so after dinner I went and talked to him.
This trip defiantly made me a better and more caring person. I like to be outside more often. I also enjoy exercising more. But most important I appreciate life more. I want to take chances and I’m not scared if I fail because I know I can try again until I get it right. This changed my life in such a positive way.
.
Search Stories
