Paul McErlane - 1/23/09
I remember a lot from Outward Bound. I met new people made some new friends and had a good time time. But most of all I remember the counselors and how they never gave up on any of us. So a I wanna start off by saying thank you to Eric, Molly, and I believe the other one's name was Nikkie- she was from Australia.
I went to Outward Bound in 1998 in Florida. I was a troubled youth headed nowhere and headed there fast. I was a gang memeber ,a drug user, and a very confused youth. I went to Outward with the thought of just quitting and spending my time in jail since the judge gave me that option in court. When I arrived there I was very unhappy to have to leave my friends and family and go on this camping trip through the rivers in Florida kinda scared since I was a city boy and all. Before I left I told my mother bye gave her a hug and for the first time I had seen some hope in her eyes. So I figured I would give this program a chance and not quit on it. Before we loaded the bus the counselors came around and introduced themselves to us. I stoped and thought wow these guys aren't much older then I am. So I figured I could bully my way around like I did on the streets. But these guys were different. So we loaded the bus and began our trip. Now when we started I knew nothing about canoeing. But as I looked around neither did any of the other kids so I didn't feel so bad. So after they showed us the basics in canoeing we started down the river. And instead of telling you the day by day cause that would awhile. I just write about some of my best memories.
The night we camped the counselors informed us we had to get up and run every morning it started with a five minute run and got longer each day we were there they were helping us build up to the five mile run at the end of the program. Well alot of the kids were unhappy about the run but not me I loved to run and still do till this day. So I poked my head up and said out loud 5 minutes come on now I thought this program was supposed to be a challange. Well Eric the counsler said what think you can do more on your first morning I told him yep and I'll lap you in the process he kinda of chuckled and said that he was a track star at Harvard. Little did he know that I ran every day to get were I was going kinda like forrest gump (lol).
Another good memory was paddling though the St. John's river during mating season for the aligators we went to pull up to are camp site and to aligators came off the bank and headed for Eric and my canoe's they came at us so fast they had built a wake over them so all you could see was the nose of the gators.
I remember how the counselors went above and beyond their jobs and took the the time to get know each and every one us. How they were always there to talk to and never just shunned us off. The three counselors I had became more like friends. I always had a problem with trusting people but not these three.
The hardest part of the trip for me was the ropes course man was I scared. There was one part where I thought I was just going to quit. They called it the Elivs walk. I was in tears since I'm scared of heights. But Eric talked me though it and I made it.
Now at the end of the trip I was so excited for this five mile run. Well they lined the counslers up Eric was first then Molly and then Nikkie this was the order on who ran the fastest and the longest because the kids weren't suposed to be a head of the counselors. Now it was time we took off me and Eric side by side talkiing the most of the way I told Eric it was time for me to start running he looked at me and said we are running I told him your running I'm walking beside you well over the first 18 days he seen I was quick but just never seen just how quick. So he told we weren't suposed to in front of the counslers but told me to take off well right about then I heard my mom screaming and hollering from about a mile away or so. So I took off well needless to say I won the race the with Eric coming up behind me gasping for air the parents all though its was funny that I was able to out run him like. But as I looked back waiting for my teamates and friends I saw they were struggling with the run. And if this program taught me anything it was team work.So before I could even get a drink I told my mom I would be right back had to go help the others so ran I ran back a few miles to support my teamates. When we were all done with the run my mom was crying. I asked what was wrong she said nothing she was just proud that I was willing to go help others. I gradutated the program with High Honors.
Well now I'm 26 with a college degree and working on my second one. I have two beautiful boys Cameron 6 and Kaden 3. I own my home here in Stapleton,Nebraska I work part-time at a Homeless shelter in North Platte and full time at Power Plant in Sutherland. And I don't believe I would be where I am with out the Outward Bound program in closing I would like to say thank you.
Thank you
Paul McErlane
class of 98
