How One Little Camping Trip Changed Me | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

How One Little Camping Trip Changed Me

I took a leap of faith and jumped into an overnight camp with 30 kids I met an hour before.

11
How One Little Camping Trip Changed Me

Something that makes SAU stand out a little from other schools is the amazing community and family that is created by the Honors Program. This past weekend I chose to force myself into a role that I have never taken on before. I became a leader on a camping trip that the incoming first year students go on to welcome them into the Honors community and to SAU.

Normally, I am more comfortable to be the fly on the wall, just quietly observing everything that is happening around me. But I decided to shake things up and try something new. I am most definitely a self-proclaimed introvert; however, I have been working to become more comfortable around people that I have just met. Being a leader for a bunch of freshman who are being thrown into a whole new experience, was definitely a daunting task. However, I knew that taking on this challenge would help me to grow as a person in the long run, so I took a leap of faith and jumped into an overnight camp with 30 kids I met an hour before I left.

I have always believed that in order to improve and work on yourself you need to do things that will push you out of your comfort zone. So instead of viewing this camping trip as something to dread, I tried to be more positive about it. And something that I quickly realized is that no matter how nervous or anxious I was, the incoming students were probably ten times more nervous. With that realization, I was immediately put at ease and became more comfortable with the idea of being a leader and having to talk and fill the awkward silences. Now I may not be the best leader out there, (come on, it was my first time) but I definitely saw that I can stand up in front of 30 plus peers and professors and take command.

There were of course times in which I wished that I could just sit there and let someone else try to fill the awkward silence. However, towards the end of the trip, I found myself wanting to meet and interact with every single person, even if it was to only have a two-minute conversation that we won’t remember having years from now. It was amazing to watching all of the students slowly coming out from their shells and voluntarily talking to one another. Knowing that I was a part of that and may have helped even just one or two students feel more comfortable and less scared, was well worth the challenge.

This is an experience I will never forget. At first, it felt like I was being thrown into the woods, without any training and expected to survive in the wilderness. But by the end of the trip, I found myself easily making small talk and even talking to more strangers back at campus. From having this experience and forcing myself to try something new, I discovered a whole other side to myself. One in which I can be an extrovert and be the person that others can look to for advice and leadership. I am so glad that I took that leap of faith because it has changed me for the better.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187456
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13114
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456532
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25791
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments