Dear Ellen Svitek,

Thank you so much for helping me attend this adventurous trip. I had a lot of fun with my group and two instructors. I've been wanting to go on an Outward Bound trip since I was in the 10th grade. I was so excited with the news that I would be going after all. When I first arrived at the Asheville Airport, I was completely nervous, but I quickly got over it after I started to chat with two other teens. We were at the airport for over two hours, but it was so worth it because I got to talk to the kids that were going to be in my group. On the first day in the wilderness I was terrified. That soon changed after I got real comfortable with everyone in the group. I really liked my group and we still currently in contact with each other. My group was like a family to me. I faced many challenges while on my two week trip. One was endurance. While we were backpacking up the side of a steep hill, I along with my friends, would feel as if were were about to faint because of the heat and I would be encouraged that I could make it by my group and by the instructors. When we would make it to our next campside early, I would feel so good and excited that I had accomplished that task. One one of the days before we left, we had a lightening drill in the middle of the night and myself along with the other three girls were terrified. Later that morning we were laughing and joking about it. On the last day of the trip I was so upset that we would be going our separate ways. However one girl that I met was from Philadelphia too. We exchanged numbers and emails. I was so happy that I would soon be reuniting with my family again. Overall, I had a great time and if I was asked to go again I would go.

Thanks
Bianca Alexander