Dear Ms. Svitek,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go to the Outward Bound School. In this trip, I have learned a lot of things. I went there with goals that I had to accomplish. By going through the course, I have accomplished the many things with the help of my group members and my instructors: Marya Washburn and Ryan Post. On my solo, I go to know myself a lot better. Here at home, I struggle with finding the new me because I pretended to be someone I was not. I realized this during my expedition. I have pushed myself to many limits by rock climbing, white water canoeing, and backpacking. Hiking about seven miles a day was a hugh challenge and there were many times when I felt the need to give up. However, my Outward Bound family inspired me and reminded me that each step I took was a closer step to achieving that day's goal. During my stay, I sadly became sick and was giving the choice to rest at a cabin or pack up and go home. I decided to stay. The relationship that grew between me and my crew was so strong that I had to stay and face the upcoming challenges. I am truly pleased with my experience at Outward Bound and I will definitely recommend it to everyone. I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend Outward Bound School. Outward Bound has changed my life. I will never forget that turning point in my life which helped me to never give up on things that seem too hard to overcome. "We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit" - E. E. Cumings. I was able to reveal the real me though this experience.

Sincerely,


Franchesca Alvarado