Exploring the Amazon: A Children's Story (download story below)
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Amazon Reflection: The Things I learned on the Amazon
May I have your attention please? Information from the bridge!
When reflecting on an experience as jam-packed as the Amazon class and spring break exploration, it is so hard to digest everything. So I decided to delve in on a few different areas. I chose to look at the hands-on experiences, personal growth, and group relationships.
To start off, I was blown away by how hands-on the trip was. Right away we were holding caimans and sloths and traveling right through the canopies of one of the most beautiful regions of this world. To have such a fully exposed impression of the region gave all of us a plethora of memories to draw off of and made us really step out of our comfort zone with the wildlife of this world. The crew facilitated a safe and inclusive environment for us to truly explore all aspects on the river. It is one thing to study and read up on the Amazon River. It is another thing entirely to hold its creatures, travel through its trees, and swim in its waters.
Another thing that I personally want to reflect on is the growth I experienced throughout the trip. Being surrounded by such a unique group of motivated and successful young people really helped push me to do better and be better. Throughout the trip, I was given a couple personal character tests and really was challenged to see how I would respond to them. The first came when we arrived. I was the only one who did not get their luggage sent in from Miami. Now I could have been angry or sad or annoyed, which inside I was, but I decided to make sure I responded positively and in that way would help make everyone else feel positive about the whole situation. It was incredible to observe the affect my positive demeanor had on my peers and many commented later on how positive they felt because of how well I handled the situation. It also was cool to see how that outright positive attitude actually turned my internal feelings of anger into positivity as well. The next situation came about halfway through the trip. Long story short, I made a foolish and selfish decision that worried others and put others at risk for my own personal interests. I messed up and could have made excuses or stayed down in the dumps. Instead, I admitted my faults, said my apologies, and held my head high. This earned me a lot of self-respect and pride in the fact that I responded well to failure. I tackled it head on and really was able to learn and grow from that mistake. In the end, I am almost glad I made the mistake because of the lessons I learned out of it. In life, if you can admit your mistakes and be honest to those around you, you will find a lot of success. In order to experience true success, you have to feel true failure along the way.
One thing that I have observed in the past and really got a great up close look at on the trip was how common experiences help build bonds and unite people. One great example from the 10 days was in a conversation Zoe and I had towards the end of the trip. Throughout most of the trip, we had not talked much at all or really spent too much time together. Still, I was able to have a long conversation with her and talk to her about how exciting the bat adventure was for her and how fun it was for me to go fishing for piranha and how awesome it was that we felt connected even with such little direct interaction. We had both been to the villages and swam with the dolphins and held the tarantulas. Not many people get to do those types of experiences together. That is something we will forever share. It was not just Zoe and I. It was with everyone on the trip. It was really cool to see how much more that extended into those I spent most of my time and thought with.
It was also very incredible how interconnected we are everywhere in this world. Despite how different our language, cultural, religion, and upbringing is from others, we all (for the most part) have the common desire to be happy and share that happiness with others. This was easily observed in how we all interacted with the crew, Junior, and those we met along the way. A smile is the same in every language. This is true because joy and laughter and happiness are universal things. Yes, some people have a lot less than others due to their situation, but overall, everyone likes to share in happiness and joy. This was most apparent to me when others and I interacted with the young children in the villages. It was so awesome to see the children so excited about swimming, playing soccer, and selling their artwork. They had happiness in everything and did not let the world keep them from smiling. It was so refreshing for me to see that pure childlike joy. They weren't rich or famous, but they were loved and happy. Really, that is the measure of success in my opinion. If you can experience the joy and happiness of each day like a child and have people surrounding you that love you and that you love, you are a success.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better experience with a better group. This trip provided me with the courage to explore the unknown, the self-empowerment to always stay true to my character, and the social skills to build relationships with people of all different cultures and walks of life. Until next time, muito obrigado!
When reflecting on an experience as jam-packed as the Amazon class and spring break exploration, it is so hard to digest everything. So I decided to delve in on a few different areas. I chose to look at the hands-on experiences, personal growth, and group relationships.
To start off, I was blown away by how hands-on the trip was. Right away we were holding caimans and sloths and traveling right through the canopies of one of the most beautiful regions of this world. To have such a fully exposed impression of the region gave all of us a plethora of memories to draw off of and made us really step out of our comfort zone with the wildlife of this world. The crew facilitated a safe and inclusive environment for us to truly explore all aspects on the river. It is one thing to study and read up on the Amazon River. It is another thing entirely to hold its creatures, travel through its trees, and swim in its waters.
Another thing that I personally want to reflect on is the growth I experienced throughout the trip. Being surrounded by such a unique group of motivated and successful young people really helped push me to do better and be better. Throughout the trip, I was given a couple personal character tests and really was challenged to see how I would respond to them. The first came when we arrived. I was the only one who did not get their luggage sent in from Miami. Now I could have been angry or sad or annoyed, which inside I was, but I decided to make sure I responded positively and in that way would help make everyone else feel positive about the whole situation. It was incredible to observe the affect my positive demeanor had on my peers and many commented later on how positive they felt because of how well I handled the situation. It also was cool to see how that outright positive attitude actually turned my internal feelings of anger into positivity as well. The next situation came about halfway through the trip. Long story short, I made a foolish and selfish decision that worried others and put others at risk for my own personal interests. I messed up and could have made excuses or stayed down in the dumps. Instead, I admitted my faults, said my apologies, and held my head high. This earned me a lot of self-respect and pride in the fact that I responded well to failure. I tackled it head on and really was able to learn and grow from that mistake. In the end, I am almost glad I made the mistake because of the lessons I learned out of it. In life, if you can admit your mistakes and be honest to those around you, you will find a lot of success. In order to experience true success, you have to feel true failure along the way.
One thing that I have observed in the past and really got a great up close look at on the trip was how common experiences help build bonds and unite people. One great example from the 10 days was in a conversation Zoe and I had towards the end of the trip. Throughout most of the trip, we had not talked much at all or really spent too much time together. Still, I was able to have a long conversation with her and talk to her about how exciting the bat adventure was for her and how fun it was for me to go fishing for piranha and how awesome it was that we felt connected even with such little direct interaction. We had both been to the villages and swam with the dolphins and held the tarantulas. Not many people get to do those types of experiences together. That is something we will forever share. It was not just Zoe and I. It was with everyone on the trip. It was really cool to see how much more that extended into those I spent most of my time and thought with.
It was also very incredible how interconnected we are everywhere in this world. Despite how different our language, cultural, religion, and upbringing is from others, we all (for the most part) have the common desire to be happy and share that happiness with others. This was easily observed in how we all interacted with the crew, Junior, and those we met along the way. A smile is the same in every language. This is true because joy and laughter and happiness are universal things. Yes, some people have a lot less than others due to their situation, but overall, everyone likes to share in happiness and joy. This was most apparent to me when others and I interacted with the young children in the villages. It was so awesome to see the children so excited about swimming, playing soccer, and selling their artwork. They had happiness in everything and did not let the world keep them from smiling. It was so refreshing for me to see that pure childlike joy. They weren't rich or famous, but they were loved and happy. Really, that is the measure of success in my opinion. If you can experience the joy and happiness of each day like a child and have people surrounding you that love you and that you love, you are a success.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better experience with a better group. This trip provided me with the courage to explore the unknown, the self-empowerment to always stay true to my character, and the social skills to build relationships with people of all different cultures and walks of life. Until next time, muito obrigado!