A key lesson I learned about myself from our trek is that I am more capable and stronger than I give myself credit for. Had I been told a few months ago or even a month ago that my backpack would weigh roughly half my body weight, I would have said that is impossible and I would not be physically able to carry that weight for miles. While it was difficult and painful, I was always able to carry my backpack without having to give up any gear I was given. My instructors reinforced this as they complimented my grit and tenacity along with the ability to push through pain. This was an important lesson that I will keep in mind while moving forward with personal and professional goals.
Another key lesson I learned was how attitude and positivity can affect others. I think my family would agree that growing up I had a very poor attitude. I would let very small moments ruin my whole day and affect others. This is something I have really had to work on, not letting little things bother me. Along with my attitude, throughout high school I had more of a negative outlook on things contributing towards a negative attitude. I was especially bad at complaining, while complaining allows for a few moments of relief it does not truly benefit anyone. These are a few traits I have really worked on. While working on a team, I knew that a bad attitude, negative outlook and complaining would not benefit the team. As I have greatly improved on these traits, I additionally worked towards having a positive attitude. During personal feedback a few of my teammates shared that they were inspired by my strength, positivity, and perseverance. This emphasized how effective attitude is and how teammates affect one another.
These two lessons were very important. They both showed me how I am received by others and how one’s actions can affect others. I feel honored that I could positively affect others and that my strength was recognized. I will not forget the kind words that my instructors and teammates told me.
A leadership aspect that I learned on the trek was that designated leadership can take many different forms. Each day, there was a designated leader who chose when to take breaks while hiking and the campsite for the night. Originally, I was under the impression that only the designated leader made a difference. My instructor G taught me that designated leadership can also be seen in taking initiative in moments like filling a drom of water without being asked or helping a teammate with cooking. This was my biggest new perspective of leadership that I learned on the trek.
The three things I can do to continue growing my leadership skills are improving communication skills, be more assertive, and be more confident while making decisions. I learned on this trek that I am very hesitant to speak out about my feelings when they differ from the group especially in group settings. This is something I can work on as if I am feeling this way it is common others are feeling this way and additionally it is important to communicate one’s feelings. The next two go hand in hand, assertiveness and confidence during decisions. As a leader I was very cautious and worried about what the group would think while making decisions. I can grow as a leader by being more confident as well as assertive. Truthfully, I am not sure how to grow in these two aspects but knowing where growth is needed is a big start.
