After everything that happened before I left India, I’m incredibly grateful to be safe at home. I missed spending time with my family, as our opposite sleeping schedules in India meant we couldn’t talk much.
Back home, life has resumed quickly—I’ve started a new job and am preparing for upcoming tests. The break from daily worries was refreshing, but it’s good to be back.
Conclusion Post: Summarizing My Experience
Academic Insights:
The program began with learning various leadership techniques. Once in India, we focused on teamwork and feedback models, which became my favorite part. This foundation led into Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) training and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. During our hike, we picked up practical skills like Hindi, cooking, and effective team collaboration.
Team Dynamics:
Initially, we made little effort to get to know each other and arrived in India as strangers. We soon realized our vast differences in habits and communication norms, marking the forming phase of our group. The storming phase began as these differences impacted our interactions. We learned to use the feedback model we had been taught, navigating through conflicts. This phase persisted until the early days of our trek when we faced tasks that required unified teamwork, transitioning us into the norming phase. This phase was a relief from storming, though we oscillated between storming and norming throughout the trip. Despite our progress, I’m unsure if we fully reached the performing stage due to ongoing challenges.
Personal, Academic, and Professional Growth
Personal Growth:
I’ve become more aware of my impact on those around me. My thoughts, actions, and words can either create rifts or foster unity within a group.
Academic Growth:
I now understand the importance of self-leadership for effective leadership. The adage, “If I don’t take care of myself, I cannot take care of others,” resonated deeply. I also saw the significant impact of peer leadership. Observing and questioning leadership decisions can lead to better solutions and collective growth.
Professional Growth:
The program taught me how to give and receive feedback healthily. I plan to implement this feedback system in my mentoring roles at college, ensuring growth without harming relationships. This skill will also enhance my interactions with teachers, leaders, and future employers.
Cultural and Personal Expectations vs. Reality:
Having spent most of my life in one culture, I had no concrete expectations about India. I heard stories about the hospitality and the significance of bargaining. Reflecting on my experience, I found the hospitality in India unparalleled. By the end of my stay, I had received numerous invitations to stay at people’s homes for free.
The bargaining culture was more intense than I anticipated. I often felt outmatched by skilled salespeople and “fixed prices” without tags. While I spent more than necessary, it was a learning experience about the lengths people go to for financial gain.
Overall, this journey has been amazing. I have grown personally, academically, and professionally, gaining skills and insights that will benefit me in all areas of my life.
