Hey guys, I’ve been home for 2+ weeks, and I still cannot believe I actually went to India and made it back. As crazy as this sounds, but I can still see the mountains when I close my eyes. The whole trek feels so vivid, like I could just snap my fingers and be back on the trail.

Now let’s talk about growth. Not the “I’ve-grown-an-inch-taller” kind, but the “I’ve-conquered-mountains-and-cooked-my-own-food” kind. Personally, academically, and professionally, this trip has been a game-changer. Picture this: me, gasping for air at 14,000 feet, sleeping in a tent (yes, a tent!), and pretending to enjoy my own cooking. If I can survive that, I can survive anything. I basically lived my Survivor dream and checked that off my bucket list. I’ve become more confident, partly because if you can wrestle with a tent in the middle of nowhere, you can handle a spreadsheet. Self-awareness? Absolutely. I’ve learned to recognize my strengths, like my newfound talent for making fire (okay, maybe not fire, but at least a decent camp stove meal). If I can survive all of that, I figure I can handle just about anything.

Academically, I’ve become a bit of a wilderness nerd. WAFA and LNT sound like alphabet soup, right? But no, WAFA is Wilderness Advanced First Aid, which means I can now bandage you up if you decide to wrestle a bear. LNT stands for Leave No Trace, which essentially means I’ve become a guru of not littering. Beyond the wilderness skills, I learned a tremendous amount about leadership through various leadership games and classes. These activities taught me to lead with empathy and strategy, rather than just authority. I also honed my skills in giving and receiving feedback. As it turns out, constructive criticism is more about building up than tearing down, and I’ve learned to appreciate and apply feedback to continuously improve.

Professionally, I’ve mastered the art of managing people without turning into a dictator. Here’s the secret: you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be a good leader. In fact, leading from behind is like being the puppeteer of a very successful marionette show. It’s all about strategic silence—speaking only when necessary—which makes people think you’re a genius (or that you’re plotting something).

I’ve also added some serious skills to my toolbox. CPR certification is now in my back pocket, handy for when my culinary experiments cause fainting spells. More importantly, I’ve learned the nuances of leadership. The big revelation? Silence is golden. You don’t need to blabber to be heard. Say something meaningful and people will think you’re the next Gandhi. This is especially handy in academic and professional settings where I plan to wow my peers with my Zen-like leadership skills.

Cultural and Personal Expectations: Bollywood vs. Reality India, according to movies, is all about melodrama and spontaneous dance numbers. The reality? Way more exciting. The streets are a delightful chaos of people, animals, and vehicles all trying to coexist. It’s like a live-action game of Frogger. The heat? Imagine being slow-cooked in an oven. The mountains, though, are straight out of a fantasy novel. Also, I’m Nepali, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from India. Culturally, they’re quite similar, so there weren’t many surprises there. However, the one thing that genuinely surprised me was how incredibly nice and sweet the people were. We encountered such wonderful individuals on our trip that I was blown away. I knew that in India, guests are treated like gods, but experiencing it firsthand was something extraordinary. The hospitality and kindness we received made me feel honored and humbled.

In short, I’ve grown in ways I didn’t think possible. Climbing mountains and leading people in stressful situations has transformed me into a more confident, self-aware, and resilient individual. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I am so happy I seized it.

Finally, I want to give a huge, heartfelt thank you to the amazing people who made this adventure possible. First off, huge props to my parents for not only signing the permission slip but also for raising me with enough survival skills to tackle mountains and questionable campsite cuisine. You guys are the real adventure mentors! Also, big thanks to Bryan, Gaurav, Vipul, Renu Dee, Vishal, Akshay, and the lunch guy at Hanifl Cafeteria. Seriously, this guy managed my allergies like a ninja, always ready with a peanut-free backup plan. And to everyone at the Hanifl Centre and across India who treated me like family, thank you for your hospitality and for making sure I didn’t starve or get lost in the chaos. Your care and kindness made this journey unforgettable. The memories we’ve made in the Himalayas will forever hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of this incredible experience.

And with that, the Leadership in the Himalayas Saga comes to an end! I’ll miss you, India!