In August of 2006, a young teen from Greenville, SC was given the opportunity through a Girl Scout program to embark on a ten-day CRROBS course with other girls from all parts of the world. She was unsure what exactly to expect, or what was in store for her in Costa Rica, but she did know that what she needed more than anything else that time in her life was an escape. She needed to get away from home and the struggles she faced there, from the stress of the massive responsibility that was placed on her, and from the immense fear of tragedy that loomed over her head from the moment she awoke every morning.

Earlier that year, she had learned that her mother was in the late and very developed stages of malignant breast cancer, and her chances of survival were very slim. To make matters worse, her father had left their family years prior, so her ten-year-old brother at the time would have no one else to turn to but her. This young lady, still only a child herself, had to care for her mother and younger brother, run the household, and still manage to in some way find the time to be a high school student. When she learned that she could have the chance to travel to Costa Rica, be completely removed from the painful reality she experienced every day, she hardly hesitated to accept. She made arrangements for her mother and brother to be looked after and cared for while she would be gone, and embarked on a hopeful journey into the unknown. My name is Ashley Holka, and this young teen was myself.

As difficult as it was to leave those I cared about so much, my experience in Costa Rica did more for me at that difficult time in my life than I could have ever dreamed or hoped for. I was able to be myself, sort through my thoughts, and reflect on how much I had grown and matured as an individual. Outward Bound taught me much more than merely how to read a wave, set up a tarp, or secure a harness; it taught me that no matter how difficult a situation or task may seem, nothing is impossible and backing down from a struggle is never an option. I also learned that I could do anything I set my mind to, and after my ten days I returned home eager and willing to tackle whatever the future had in store for me. I had a renewed strength inside myself, and I was ready for anything.

My mother passed away a little more than a year later, on September 14, 2007. The cancer had spread to her brain, and at that point no amount of chemo or surgery could have saved her. Then only a freshman in college, I was faced with not only the painfully difficult responsibility of arranging my mother's funeral, but I had been left with an eleven-year-old brother of whom I was granted guardianship. It was also my job as executor of my mother's will and her power of attorney to take care of her possessions and debts, including our house, furniture, and car.

Tree Climb Rappel After taking some time off of school and getting a lot of much needed help and guidance from close friends of our family, by January of that year I had mostly everything in order and things began to fall into place. The house and car were sold, as well as our un-needed furniture, our personal things were put in a storage building, and I moved in with my best friend's family where I would from that point on call home. My brother was accepted to a children's home where he would be loved and cared for until he was grown, and I transferred schools to be closer to him so that we didn't lose touch with each other.

I always told myself that if I were given another opportunity to participate in a CRROBS course, I wouldn't give it a moment’s thought. In December 2008, I happened to be looking at pictures on the Outward Bound website and stumbled on a way that my return to Costa Rica might possibly be made a reality. Outward Bound offers a financial aid scholarship program, so I applied, seeing no harm in trying. When I learned that I had been granted a scholarship, overjoyed doesn't even begin to describe the emotion I felt. I immediately thought back to my last course, and the strength it gave me during such a difficult time. I knew I needed to feel that again, and needed to be reassured that I could face the sometimes impossible seeming adult life that stood before me. As unsure as I had been the last time of what to expect or what I would gain from the experience, this time I knew exactly what I was in for. I knew I would be able to find myself again, only this time I would discover who exactly Ashley Diane Holka was at age twenty.

Fifteen days of backpacking in the magnificent rainforest, rappelling down raging waterfalls, surfing some of the best wave breaks the Pacific Ocean has to offer, and experiencing a culture so different from my own yet so welcoming and warm, is enough to clear the mind of any human being and bring about a feeling of content that is seldom experienced. For those of you who have experienced an Outward Bound course, I'm sure you will agree with me when I say that all aspects of the adventure, from the team bonding and friends for life that are made, to the challenges and obstacles that the team had to face and take-on together, are all experienced that will never be forgotten. Every individual can benefit from Outward Bound, both physically and emotionally. Whether you're in search of a unique adventure and once-in-a-lifetime experience, or need to get away from a reality that you find not so favorable to escape to the beautiful jungles of Costa Rica, each and every person who experiences Outward Bound will return home feeling fulfilled, cleansed, accomplished, and empowered. Costa Rica will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I will never, ever forget my experiences there.