I have done a lot of traveling in my life, but no trip that I have been on has affected me more than my most recent trip to Costa Rica this past July with the CRROBS program (Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School). The 15-day “multi-element” course was a combination of intellectual, physical, and emotional challenges that accrued to build a better self. I learned a lifetime of lessons in a mere two weeks.

The first five days were the rainforest element. During these days my group of thirteen was guided by two instructors through the cloud and rainforest of Costa Rica, sleeping at night under nothing but a tarp to protect us from rain. These five days were grueling. Hiking up steep hills with a fifty pound back-pack in 100 degree weather was definitely a challenge for the entire group. But a very valuable lesson came from the soreness, bug bites, and blisters. After hiking uphill a good half mile covered in sweat and unable to feel your legs, finally reaching the top is where this lesson comes into play. A peak opens up to a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean’s horizon and miles of coastline, your breath is taken away (despite already being winded), and you realize that hard work is always rewarded greatly, and that if you just keep pushing, no matter how hard you struggle, you will always complete your goal. This is a lesson that I will take with me though my whole life, in my studies, and in my career.

The next element of the trip was the homestay element. During this element we stayed with three different traditional Costa Rican families on three different nights. These families were part of a community called Piedras Blancas, which consists of six families all living a mile or two away from each other. Staying with these families was an eye opening experience that I will never forget. They have basically nothing, they have wooden huts with no electricity. They live off of only the food that they grow and raise on their land. They work in the fields extremely hard in the hot sun from sunrise to sunset every day to support their family. But yet they were the happiest, most generous, and most loving people I have ever met. Not only did I learn a lot of Spanish while staying with these families, but I also learned that it is not that important to have the latest electronics or fashion. It's more important to have certain things like compassion, appreciation for family, and appreciation for the earth as well what you are lucky to have.

Student Hiking in Rain Gear During the remainder of the course we did such activities as surfing at Manuel Antonio, a waterfall rappel, white water rafting on the 8th best rafting river in the world on class 5 rapids, and a city day in San Jose. The waterfall rappel and the white water rafting were both extremely challenging for me, I was scared to death and thought I wasn’t going to be able to get through either of them, but with support from my group and my instructors I got through both activities. Conquering something you’re afraid to do is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I feel like after Costa Rica, I can do anything I put my mind to, and that fear is nothing. CRROBS taught me to never underestimate anyone, my own strength, other people’s effort, experiences and what you cannot see. I learned how to be a stronger leader, a better follower, and how far a smile can take you. I feel like over all it made me a better person.