I have been lucky enough to receive a scholarship to go on Outward Bound from the Otago Community Trust, of which I am ever so thankful for.

I have been lucky enough to receive a scholarship to go on Outward Bound from the Otago Community Trust, of which I am ever so thankful for. My 21 day Outward Bound journey started on 5 January this year as I waved goodbye to my family at the Picton Interislander ferry terminal. 

We headed off to base which was in Anakiwa in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, located at the top of the South Island. I got put into Sheppard watch with other 13 complete strangers from all over New Zealand and Australia, but after 21 days they had become my lifelong friends. 

The course's aim is to help you reach your full potential through challenges in the outdoors. Some of these challenges included, waking up at 5.30 every morning to go for a run which was finished with a freezing cold dip into the ocean off a jetty, jumping off 6 metre high rocks, sleeping in the bush all by myself, rock climbing blindfolded, doing a high ropes course and jumping a 1.5 metre gap in the trees about 6 metres off the ground, running a half marathon, tramping from 7 am in the morning until 2 am at night, climbing a mountain 1023 metres tall, bush bashing for 3 hours, sleeping in tiny spaces and sliding down big gully's with big packs on, sleeping underneath the stars and watching the sunset. 

When we weren’t being pushed to our physical limits we spent a lot of time on self-reflection through which I learnt so much about myself and my own capabilities, it allowed me to reflect on what kind of person I want to be in my future. Outward Bound is one of the hardest things I have ever accomplished but because of this, it has been by far the most rewarding. It has been an amazing experience that I would 110% recommend to anyone!

Megan Maslin