I did not think it was possible for 21 days to change me so much. 

I had a truly life changing experience. I could describe in detail each day and the amazing activities we did, but I want to leave this to your imagination.

My watch group was Batten, 14 people from all over NZ. We did everything together for three weeks, and became incredibly close. We were there for each other through everything - as challenge plus support creates resilience. One of our instructors was ex SAS, and was truly inspiring.

Outward Bound has taught me to appreciate the things in life. Each night we would have a gratitude session where we would share what we were grateful for. Some nights it was the simple things such as Marcell’s cooking - I am still yet to determine if he is the best chef in the world or if I was just extremely hungry and anything would have tasted like gold. However I believe it was the former rather than the later.

There were so many highlights including seeing dolphins, the friendships, and completing things I did not even realise were possible. “Plus est en vous - There is more in you” is the motto, and this opportunity has made me realise that of myself. There is so much more that we can do, that we are capable of, and that we can achieve. Set your goals high, and take that climb- you may even reach the top!

I have learnt that there are no limits to what you are capable of, the only limits set are self inflicted. Breaking through the ideas of what I thought I could achieve, compared to what I actually could achieve, was astounding. This has set me for life, as I know I can achieve my goals.

Ma te wa - in time, was a saying that we grew to understand. It taught us to be adaptable and that we cannot control certain things, only our reaction to them. This was one of the messages that we all took home. I am certain that we all returned home better people.

There is a massive feeling of accomplishment once you complete the course. It feels unbelievable looking back on the map and seeing how far we travelled, and how high the mountains were. It proved that with the right support any challenge can be overcome.

Part of the magic of Outward Bound is that each watch is different and no course is the same. Each person takes their own learnings and growth from Anakiwa. The only way to comprehend how life changing this experience was is to take on the challenge yourself.